Chigbufue Odion Mary
Ajah,Nigeria
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven Executive Director with over 17 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. A proven transformational leader, recognized for driving organizational change and growth through innovative strategies, operational excellence, and an unwavering passion for the travel sector. Demonstrated expertise in leading diverse teams, fostering collaboration, and building a culture of performance. Adept at setting and achieving ambitious targets, with a track record of delivering exceptional business results. Known for being a hands-on leader, team player, and mentor, who cultivates strong relationships with stakeholders and motivates teams to exceed expectations. Passionate about creating customer-centric experiences and positioning businesses for long-term success in an ever-evolving industry.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Director
TBI GROUP
04.2022 - Current
- Establishing policies for strengthening the group’s performance, including ensuring management is proactively seeking to build the business through innovation, initiative, technology, new products and the development of its business capital
- Monitor the performance of management, setting the terms of their employment, regularly reviewing performance and, where necessary terminating their employment
- Ensuring the group adheres to standards of ethics and corporate behaviour
- Ensuring the group has appropriate risk management/regulatory compliance policies in place
- Ensuring the group’s financial statement are accurate and fair and otherwise conform with the law.
General Manager
TBI Cruises and Tours, Nigeria
, Nigeria
10.2017 - 03.2022
- Promote and market the business, sometimes to new or niche markets
- Manage budgets and maintain statistical and financial records
- Sell travel products and tour packages
- Source products and destinations to meet consumer demands for bespoke travel and sustainable tourism
- Deliver and exceed branch performance and productivity
- Take part in familiarisation visits to new destinations, to gather information on issues and amenities of interest to consumers
- Liaise with travel partners, including airlines and hotels, to manage bookings and schedules, often a year in advance
- Deal with customer enquiries and aim to meet their expectations
- Provide sales reports to head office
- Implement alternative and innovative ideas for achieving new business
- Oversee the smooth, efficient running of the business.
General Manager
Tour Brokers International, Nigeria
, Nigeria
10.2014 - 03.2022
- Liaise with Trade partners on strategic promotions of destinations and signing of JMA
- Represent the company at business meetings
- Ensure the development of tactical programs to pursue targeted goals and objectives
- Ensure the overall delivery and quality of the unit's offerings to customers
- Engage in key or targeted customer activities
- Oversee key hiring and talent development programs
- Evaluate and decide upon key investments in equipment, infrastructure, and talent
- Communicate strategy and results to the unit's employees
- Report key results to corporate officers
- Engage with corporate officers in broader organizational strategic planning
- Oversee daily operations of the business unit or organization
- Ensure the creation and implementation of a strategy designed to grow the business.
GSA Manager
Bedsonline, Nigeria
, Nigeria
01.2013 - 09.2019
- Recruiting, interviewing and hiring outstanding people
- Coaching and developing team to achieve results
- Communicating, executing and managing internal and external marketing and visual merchandising initiatives to achieve goals
- Ensure adherence to all retail policies and procedures by staff
- Maintaining proper inventory controls
- Analyzing various business reports to understand trends and opportunities
- Managing all scheduling and payroll functions to maximize sales and productivity while meeting/exceeding company financial goals
- Develop and promote to the brand from similar variant sold by competitors
- Register new sub-agents across the region
- Display a high level of critical thinking in functional process analysis and problem resolution for new and existing agents/products
- Coordinate and build strong working relations with staff and subagents.
GSA Manager
GTA Nigeria
, Nigeria
01.2013 - 03.2013
- Build a comprehensive Marketing Strategy
- Develop and promote to the brand from similar variant sold by competitors
- Develop brand strategies that establish the brand as a dominant player amongst Tour Operators in the Travel industry
- Register new sub-agents across the region
- Train sub-agents on the GTA product offering
- Meet/exceed and maintain service levels as assigned by management
- Display a high level of critical thinking in functional process analysis and problem resolution for new and existing agents/products
- Monitor internal processes for efficiency and validity pre & post product launch/changes
- Coordinate and build strong working relations with staff and subagents.
