• Representing Destination Management Companies in the Florida area, assisting to source venues, staff, creating events from planning to completion. • Contacting prospect clients via email, telephone (cold calling) and letters soliciting business with thorough follow-up, once Sale is completed, scheduling entertainment, staffing, transportation, decorators, production staff, organizing and controlling all event orders, ensuring program is completed in time and within budget• Assisting both Sales and Operations departments as needed. Planning all Meetings & Events aspects: transportation, tours, dinner reservations, “dine-arounds”, staffing, decor, entertainment, etc.• Preparing contracts, excel worksheets, preparing power point sales presentations, updating website, creating and sending email flyers, brochures, e-newsletters, blast holiday mailings• Coding all expenses, invoices and staffing to relevant job, creating job profit margin reports• Ensuring payment to all vendors and staff after completion of events • Providing PC Support as well as Microsoft Office Programs training and support to staff• Supervising additional office support staff, ensuring all assignments completion and accuracy• Ordering supplies, equipment, sorting mail, answering phones, filing, typing, word processing• Assisting with all bookkeeping needs: A/R, A/P, and payroll • Hospitality Staff: Coordinating restaurant reservations, tours, transfers to airport or local tourist attractions, coordinating registrations at hotels or private mansions

Even the most organized meeting planner can use a helping hand sometimes. With an American Express Meetings & Events Independent Meetings Consultant (aka Meetings Expert), MeetingsExpert.com, one can delegate tasks from site availability to contract negotiations. We are there to assist in the decision-making process, creating a solution that everyone benefits. AT NO COST TO YOUR COMPANY. Contact me at Val.Suarez@aexp.com

Five Star Meetings and Events especializes in complete meeting planning and event production for top financial, pharmaceutical and varied corporations. We are your One-Stop Destination Management Company. Some of my duties include:*Develop and implement strategic marketing plans, sales plans and forecasts to achieve corporate objectives for products and services.*Develop and manage sales/marketing operating budgets.*Direct product research and development.*Plan and oversee advertising and promotion activities including print, online, electronic media, and direct mail.*Monitor competitor products, sales and marketing activities.*Establish and maintain relationships with industry influencers and key strategic partners.*Establish and maintain a consistent corporate image throughout all product lines, promotional materials, and events.*Direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and marketing programs.*Represent company at trade association meetings to promote product.*Meet with clients, assisting sales managers, maintaining relationships and negotiating and closing deals.*Liaising between sales, operations, product development and all other vendors and departments *Analyze and control expenditures of departments to conform to budgetary requirements.*Assist other departments within organization to prepare manuals and technical publications.*Prepare periodic sales report showing sales volume, potential sales, and areas of proposed client base expansion.*Review and analyze sales performances against programs, quotes and plans to determine effectiveness.*Achieve a successful program for all our clients, delivering the best possible event experience staying with their budgets. *Achieve satisfactory profit/loss ratio and market share in relation to preset standards and industry and economic trends.

As a Sales Account Manager some of my duties include:*Maintaining current relationships and securing new business referrals from targeted major hotel partners and corporate clients.*Serve as a credible member of the sales team in the local marketplace by always listening to our clients, understanding their meeting objectives and delivering creative proposals that meet and exceed expectations.*Establishing relationships and securing business from prospective clients; selling event services to major national and international corporations, associations, and incentive travel companies. *Working with Creative Managers, Operations and Production Managers to plan, create and deliver flawlessly executed programs and special events at the many venues and area hotels.

*Main liaison between sales manager and clients. In charge of planning and preparing event proposals by negotiating with venues and suppliers best possible prices to meet clients' needs.*Preparing power point sales presentations, contracts, excel worksheets, creating job profit margin reports.* Contacting prospect clients via email, telephone (cold calling) and letters soliciting business with thorough follow-up.*Assisting production and operations teams with decor, venue supervision and many other duties as needed to deliver a flawless event.

