Melissa Watson Email & Phone Number

England, United Kingdom

Nottingham, England, United Kingdom

Forest Pines, Scunthorpe

Nestled in 190 acres of beautiful Yorkshire woodland lies the four-star Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort. The perfect location for a countryside retreat, with 188 spacious bedrooms, a luxurious spa with six treatment rooms, an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi. Alongside the spa, the Forest Pines health club is well-equipped with state-of-the-art machines and two brand new group exercise studios where classes such as spinning and dance, virtual classes regularly take place.Unique to Forest Pines is the world-class, 27 hole golf course. Voted one of the UK's finest winter courses and known for hosting the PGA four-ball championships from 2009 to 2013, this 10,000 yard course will challenge even experienced golfers.With nine meeting rooms that can hold up to 370 people, in its own purpose built events centre.Forest Pines is also the perfect location for a wedding with beautiful grounds and many luxurious rooms to choose from.Our course has also recently been awarded 'Best Golf Course in the East of England' in the 2018 Today's Golfer travel awards.

Grantham, England, United Kingdom

Louth, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom

Kenwick Park estate encompasses a 34 bedroom hotel, with large busy banqueting suite, 90 lodge accommodation complex, a £4.5 million newly built Leisure and Spa facility. Having the luxury of 92% occupancy year round in the hotel, the owners wanted to review other aspects of the business to add growth. I have re-developed the website, new wedding brochure, Re-developed the food service style and changed attitudes in the customer service delivery to attain and consistently exceed customer expectations. Under my direction the Hotel was upgraded to a Best Western Plus in January 2017.A review of the business model of the company was undertaken in January 2017 to establish core management positions that would be required to increase the footprint of the business, in both size of the hotel, lodge site and the food & beverage operation. I was asked continue in the position of Hotel Manager to develop the operation further working alongside the existing Manager in her new role

Louth, Lincolnshire

A beautiful Country House Hotel set in the Lincolnshire Wolds overlooking an award winning golf course, with a state of the art spa and leisure facility and a Log cabin resort.Covering all aspects running the hotel and working with the owner and ClubSpa General Manager whilst the current Manager is on Maternity.

Retford, Nottinghamshire

Wanted to take time out to do volunteer work for cancer research in a local shop and project manage my house refurbishment.

Tadcaster, Leeds

General Manager at the award winning flagship site to develop the business in a different direction. With a new bedroom block, spa development and the changing sales mix of the business. Working alongside an established team to increase the customer journey experience and standards. Increased year on year sales, surpassing budget for three years running and Winner of the North of England Awards – wedding venue of the year for Customer service for the same 3 years.

Lincolnshire And Yorkshire

Actively working alongside Director to manage both the Business Development Role and the General Managers to ensure the operating standards are consistent. Having spent time as General Manager in 4 of the properties, allowed me to show a mature insight to day to day issues and how we can work together in a more uniformed way. Areas of focus were cost control, people development, exploiting all revenue streams and keeping the business moving forward.

Yorkshire And Lincolnshire

Business Development Role for 5 properties in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Responsible for:-• Development of Corporate Sales across the group, including achieving multi site use of corporate guests• Development of Business through Agents through RFP’s, face to face meetings/presentations, industry events and regular calls to the Top 100. • Working with groups – Business, Tour Groups, Social groups and Associations to develop the stay vacation and long stay bookings.• Built and developing the central reservations function – incorporating reservation calls maintaining a conversion rate of over 50%, email enquiries, pre stay calls, new sales leads and maintaining existing corporate clients encouraging additional spend through up selling. • Building a central database for mail-shots, e-shots and marketing to particular segmentation• Introduction of a new conference desk function at central reservations – allowing all enquiries to go through one office. Standardising the conference offering to make it easier to sell.• Introduction of an integrated Spa booking system for the two spas – a one stop shop.• Networking in the local areas of hotels to increase brand awareness of group and to introduce sales leads – this includes chamber of commerce, Brand Yorkshire, Promoting Harrogate and Town Centre Development Group as well as events in Leeds, York and Bradford.• Working with local businesses, local and national publications to seek new sales leads• Actively research the industry publications for trends and new developments to put in practice in the group’s advertising, offering and promotions as well as recording competitor activity• PR of any hotel’s activity that have a public interest without the need of advertising through links to the relevant editors and publications. Use of social media – Twitter, Linked in, Face book to increase followers

Managed the Dower House Hotel and Grants at the same time for seven months to implement Ashdale procedures, standards and cost control exercise until the hotel was in a position to work with a new General Manager – recruited my replacement to take over the Dower House operation and refurbishment of the leisure club in to a £0.5 million spa complex.

Knaresborough

Larger operation in the same company, managed to turn around reputation of business, increased wedding business and built the conference business. Occupancy was the main focus and maintaining the 600 members of the leisure club without refurbishment. Again cost control and increasing standards were part of the remit.

First General Manager’s Position, 29 bedroom hotel implemented Ashdale Procedures, changed the management structure to suit a small operation. Cost saving exercise to increase profitability and revenue at the hotel. Increased gross profits by introducing a wedding and public entertainment license to the property increasing the wedding business from an average of 12 a year to 42.

Yorkshire And Lincolnshire

Area role in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire to manage both an underperforming property and the business development functions. Brought the Angel and Royal back to the company standards, profitability and move the business forward. Reviewed the overall business, staff restructure, standards and menu planning. Within three months the property had regained its reputation for being a good quality hotel with 4 star standards, increasing sales by 12% month on month, continuing with an expected upward trend to year end. Doubled corporate users and increased average spend, whilst bringing costs back in line. Key focus on customer service has increased repeat business and high guest satisfaction scores on all review sites.

Day to Day running of this Hotel and Conference Centre

Brent Cross London

Mba, Business Administration

Bsc Honours, Hospitality And Business

Hnd, Business And Hospitality

National Diploma, Catering And Insitutional Operations