Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

SHAJI LEVISON

Brampton,ON

Summary

Experienced industry expert with outstanding accomplishment ,skilled in sales, operations, business development, and marketing. Core competencies in Airline , Hotel , Car and GDS industry ,Proven ability to lead teams and work with internal and external stakeholders. Multilingual with success in cultivating high-profile accounts and driving cross-channel revenue growth. Customer-focused and innovative, with strong analytical and leadership skills. Proficient in strategy development and implementation. Effective planner with excellent presentation and negotiation abilities. Self-motivated and results-oriented with a passion for the GDS industry.

Overview

30
30
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Sales

Sonesta ES Suites Toronto
01.2008 - Current
  • Manage and lead daily sales efforts; direct and shape overall positioning of the hotel, brand communication and the development of customers for the property including, rooms, facility features/amenities, and events
  • Handle revenue, yield strategies, implementation, market performance and meeting budget, forecast, and optimal business mix targets
  • Implement strategies related to pricing, status, direct sales, marketing, and public relations
  • Solicit new and existing transient, group, and meeting room business while developing new business via obtaining accounts from competition, cold calls and use of Hoteligence
  • Maintain and penetrate existing accounts, through regular maintenance calls and prospecting
  • Entrusted to manage top global, national, and local accounts; manage and handle all rate increases, yearly RFP bids and negotiations
  • Collaborate closely with sales team, within lead capacity, guiding them in overall sales goals
  • Top achiever recipient due to meeting targets from 2018 to 2022 (even throughout the pandemic)
  • Successfully already met revenue target for 2022 in September 2022
  • Met RGI goals 3 years consecutively.

Area Sales Manager

Westmont Hotels
01.2012 - Current
  • Proficiently establish, develop, and nurture robust business relationships with both existing and potential customers
  • Conduct thorough research to identify viable sources for cultivating new customer prospects
  • Take charge of directing and overseeing sales and marketing efforts for properties within the Westmont hotels portfolio
  • Skillfully manage key volume accounts in both the corporate market and SMERF market segment
  • Formulate and implement comprehensive budget, sales, and marketing plans, demonstrating adeptness in devising retention strategies and account penetration techniques
  • Strategically prioritize target accounts to effectively capture market share from competitors
  • Recognized for successfully fostering strategic relationships with prominent national and global accounts, as well as key sales contacts within IHG and Carlson
  • Spearheaded the acquisition of over $500,000.00 in new business within the initial 5 months of employment
  • Achieved a noteworthy 12% expansion in market share within the corporate market segment.

Sales Manager

Homewood Suites by Hilton
01.2006 - 01.2012
  • Owned and managed $2 million in budget in business transient/corporate groups
  • Generated revenue from all market segments while focusing on extended stay business
  • Collaborated with the Hilton National Sales team to implement marketing action plans to direct effective and sustained marketing strategy by determining competition, trends, and specific market groups for sales targeting
  • Represented Homeward Suites at trade and community functions to solicit new business
  • Maintained pricing for 180+ corporate accounts (local, national and global) through RFP and share-shift opportunities
  • Increased market share in corporate market segment by 10 %
  • Increased ADR by $ 6.00 between 2010 and 2012
  • Conducted quarterly sales blitzes with all key local accounts and travel agencies, including American Express, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Vision 2000, and BCD Travel; exceeded goals

Sales Manager

Worldspan United Arab Emirates
01.2000 - 01.2002
  • Consistently surpass annual booking targets within the subscriber agency segment through proactive strategies and meticulous execution
  • Optimize subscriber travel agency utilization of Worldspan's system by delivering personalized assistance, tailored solutions, expert advice, and comprehensive training to targeted agents in the UAE
  • Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with subscriber travel agency management and staff in the UAE, building an exceptional rapport based on trust, reliability, and mutual benefit
  • Implement highly detailed account plans and actively participate in trade shows to elevate brand visibility and drive business growth within the region
  • Conduct engaging product seminars and deliver in-depth training sessions within subscriber travel agencies to enhance market awareness and generate heightened interest in Worldspan's innovative product offerings
  • Gather and analyze valuable insights about competitors in the CRS/GDS industry, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the market landscape and identifying strategic opportunities for differentiation
  • Showcase Worldspan's cutting-edge products to prospective customers, particularly vendors such as airlines, hotels, and car rental companies, emphasizing the advantages of electronic distribution within Worldspan's dynamic and feature-rich environment
  • Top of Form
  • Bottom of Form

