Rita Mcdonough Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Lisle, Illinois, United States

Sales:I reached 80% of my $2,000,000 annual sales goal for 2022 by mid-April (in 3.5 months)…during a pandemic when people were scared to travel.I was named “top salesperson” a few months surpassing the sales numbers by long tenured team members.Rather than accepting travelers’ cancellations, my conversion rate for rebooking Mayflower (MF) load factor cancellations, when MF cancelled a tour, was close to 95%. I turned what could have been a cancellation of a booking worth $40,000, bringing in a few hundred dollars in cancellation fees, into bookings worth $66,000 in sales.I have great success in converting single bookings into multiple bookings.Here are a few examples (excluding price of airfare and travel insurance):Converted 3 pax to 20 pax on a tour to Greece: sales increased from $7,500 to $50,000 Converted 6 pax to 22 pax on a tour to Colorado: sales increased from $30,000 to $110,000Converted 1 single pax to 9 pax on a tour to Texas: sales increased from $2,500 to $22,500Converted 2 pax to 12 pax on a tour to Iceland: sales increased from $5.800 to $34.800Business Development:• Though working in a call center, I was not merely an “order taker” waiting for calls • I was a pro-active “sales creator”, made outgoing calls and emails, diligently followed up on all inquiries and quotes made, prospected for new sources of business, and generated creative new sales funnels, engaged in up-selling and cross-selling• Cultivated and nurtured a devoted repeat client base. • To increase sales, repeatedly asked current and new customers for referrals, • Continually prospected for new leads, data mining to discover underserved, niche markets • Monitored tour inventory levels and waiting lists regularly to increase sales• Reconnected and followed up with past MF travelers to re-introduce them to MF, the new products, and current sales promotions so as to induce interest and create new salesCustomer Service is an attitude not a department in a company

Downers Grove, Illinois, United States

Supported a team of over 20 Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) Luxury Small Group Journey Travel Consultants by handling sales-related and administrative functions in support of higher sales conversions. By phone and email, I communicated with Guests, Travel Advisors, and Destination Management Companies (DMC) actioning 50-150 calls and emails daily, identifying, assessing, and handling Guests and Travel Advisor needs. • Called and emailed Guests/Travel Advisors to gather information and itinerary details required for bookings - not limited to passport copies, flight schedules, Guest Information Forms, excursion forms, visa copies, proof of insurance, etc.• Correctly entered all data, documented all calls, emails, and actions in both the Travel Studio CRM system, Outlook, and at times, also Excel • Business Development – Increased sales revenue by promoting extra services (pre and post tour hotel stays, excursions, transportation, etc.) by chatting with guests and travel advisors, actively suggesting longer stays - pre and post-tour, recommending activities ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars each.• Proactive problem solver– by identifying gaps in itineraries sold extra pre- and/or post-tour services to guests • Handled all pre/post tour services and custom tour extensions/excursions for team of 20+Travel Consultants, coordinated with the DMC, requested and determined pricing, entered extra services, excursions, or custom extension itinerary into booking engine, created text for guests' travel documents describing touring, hotels, transportation, etc., invoiced Guests/Travel Advisors, requested change in services from DMC, confirmed changes with Guests/Travel Advisors• Successfully collected past due payments of tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars per passenger when others tried and failed to do so. Entered payments into reservation system, sent updated invoices to Guests/Travel Advisor or collection letters

Naperville (Chicago), Il

Represented the agency at trade shows, dinners, and vendor sales presentations; improved the travel agency’s website content; increased agency’s social media presence and brand exposure, developed luxury cruise sales, TravelXclusive will turn your travel dreams into reality by arranging awe-inspiring travel experiences made just for you!Let us create your custom itineraries (for any size party) by acquiring all necessary reservations door to door. We book all flights, arrange airport transfers, ensure high-quality accommodations, provide experienced drivers and guides and arrange unique, authentic experiences that are exclusively yours. Your wish is our command.As TravelXclusive is affiliated with The Travel Society, a member of Virtuoso, we offer special access and greater value to the very best hotels, resorts, villas, private yachts and cruise lines in the world. Greater amenities, promotional rates, and invitations to special events/activities are the norm.

