Sam Bhandarkar Cmp, Des, Case Email & Phone Number

Southlake, Tx, Us

Lamont Associates and Lamont International are comprehensive site selection, venue finding and meeting resource firms. Lamont Associates and Lamont International are affiliates of LamontCo.LamontCo is a Hospitality Solutions company. Our founding goal is to connect people with places and ideas with opportunities.Our Team is here to help you accomplish your hospitality goals. We combine broad experience with our vast network of associates, resources, and partners for comprehensive, customized solutions. We believe transparent communication and a consistent commitment to social responsibility are the keys to our mutual success.Our services include:Venue Selection – Hotels, Resorts, Unique Event Space, Convention Centers, Restaurants, Sporting Venues & moreContract NegotiationCustom-Built Event Management HousingRegistrationProduction ManagementIn-person, Virtual or Hybrid eventsPromotional ProductsAir and Ground Transportation CoordinationCruise Bookings and Support Corporate Social Responsibility CoordinationCorporate Housing Solutions Disaster/Emergency Housing and Logistics SolutionsSports Association Solutionshttps://www.lamont-associates.com/https://youtu.be/Bd2fKiFIe7E

Southlake, Tx, Us

Our North American network of highly skilled Associates include Executives, Directors and industry leaders from around the globe. Each of our Associates has demonstrated outstanding success with meeting management services. Each of our meeting professionals focus on customer needs and rapid response times while creating measurable impact on their clients' bottom lines.​A partnership with Lamont Associates will provide your organization the opportunity to develop your meetings procurement potential and to truly understand the impact of your meeting in the marketplace. Our corporate style is collaborative and consultative…it is innovative and creative. This is real leadership. Whether you have a meeting of 10 guestrooms on peak night or 10,000 Lamont Associates will stand with you and be your Conference Source Network!

Independent Advisor | Business Events Strategy, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Venue Sourcing & Site Selection, Contract Negotiation & Travel Industry Supplier RelationshipsAs an Independent Advisor / Strategy Consultant, I help meeting professionals, senior executives, and C-suite leaders plan and execute successful business events. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, I have a deep understanding of the needs and challenges of both sides of the equation: the groups and the venues. I leverage my expertise in business events strategy, hospitality and tourism management, destination marketing, and event tech to advise and represent my clients in venue site selection, hotel engagement and procurement, contract negotiation, and industry relations.My goal is to align my clients' external strategies with their organizational and event objectives, to mitigate their exposure to risk and liabilities, and to foster strategic partnerships that drive commercial value and exceed expectations for service delivery. I have built and maintained senior executive relationships across the lodging, hospitality, and destination marketing ecosystem, and I can navigate channel leadership to resolve challenges and concerns in a timely and satisfactory manner. I also hold and maintain the industry certifications and professional memberships relevant to this line of work, and I serve in advisory board capacities to venues, lodging brands, and destinations. I am passionate about advocating for the impact and value of the business events industry, and I volunteer my time to make my communities better places to work and to live.Additional Consulting experience includes: - Expert Network Specialist - Third Bridge Group, Ltd (2021 to Present) - Insights Consulting Network Member - Gerson Lehrman Group, Inc. (2019 to Present)Past practitioner, Franklin Covey 4 Disciplines of Execution methodology for business process improvement and organizational change management.

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl, Us

Reported directly to EVP/General Counsel and President of privately held media & events conglomerate. Held sole responsibility for sourcing, placement & contract negotiations for account portfolio booking 50K+ RN annually in meetings, conventions & exhibitions.Facilitated and managed strategic partnerships as broker representing independent show organizer to global enterprise & national sales executives from hospitality/lodging brands, destination marketing organizations, REITs, and convention facilities.Collaborated with senior executives across business units to understand objectives and requirements, recommend & contract optimal venues and lodging solutions. Majority of represented assets acquired by Arc network, LLC in Q4 2022 sale. Supported sale transaction & transition thru February 2023, after which position was eliminated.Key Achievements:- Spearheaded founding & integration of IATAN-accredited intermediary sales agency business unit in 2016 and directed to profitability in less than two years- Brokered 150+ new hotel contracts and venue license/lease agreements annually from 2016-2019, more than 70K RN in contracts thru the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, and >40K RN in new futures in 2022-2023- Championed engagement, assignment & transition with commercial stakeholders for M&A transactions of major convention assets in 2015, 2017, 2019 & 2022Major programs represented:- Future of Education Technology Conference/FETC- HR Technology® Conference & Exposition- National Workers' Compensation and Disability Conference® & Expo- National Ergonomics Conference & Ergo Expo- Human Resource Executive® Health & Benefits Leadership Conference- Academic Esports Conference & Expo- FDR Training Conference- National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities®- Special Education School Attorneys ConferenceDistrict Administration® Leadership Institute: - Superintendents Summit - CAO & CIO Summit - Superintendents Academy

