Jill Ackerman Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

Lindblad Expeditions, a premier small ship expedition cruise company, retained me to outline, define and improve a variety of complex processes, utilizing a collaborative method that will streamline the 40-person sales and marketing team, setting them up for growth, efficiency and scalability.CIE Tours, a leading tour operator to Ireland and Britain, under new senior management, required insight into their marketing department to develop more efficient, effective and streamlined processes and reporting metrics. I provided a deep dive into the resources and challenges, and created a road map for the future, without increasing head count. As a follow up, I am currently working within their marketing team to implement the recommendations and lead the marketing team into the future that includes an aggressive five-year plan for growth.JDB Hotels represented over 70 of the most highly regarded Italian, French and Spanish boutique hotels. Worked with the CEO to launch an integrated CRM, a new booking engine and a sales and marketing strategy targeted to the travel trade.Working with PM Group to develop and execute trade relations strategy for the Anguilla Tourist Board. Promote Anguilla to the travel trade in the US and Canada, in coordination with advertising, education, public relations, events and sales representation.Caribbean BlueBook was relaunching their website and needed expert advice for SEO and SEM in order to gain the traffic they need for success. I identified and facilitated a solution that met their goals within their limited budget.

London, London, Gb

Led a team of ten to support 25 business development managers with marketing planning and tactical execution for two b2b brands. • Developed multi-channel marketing calendar supported by content strategy. Set up customer communications via email, website banners and landing pages, Wordpress microsite, print materials, media relations, direct mail, webinars, event series, product brochures and trade advertising. Created webinar education series and digital destination guides.• Launched Silverpop ESP integration with Salesforce. Created reporting structure and performed A/B testing to optimize open and click rate. 42% increased CTR after implementing a new messaging voice• Launched new Travel Bound branding campaign based on customer testimonials• Managed digital and print trade advertising plan in-house• Developed co-op partnerships with key suppliers. Managed strategic planning and relationship building with 17 consortia and key clients• Managed public relations for two brands, including oversight of the PR agency and media relations including press releases and placement, interviews and brand building, educational seminar series• Designed reporting to measure and optimize email communications. Utilized Google Analytics and Webtrends to optimize Wordpress microsite and home page banner ads. Created regular reporting to monitor destination trends.• Conducted competitive research project to benchmark top competitors and map out branding and messaging opportunities and to provide ongoing direction to creative team for communication themes

New York, Ny, Us

Provided strategic planning for the 20-person in-house marketing department, selling 20 experiential, soft-adventure destinations. During tenure, company achieved 97% occupancy on 6 expedition ships.• Managed the 1.8 million consumer database, including list selection, forecasting and ROI reporting. Managed list acquisition, database modeling, data enhancement, list cleaning and NCOA. Created targeted guest segments across print and digital channels. Expert in SmartFocus.• Launched new client prospecting plan utilizing database modeling and list buying using purchase behavior modeling, coordinating online and offline targeting, retargeting and list building• Managed consumer and trade print and digital media buy; coordinated planning with separate agency managing SEO/SEM plan including retargeting; managed messaging strategy and calendar based on purchase behavior• Created reporting, budgeting, ROI, KPI and forecasting on marketing activity and yield• Managed several surveys and research projects to obtain a deeper understanding of the customer and to provide highly targeted and messaging. Also worked on usability testing for new website launch• Coordinated messaging strategy and calendar across all communication channels to ensure cohesive product campaigns• Key member of team that launched ground-up new website, CMS and KPI strategy• Worked closely with publicity department to integrate media strategy into marketing campaigns

Bethpage, New York, Us

Sr. Director, Destination Team: FL, NY, CA, Tahiti, Canada, Car RentalsResponsible for all aspects of destinations for sale through travel agents and managed brand clients. Led a team of seven.• Negotiated rate & inventory contracts including exclusive promotions for American Express Vacations• Managed and executed partner co-op marketing plans to capitalize on trends and focus on soft periods• Launched Canada as a new destination with 63 hotels, transfers, car rentals and 70 sightseeing tours• Managed competitive price shop and price match, yield management and markups• My team achieved double digit growth, out-trending other destinations by 20%.Director of Product MarketingDirected a team of six that designed, budgeted and executed a strategic multi-media, multi-million dollar marketing plan targeting travel agents and consumers• Developed partnerships with key clients, consortia and managed brands• Designed and executed tactical marketing plans with a focus on profitable product segments• Coordinated dozens of partner co-op marketing plans across all product teams• Launched marketing campaign for Aeromexico Vacations and United Vacations Latin America private labels• Completed American Express media training program• During tenure, company experienced annual double digit growth

Sandton, Gauteng, Za

Developed targeted marketing plan based on a thorough analysis of research to sell South Africa as a premier destination to consumers and the travel trade. • Managed the advertising and PR agencies. • Directly responsible for planning and budgeting $1.5 million multi-channel branding campaign with a direct response component• Sponsorship of two dozen themed events and promotions. Managed Celebrity Chefs Tour that generated over 18 million media impressions. Managed sponsorship of Tribeca Film Festival including a dozen separate events for consumers and press• Six press trips annually resulting in multi-million dollars in media value; ongoing media relations• Travel trade relations and marketing support for the trade relations managers• Collateral production and distribution of 100,000 pieces annually• 1st half 2004 increase of 14% to South Africa while 1st quarter 2004 showed an industry-wide decline to other long haul destinations

Responsible for all marketing planning, publicity and tactical execution for this niche travel wholesaler and air charter operator to Jamaica, plus all hotel and inventory contracting. Developed marketing plans, solicited co-op funds and set pricing. Designed a database to track and analyze complaints and used reports to assist hotels to improve quality. Improved complaint response time from 90 days to 30 days in the first six months. Annual sales growth averaged 10%.

Provided marketing support and lead generation for sales team of 12. Planned and executed trade magazine and card deck advertising, sales sheets, flyers, trade shows, publicity and targeted direct mailings. Responsible for all details from concept to results analysis including ROI for each mailing and Cost of Acquisition for new clients. Coordinated rebranding of product packaging.

Promotion agency client liaison that designed and executed direct mail and in-store promotions (sweepstakes, contests and games) for clients such as Ladies’ Home Journal, Revlon, A&S, Manufacturers Hanover and A. I. Credit Corp. Wrote client proposals and managed the execution such as writing rules, state registration, researching and procuring prizes and producing collateral materials.

New York, New York, Us

Coordinated advertising and collateral design and production for commercial and residential real estate clients including logo design, sales brochures, floor plans, newsletters, newspaper, magazine and radio advertising, as well as media planning and placement.

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Communications

Education record