Chicago'S Western Suburbs

• Marketing Services to non-profit groups, musical groups, realtor, church, and private individuals - Print and Digital (social media posts, website content, E-mails, E-blasts, announcements, ads, flyers)• Event Planning Services for non-profit groups (social media marketing, emails, calls, pre- and onsite event activities)• Travel Planning Services and Arrangements: (domestic & international) for individuals and small groups • -comprehensive, personalized travel planning for individuals and small groups through consultative salesSpecial interest in> selling travel in North America including Puerto Rico, and the U S Virgin Islands > cruise sales: premium and luxury cruises - ocean, river, expedition, and yacht> group sales initiatives > joint venture partnerships• Travel School:> The Travel Institute’s Certified Travel Associate (CTA) program, after completing their Trip Kit program (training in geography, tourism, and travel career development.)> Global Institute for Travel Entrepreneurs (GIFTE): “Making Money Selling Travel Blueprint” and “Joint venture Partnerships” sales training programs• I’ve attended hundreds of webinars and live presentations by travel industry leaders in order to learn from travel industry leaders about their latest products, properties, and travel trends. I’ve honed my travel marketing skills, sales techniques, group sales strategies, and customer retention methods by, learning from sales and marketing professionals and business coaches. Avid researcher, reader, and subscriber to numerous travel trade publications, websites and social media sites• Developed business relationships with local, national, and international travel industry leaders through active networking at live events and several social media channels.

174 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Il

I had a store on North Michigan Avenue.There aren't many small, independent businesses on North Michigan Avenue - one of the most famous shopping streets in the entire world. Most stores are national, or even international franchises. Not this one.My partner and I made our way through all of the Chicago bureaucracy and established and operated Sticky Fingers Gourmet Popcorn LLC. I am very proud of everything we accomplished with our business. He manufactured the product, I established the brand. I was the one who created the name, the logo, product line, signage, store design, decoration and displays. I was responsible for website design and content, product development, packaging, promotions, social media marketing, print advertising, in store and on-line sales, purchasing, shipping, receiving, employee management - hiring, training, firing, etc.They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I pioneered the use of a particular type of product packaging. Since then many large, even international, popcorn companies are using it. Competitors also copied specific marketing taglines and product offerings I introduced. We were becoming firmly established in the highly competitive, Chicago popcorn market and with on-line sales. We were considering franchise opportunities, when circumstances beyond our control stopped us. The business was forced to close.We took a risk and made a dream come true. We indeed owned a successful business on North Michigan Avenue. Very few individuals can say the same.

U.S. Sales And Distribution Office

Operating a manufacturers rep business, I became the consummate relationship manager. I was an ardent listener and observer and was able to anticipate needs and prevent crises before they happened. Both customers and vendors respected and trusted me as they knew I was looking after their best interests.My office represented our German parent company, Carl Haas GmbH, as well as several manufacturing companies that were located in Switzerland, France, Portugal, Barbados, Spain, Brazil, India and China. The miniature, custom-made components and assemblies we sold and distributed through the America's, included precision springs, Swiss screw machine parts, plastic & metal injection molded parts, stampings & fine-blankings as well as ceramic and carbide parts. These were used in automotive and aeronautical instrumentation, navigational devices, machine controls, computers, medical devices, etc. Our customers included the big 3 automotive companies – Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors and their suppliers, as well as General Electric, Westclox, Allied Signal Aerospace, Robertshaw Controls, Johnson & Johnson, Intel, etc. I was responsible for daily operations of this import, sales and distribution office. This included inside sales, price quotations, vendor relations - request for pricing, vendor selection and price negotiations, order entry, order follow-up, expediting, customs import entry, receiving, inventory management, invoicing, logistics, shipping, export documentation, accounts receivable, bookkeeping, accounts payable, monthly closings, financial reports, foreign exchange transactions, investing, international and national travel arrangements, meeting planning, hiring, employee training and supervision, advertising, website design and content, etc.

Currently Enrolled In The Certified Travel Associate (Cta) Program

Education record

Education record

My Motto - To Travel Is To Live!

Education record

Associate'S Degree