Jacksonville, Florida, Us

Led all US event operations at premier professional membership organization comprising 17.5K+ culinarians and chefs, in addition to managing department recruitment, talent development, and third-party/vendor relationships.Key Achievements: - Guided site selection, contract negotiations, event design/planning, and on-site management of four regional, three-day spring educational conferences for up to 500 attendees each, multiple annual regional/national culinary competitions, and the organization's five-night annual convention and trade show for 1,300-1,500 participants utilizing 1,100+ RN on-peak. - Liaised with sales management and sales operations teams to achieve revenue goals for exhibitions and event sponsorship. - Improved targeted segment reach and increased cross-generational relevance via rebranding of not-for-profit membership organization's 2015 event properties and launch of integrated multi-platform print and digital/social media content marketing campaigns. - Enhanced attendees’ experience, embedded 21st-century adult learning models, introduced problem-centric educational program content development, and adopted new technologies and gamification concepts through re-design of the organization’s 2014 event properties. - Championed development and implementation of the organization's first customized, native mobile event app in 2014 with a closed social engagement platform, resulting in 80%+ adoption and 98K+ app utilization during a five-day annual convention.

Bethesda, Md, Us

Promoted close customer relationships while overseeing lead generation, drafting and negotiation of contracts, new business development initiatives, and selling of hotel sleeping room inventory to religious, fraternal, LGBT, sports, youth, multi-level marketing, and multicultural segments groups with peak nights of 301+ at 1,300 room, 200K ft2 convention hotel with $100M+ in annual revenue.Key Achievements: - Completed thorough research to effectively qualify and execute due diligence evaluation of new business opportunities. - Empowered and coordinated training, coaching, and mentorship programs to upskill the capability of administrative personnel for top performance and promotion to sales management roles. - Booked 24K+ RN for 126% of total Group RN goal representing $5.9M+ in group revenue in 2012. - Delivered 106% of individual group revenue futures goals for 40K+ RN in 2011. - Achieved 103% of individual group revenue futures goals in Q4 2010.

Bethesda, Md, Us

Provided senior-level operational, management, supervisory, administrative, and hourly labor oversight of 60+ convention/exhibits services personnel across 250K ft2 convention hotel facility with $100M+ in annual revenues.Key Achievements: - Headed planning and execution of meetings and catered events with budgets ranging from $18-30M while maintaining P&L accountability for $5M+ operations budget, including performance, purchasing, and labor management. - Formulated effective strategies and spearheaded high-quality service delivery to enhance overall customer experience and compliance with brand standards, resulting in improved customer satisfaction scores in two consecutive years. - Championed associate engagement, team recruitment and talent development, and facilitated achievement of three consecutive perfect scores in annual independent corporate audits for QA in event operations.

Bethesda, Md, Us

Led team of managers responsible for event operations in meeting rooms, public space and convention floor. Directly managed staff of 50+ supervisory and hourly associates in a closed shop Union work environment. Coordinated strategic event operations planning with regards to function space, staffing, equipment inventory and supplies. Served as direct liaison to corporate, association, socialite and meetings clientele. Managed department with $1.5M in Hospitality suite functions and $1M in a la carte F&B operations serving 1,300+ rooms.

From Wintson's, Lulu's, Rumors, The Cellar & THE SPOT in the 90's, to H2O, Platinum & eyebar in new millennium, DJ Sammy B headlined at DC's biggest and best nightclubs for more than a decade and shared billing with top-tier entertainers like the Barenaked Ladies, Young MC, DJ Skribble, O.A.R., and scores of internationally renowned DJs and entertainment personalities.

Coordinated all aspects of Event Planning, Operations, and Sponsorship fulfillment for two multi-city national tours of “The Nation’s Premier Corporate Teambuilding Program”. Managed design and production of printed collateral , branded ad-specialty promotional materials and event web site. Assisted Production of one-hour televised Corporate Sports Battle highlight TV show for ESPN2 & OLN.

Planned logistics for two 10-week festival style outdoor concert series including Site Operations, Ticketing, Credentialing, Artist Relations and VIP Hospitality. Developed pre-event marketing/sponsorship sales presentations and post-event reports. Coordinated development of copy and creative for print, television, radio, event marketing collateral materials and online media. Featured artists included Wyclef Jean, Collective Soul, Live, Cowboymouth, Gov't Mule, Blues Traveller and other major touring national acts.

Planned, managed and marketed events for internal and external clients to the collegiate and young professional markets in Metro Washington DC area.

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, School Of International Service - International Studies/Conflict Resolution

Certificate, Hospitality And Tourism Management

Education record