Head of Operation
Tour Brokers International
Lekki Phase 1, Nigeria
07.2009 - 01.2013
- Ensure that appropriate standards of conduct are established and complied with
- Represent the company at different business meetings
- Attend regular meetings with MD around fiscal planning
- Play a significant role in long-term planning, with the view to delivering operational excellence
- Work with the staff team, and contribute to the development and implementation of organizational strategies, policies and practices
- Ensure that the strategic and business objectives as well as the values of company are put into practice
- Work with staff to ensure business growth through directing and managing business operations activities to ensure they are delivered in accordance with the strategic objectives.
Head, Sales and Marketing
Tour Brokers International
Victoria Island, Nigeria
- Build a comprehensive Marketing Strategy
- Develop different packages and promotions to radically differentiate standard products from similar variant sold by competitors
- Develop brand strategies that establish the brand as a dominant player amongst Tour Operators in the Travel industry
- Develop a Marketing Plan to capture target market and Organise and participate in road shows/marketing events/ telemarketing to promote tour packages
- Develop specific Channel strategies to maximize ROI on Advertising and Marketing campaigns, especially on online and viral (social networking) channels
- Develop annual Marketing Plans with Product & Segment Marketing teams
- Identify & develop core product/service platforms for marketing packages
- Present a yearly budget in conjunction with the Finance Officer for Board approval and prudently manage resources within those budget guidelines.
Tour Consultant
Tour Brokers International
Victoria Island, Nigeria
- Tour Packaging and Marketing
- Research on attractive travel destinations and tour packages
- Analysis of component costs to arrive at total package pricing
- Liaison with media partners to produce advert materials for travel packages (brochures, handbills, multimedia CDs/DVDs, radio, website, branded merchandise)
- Planning and Organisation of Corporate Retreats, Conferences and Seminars
- Sourcing of suitable/serene venues for corporate retreats, seminars and conferences
- Planning of events logistics (guest accommodation, feeding, transportation, visa)
- Identification of key lessons learnt in order to improve on service quality
- Customer Relationship Management
- Travel consultation and advisory for new and existing clients (corporate/individual)
- Visa applications vetting and consultation
- Customer queries handling and resolution
- Bespoke travel/tour packages
- Planning and Organisation of Group Tours/Travels (for Corporate, Educational Institutions and Individuals)
- Travel logistics (including flight ticket procurement, visa processing, hotel accommodation, car hire services)
- Guided tours
- Branded travel souvenirs
- Strategic Business Relationship/ Alliances Management
- Alliance with corporate organisations e.g
- Banks, oil and gas firms for promotional travel packages for customers, and staff incentive programs
- Liaison with local and foreign tour service providers, hotels and airlines for favourable business terms (special rates, discounts, travel insurance).
Warehouse Manager
Lexitoaki Company Nigeria Limited
- Achieve high levels of customer satisfaction through excellence in receiving, identifying, dispatching and assuring quality of goods
- Measure and report the effectiveness of warehousing activities and employees performance
- Organize and maintain inventory and storage area
- Ensure shipments’ and inventory transactions’ accuracy
- Communicate job expectations and coach employees
- Determine staffing levels and assign workload
- Interface with customers to answer questions or solve problems
- Maintain items record, document necessary information and utilize reports to project warehouse status
- Identify areas of improvement and establish innovative or adjust existing work procedures and practices
- Confer and coordinate activities with other departments.