• Main liaison between South Florida office and Head Quarters to ensure efficient Office Management & Coordination of systems and all office needs. • Providing PC Support as well as Microsoft Office Programs training and support to staff, ensuring all systems are working correctly, assisting with any and all computer issues. • Assisting both Sales and Operations departments as needed, planning all Meetings & Events aspects: transportation, tours, dinner reservations, “dine-arounds”, staffing, decor, entertainment, etc.• Preparing contracts, excel worksheets, preparing power point sales presentations, special revenue and sales reports on a monthly basis• Preparing and submitting to Marketing Department all website updates, creating and sending email flyers, brochures, e-newsletters, blast holiday mailings• Ordering supplies, equipment, sorting mail, answering phones, filing, typing, word processing • Translating Documents: English to Spanish and Spanish to English• Coding all expenses, invoices and staffing to relevant job, creating job profit margin reports• Ensuring payment to all vendors and staff after completion of events as requested by operations managers• Hospitality Staff: Coordinating restaurant reservations, tours, transfers to airport or local tourist attractions, coordinating registrations at hotels

• Providing Executive Support to CEO, VP of Sales & Marketing, VP of Operations and Senior Sales Management, coordinating travel and hotel reservations, conference registrations, maintaining schedules/calendars, preparing expense reports on a monthly basis, preparing Power Points Sales presentations as needed• Providing PC Support as well as Microsoft Office Programs training and support to staff• Supervising additional office support staff, ensuring all assignments completion and accuracy• Providing daily maintenance and support of Microsoft Server 2003 network and website hosting equipment• Ordering supplies, equipment, sorting mail, answering phones, filing, typing, word processing• Preparing contracts, excel worksheets, preparing power point sales presentations, updating website, creating and sending email flyers, brochures, e-newsletters, blast holiday mailings• Contacting prospect clients via email, telephone (cold calling) and letters soliciting business with thorough follow-up, once Sale is completed, scheduling entertainment, staffing, transportation, decorators, production staff, organizing and controlling all event orders, ensuring program is completed in time and within budget• Coding all expenses, invoices and staffing to relevant job, creating job profit margin reports• Ensuring payment to all vendors and staff after completion of events • Assisting other team members from both Sales and Operations departments as needed, planning all Meetings & Events aspects: Installation and Dismantle of Event Equipment, Rigging, Audio Visual Equipment Installation Supervision, Transportation, tours, dinner reservations, “dine-arounds”, staffing, decor, entertainment, etc.

• Interviewed over 400 applicants, hired entire personnel for both Room Service & Minibar departments• Researched and ordered all departmental equipment prior to hotel opening.• Surveyed & selected vendors for both Room Service & Minibar departments.• Set Operating inventory levels for Room Service & Minibar departments.• Organized and developed training & standard operating procedures for both departments• Prepared all training material, as well as imparted all training sessions

• Planned all meeting and conventions needs for the tour and travel department, up to 600 guests.• Assisted Sales & Marketing departments with selling for meeting space and hotel room nights• Maintained close working relationship with tour operators from all over the world• Supervised departments to ensure success of all meetings, fam-trips, family reunions and incentive groups• Worked jointly with Food and Beverage, Housekeeping and Front Office Directors to ensure guest satisfaction as well as achieving higher profit margins for the hotel

• Managed Sales & Marketing for 40 hotels in Florida, Georgia, and the Caribbean. • Planned and supervised installation of Minibars and safe units. In charge of hiring onsite union and non-union workers, electricians, and laborers to perform the jobs required to meet our goal date.• Implemented training course for new recruits and entire hotel personnel - up to 1,300 employees.• Visited hotels on quarterly basis to follow up on training, cost control, equipment maintenance. • Provided post visit reports with Sales Analysis, Menu Engineering, Profit and Loss Statement Analysis, Regional and National comparisons, etc. Worked closely with Controllers and Food & Beverage Directors, creating new marketing techniques and performance review of all the departments involved to ensure bottom line profitability.

• Solicited food and beverage functions by mailings, cold calling and by contacting Meeting Planners• Requested all food and beverage needed for all catering functions• Maintained and controlled cost of the hotel’s amenity program as well as Room Service• Scheduled and supervised over 60 employees at a 1200 room hotel• Decreased overall departmental costs by 25%, decreased payroll cost by 50% • Achieved 100% accuracy in the mystery shopper program for Room Service Department

• Scheduled and supervised over 45 cashiers, bag boys and cart handlers. • Controlled and maintained all payroll cards for employees • Handled Customer service; including complaints, exchanges, verifying bank funds, credit card approvals, etc, • Performed monthly inventories, ordered merchandise as needed, etc.• Prior to becoming Overnight Store Manager held the following positions: Cashier, Lead Cashier, Full Charge Bookkeeper, and Assistant Front Operations Manager working my way up the promotions ladder