Koen De Rijcke Email & Phone Number

Ghent, Flemish Region, Belgium

Leading full renovation, rebranding and market implementation of the 4* NH Gent Belfort hotel & convention centre to the upscale NH Collection brand.

Bruges, Flemish Region, Belgium

• Management and market implementation of this recently reopened, fully renovated 4* hotel in the heart of Bruges. 4 F&B outlets, 6 Meetings & Events rooms.
• Implement Revenue Management, HR structure, team coaching, motivation and communication.
• Gradually increasing standards, customer satisfaction scores and sales results.
• Renovation projects including expansion of rooms, conference center and 3rd restaurant

Ghent, Flemish Region, Belgium

• Strategic structuring of a group of luxury and mid-market hotels at the Belgian seaside
• Major shareholders investment project with a successful completion
• Support, concept development and business planning of various Start-ups
• Project formulation and presentation for a top-level innovative foodservice concept
• Development of a soft skills training concept with a service productivity pyramid model

Belgium

Creation of the concept and value proposition, formulating the business plan, budget, sales and marketing strategy and operational implementation plan. Bengtravel and LinkPoint are hotel and travel Booking Platforms with a vision to improve the travel ecosystem and quality, and reduce unnecessary costs for users and hotels. Both platform concepts were put.

Rio De Janeiro Area, Brazil

• Responsible for the Rio de Janeiro region, running two 4* deluxe hotels (410 rooms), planning and negotiating new hotels and special projects for the hotel group.
• Under my leadership, annual sales grew by 40% and profitability increased.
• Best sales results in market share, and gradual increase of the customer satisfaction score to 1st and 2nd place in the group, and 1st place in the competitive set.
• Leading a team of 180 employees, achieving increased motivation, service and productivity.
• Sustainable operational and commercial development with regard to services, marketing and sales, networking, financial budget and cost control, HR and succession planning.
• Affluent representation and quarterly presentation to 440 shareholders.

Maceió Area, Brazil

• City centre 5* Hotel and Resort complex, Convention Centre with capacity to 1500 pax, 2 restaurants, 2 bars, Spa, Shop, Adventure Activity Centre set around private lake
• Improved operating standards, control systems, communication and motivational structure
• Implemented CRM, Revenue Management and Event Sales systems
• Coordinated a branding project with an external hotel group
• Assisted with the commercialization of the Corporate University in Sao Paulo and a with the Foodservice planning of a new distribution centre for the head-office

Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

• 4* hotel complex with 2 restaurants, 2 bars, conference centre, spa
• Achieved 4-month target to turn hotel profitable.
• Increased the hotel revenue by 50% per year for 3 consecutive years.Principal methods used for these results include team restructuring and motivation, and reorganization of sales and marketing, operational procedures.
• Lifted the hotel to 4* international standard, with official recognition as FIFA Worldcup 2014 approved standards hotel.
• Raised the guest satisfaction scores to reach 3rd highest ranking of over 100 hotels in region.
• Coordinated hotel expansion project, opening up 83 additional rooms.

Jamaica And Bahamas

• Sandals South Coast, Whitehouse, Jamaica5* resort, 360 rooms & butler suites, 7 restaurants, 6 bars, 5 shops, spa, theatre, ballroom. US$80mln revenue
• Leading a team of more than 500 people, full P&L accountability, reporting directly to the CEO.
• Achieved a very successful hotel re-opening.
• Successfully implemented a range of new guest activities and on-property sales initiatives gradually increasing per guest spend in weddings, photoshop, giftshop, excursions and spa by up to 30%, generating over US$8mln.
• Improved guest relations and guest scores with a gradual overall score increase from 3.9 to 4.6 out of 5.
• Executed a range of high profile events and attended top level politicians and celebrities.

Park Plaza County Hall Hotel London

• Part of Radisson Hotels group. 4* deluxe central London hotel, 398 rooms & suites, 5 F&B Outlets, 8 Conference Rooms, Spa. US$30m revenue.
• Joined pre-opening, responsible for operations planning and achieved a very successful hotel opening with 85% occupancy in first year of trading; up US$6m on budget.
• Leading team of 220 people and full P&L accountability, reporting directly to the Area General Manager.
• Best profit conversion results in Park Plaza Europe with 48% GOP.
• Highest upgrade achievements in Park Plaza Europe, adding over US$4,50 to the ADR.
• Highest Guest Service Scores in UK, and 4th place in Europe (55 hotels).

Thistle Hotel London Marble Arch

• Head of Meetings & Events for 4 hotels with 30 conference rooms and 5 ballrooms, as well as Food & Beverage for central London 4* deluxe hotel, 692 rooms & suites, £6m department revenue.Achievements:
• Moved guest satisfaction ratings to top 5 hotels in the group;
• Increased F&B and conference revenues YOY;
• Implemented systems, structure, and stability;
• New F&B outlets and concept development;
• Successfully implemented some of London´s most successful themed Christmas parties;

London, United Kingdom

4* hotel, 785 rooms, 10 F&B outlets and 8 conference rooms. US$7m department revenue. Compass Group.

London, United Kingdom

Consultancy advice and project management for international 5* hotel projects in Europe and the Middle East. Assignments included F&B master planning, strategies, operations briefs & analysis; budgeting & value engineering, competitive tendering and design of kitchen and F&B facilities. Clients included: Four Seasons, Sheraton, Inter-Continental, Marriott.

London, United Kingdom

Responsible for up to 16 catering outlets in the VIP stand at Chelsea Football Club (on match days only).

London, United Kingdom

Renowned 5* Hotel part of Raffles Hotels International at the time, later Rocco Forte Hotels. High end Royal and State Banquets and meetings.

London, United Kingdom

Catering company providing high end banquets accross prestigeous venues in London and UK. Banquet atendees included Royal family members and prime ministers.

London, United Kingdom

Royal Thames Yacht Club - Oldest Royal Yacht Club in the world based in Mayfair, London with Fine Dining Restaurant, Banqueting and 5* Hotel facilities. British, Dutch and Belgian Royal family members were frequent visitors, as well as high profile diplomats and polititians.

London, United Kingdom

Management programme in Food&Beverage, Rooms Division, Finance and General Management at London hotels.

Kruishoutem, Belgium

3 Michelin stars, Belgium’s leading gastronomic restaurant, ranked No 1 in wbpstars.com “Top 60 Restaurants Of The World” global restaurant classification, and ranked 15th place in Restaurant Magazine´s "Top 50 Restaurants in the World" in 2011. I worked directly with celebrity chef Peter Goossens.

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Business Management, First (96%)

Master of Business Administration, including finance, marketing, law, project management, HR, technology, and business innovation. Best.

Ba (Hons), International Hospitality Management, Distinction

Business Management Bachelors degree encompassing Finance, Marketing, HR, IT with focus on Hospitality, Hotel, Events and Facility.

Hnc Certificate In Pr, Public Relations, First

Diploma In Hotel Education, Hotel Education

Activities and Societies: Organised sports day for the school, introducing new sports for many student, such as skiing, sailing and.