Education
MBA -
University of East London
LondonBSc Ed. Physics -
University of Lagos, Nigeria
Diploma in Geology -
University of Benin, Nigeria
West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) -
Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos
Skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite eg Word and PowerPoint
- Destination Event planning and organisation
- MICE expert
- Excellent communication & interpersonal /teaming skills
- Proficiency in ticket booking and hotel reservation systems (Amadeus)
- Great Team leader
- Proficient in the use of Royal Caribbean International’s Espresso cruise booking platform
- Proficient in the use of Norwegian cruise line’s Seaweb agents booking platform
- Proficient in the use of MSC cruise line’s MSC Book agents booking platform
Affiliations
- International air transport association and United federation of travel agents association (IATA/UFTAA)
- National Association Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA)
- Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP)
- Cruise Line International Association (CLIA)
- SKÅL
Certification
- 2021, Institute of Enterprise Management and Analytics, Contract bidding, Tenders and Proposal Administration
- 2020, University of London, Managing the company of the future
- 2020, Jamaica Travel Specialist Program, Weddings and Honeymoon
- 2020, Dubai College of Tourism, Tour Marketing & Management
- 2020, Dubai College of Tourism, Inclusive Service
- 2020, Dubai College of Tourism, Dubai Way
- 2020, NCLU, Master’s Degree
- 2020, NCLU, Bachelor’s Degree
- 2020, NCLU, Associate Degree
- 2019, Dubai Expert Plus
- 2015, Lagos Business school, Nigeria, Senior Management Program
- 2013, SA SPECIALIST, South Africa Travel expert
- 2012, Lagos Business school, Nigeria, Assertiveness at Work
- 2010, FUNDI, South Africa Travel Expert
- 2010, IATA/UFTAA, International Travel and Tourism Management Diploma
- 2009, IATA/UFTTA, Diploma in Travel and Tourism Foundation
Accomplishments
- Instrumental to the sales growth of TBI cruises from 23% to 200% YoY from 2017 till date
- Successful Migration of all agents under GTA to the Bedsonline brand
- Successful training of over 300 travel agents on the usability of the GTA platform in Northern, Southern and Eastern Nigeria
- A panelist at the 2019 AKWAABA African Travel Market. Topic: Is Tourism a sustainable business for the youth?
- Successful training of Travel agents in Nigeria and Ghana on the viability and benefits of the sales of Cruise holidays as an alternative to land holidays
- Key note Speaker at the 2018 AKWAABA African Travel Market. Topic: What drives the Youth Tourism market?
- Successful planning and organisation of trips to Caribbean cruise for Etisalat Nigeria DP
- Successful planning and organisation of trips to Brazil for Etisalat Nigeria DP
- Successful planning and organization of birthday parties on board Royal Caribbean cruise ships
- Successful planning and organization of clients for the 2010 FIFA world cup Package.
- Successful planning and organisation of a South Africa group tour package for Forever Living Products WORLD MEGA RALLY in 2009.
- Successful planning and organisation of a South Africa group tour package for Forever Living Products Rally in 2007.
- Successful planning and organisation of trips to Spain for Etisalat Nigeria DP
- Successful planning and organisation of trips to Malaysia for Etisalat Nigeria DP
Personal Information
- Gender: Female
- Nationality: Nigerian
Languages
- English
- Yoruba
- Esan
Volunteer Experience
- Agatha Obiageli Aghedo Memorial Foundation - Project Manager
- Agatha Obiageli Aghedo Memorial Foundation - General Secretary
- Nigerian Red Cross - Patron
- Nigerian Association of Tour Operators - National Treasurer
Hobbies and Interests
- Travelling
- Meeting People
Key Competences
- Transformational Leadership & Change Management
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Team Building & Leadership Development
- Operational Excellence & Process Optimization
- Customer-Centric Solutions
- Market Expansion & Revenue Growth
- Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Building
Awards
- Top 50 Nigerian Tourism Female personalities
- 100 Tourism Power-list - Change makers in Nigeria category
- Top 100 Travel and Toursim personalities in Africa
- Toursim 100 club
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Executive Director
TBI GROUP
04.2022 - Current
General Manager
TBI Cruises and Tours, Nigeria
10.2017 - 03.2022
General Manager
Tour Brokers International, Nigeria
10.2014 - 03.2022
GSA Manager
Bedsonline, Nigeria
01.2013 - 09.2019
GSA Manager
GTA Nigeria
01.2013 - 03.2013
Head of Operation
Tour Brokers International
07.2009 - 01.2013
Head, Sales and Marketing
Tour Brokers International
Tour Consultant
Tour Brokers International
Warehouse Manager
Lexitoaki Company Nigeria Limited
MBA -
University of East London
BSc Ed. Physics -
University of Lagos, Nigeria
Diploma in Geology -
University of Benin, Nigeria
West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) -
Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos
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