Melissa Durham Email & Phone Number

Myrtle Beach

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Area

•Circle of Excellence 2015 Award Recipient•Responsible for executing written sales agreements to ensure the successful execution of events, conferences and meetings •Work closely with the clients and hotel departments to outline details and specifics of the event including payment structure, room block management, food and beverage, room rental, and meeting room set-ups•Maintain relationships among the customers, their representatives and the hotel to ensure successful programs and events •Maximize revenues and control expenses through negotiation of services and catered functions •Serve as the Champion of the Team Member Relation Committee, as part of the Blue Energy Initiative and in doing so, plan and execute events and programs for the employees •Recipient of the “Above Company Expectations” Award, 1st Quarter 2014

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Area

•Solicit and respond to inquiries from individuals, organizations and businesses to block sleeping rooms, rent meeting space, and purchase food & beverage to meet their event needs and hotel’s revenue goals. •Manages customer relationship by responding to inquiries, meeting with potential clients, conducting property tours, and promoting facilities and services •Work closely with the group contact from conceptualization of the event through the successful completion to include developing a budget, menus, room set-up, Banquet Event Orders and on-site support. •Work closely with various departments of the hotel including sales, food and beverage, guest relations and banquets to ensure all details of the group and event are communicated and properly executed. •Effectively sell, negotiate and service weddings, from the initial inquiry through successful execution on the day-of

•Develop and implement the daily schedule of all onboard events, activities, shows and bands/music. In doing so, coordinate daily with all of the onboard revenue partners (Casino, Shops, Spa, and Photography) and beverage and culinary teams to ensure that the events compliment each other and maximize the guest experience and revenue potential.•For each event and show, reserve the venue space, ensure that the room set-up, food/beverage and A/V requirements are communicated to the appropriate departments and follow through with the teams to make sure everything is set-up correctly before the event starts.•Serve as the onboard group coordinator. Meet with the group leader to determine the group needs (meetings, functions, cocktail parties and excursions). Work closely with the Culinary and Beverage teams to coordinate the event details and then communicate them to everyone involved to ensure seamless events. Attend the private events and follow-up with the group leader to receive and act upon feedback.•Daily manage and schedule an entertainment team of over 40 people, including cast, musicians, cruise staff, youth staff, and technicians. In doing so, perform HR duties including appraisals, performance feedback and disciplinary actions for each person of the department•Assemble and produce the Daily Program (meal hours, revenue specials, events, activities, showtime, ect) to be distributed nightly to the guests•Oversee the management of the Library, Culinary Arts Center, and Youth Program•Oversee the management of the stage, especially as it relates to safety regulations•Serve as the liaison to the Guest Entertainers, supplemental staff and clergy. Handle the logistics of their time onboard, including scheduling and travel •At the end of each cruise, read the guest surveys for feedback. Analyze the feedback and implement the constructive concerns into the programming

•Engage guests in the variety of onboard entertainment by hosting such events as trivia, game shows, sporting activities, and theme nights.•Lead programming in the youth activities ranging from ages 3 to 17

Coordinate and implement a program of over 50 non-credit courses at the university. Organize the details of each course, support the instructors, market the program including website maintenance and publications, and provide customer support to the over 400 participants of the program.

Multi-tasked to lead the search committee for Associate Program Director including coordinating the schedules and travel plans and interviewing the candidates, advise the Public Relations Committee, and support our other campus programs during a time of transition.

Convene weekly meetings with the two other officers and ten committee chairs to identify and initiate cultural, fun and educational activities and programs on campus. Lead weekly meetings, provide support for the committees and chairs, serve as a delegate and liaison to other organizations on campus, and ensure the marketing, quality and efficiency of our programs.

Ma, Business Communications And Public Relations

Bs, International Affairs And Spanish

Activities and Societies: Student Center Programs Council, Campus MovieFest, Bells of Joy Handbell Choir, Sigma Iota Rho, Georgia Tech.