Sales Manager

YBA Kanoo Airline Affairs, GSAS
01.2002 - 01.2006
  • Strategize and execute business projects to meet each airlines market requirements, employing diverse data collection methods
  • Analyze data to identify each Airlines weaknesses, problems, and their causes, providing justified findings and practical advice
  • Develop detailed business plans for each Airlines transformative changes and assist with plan implementation
  • Staying ahead of competition in the Airline Industry (Bahrain) and Formulating concise recommendations, develop visionary maps, and lead in various components of customer and Market engagement
  • Partner with stakeholders and Corporate, ensuring end-to-end project delivery aligned with the country’s marketing strategy and budget
  • Stay updated on industry innovations, competitive information, and emerging technologies
  • Conducted a comprehensive feasibility study for Thai Airways to assess the viability of operating flights into Bahrain, resulting in the successful establishment of a thrice-weekly flight schedule
  • Successfully spearheaded the inauguration of the Amex/Kanoo Joint Venture corporate office in Bahrain, facilitating enhanced business operations and collaboration
  • Pioneered the establishment of the Airline Affairs office in Bahrain, serving as a pivotal hub for crucial airline-related activities and ensuring seamless operational efficiency.

Interactive Sales Manager

Marriot Hotels
01.1998 - 01.2000
  • Drive room-night generation across Marriott Group's esteemed portfolio of brands by harnessing the power of Automation Marketing and executing meticulously crafted electronic marketing strategies and promotions
  • Innovate and ideate compelling proposals tailored to captivate travel distribution networks and corporate segments, showcasing the Marriott Group's unparalleled value proposition
  • Expertly negotiate contracts with a diverse array of Marriott Group properties, forging mutually beneficial agreements and cultivating enduring partnerships
  • Deliver immersive training sessions to travel agency front-line staff, equipping them with the requisite skills and expertise to seamlessly book Marriott hotels via multiple GDS reservation systems
  • Champion initiatives to heighten industry-wide awareness of Marriott International's extensive range of multi-brand properties, positioning them as premier destinations for discerning travelers
  • Foster close collaboration with sales managers throughout the Marriott network, harmonizing efforts and capitalizing on synergistic opportunities to maximize business growth
  • Establish and maintain a comprehensive, meticulously curated travel agent database within the Middle East region, profiling and segmenting accounts to optimize engagement strategies and drive targeted business development initiatives.

National Sales & Marketing Manager

Hertz International
01.1994 - 01.1998
  • Promoting and selling Hertz's comprehensive range of business and leisure products.
  • Conducting workshops to educate travel agents on booking Hertz through GDS systems like Worldspan, Galileo, and Sabre.
  • Collaborating with esteemed partners such as Saudi American Bank, British Airways, Hertz No 1 Gold, and other Loyalty Partners for various marketing initiatives.
  • Ensuring effective implementation of the marketing mix in KSA, with a focus on travel partnership programs in the Saudi marketplace.
  • Developing and managing corporate contracts and terminology.
  • Expanding rental volume and securing new leisure business by targeting airlines, tour operators, hotel chains, and key travel agency groups.

Education

Post-Baccaleurate Diploma - Travel And Tourism

Institute of Modern Management
Kolkatta
07.1989

Certificate - Airline Marketing

IATA
04.2002

IATA Certification, Advanced Management , Sales & Marketing Hilton Certified Sales & Customer Relation Management / Revenue Management Specialist - undefined

Skills

  • Relationship Management Performance Analysis Opportunity Identification Competitive Threats
  • National Sales Business Plans Clear Objectives Problem Resolution Guidance & Direction
  • Product, Pricing, Distribution, Schedule & Operational Changes Feedback Prioritization
  • Needs & Priorities Marketing Follow-Up Meeting Facilitation Event Management

Affiliations

Member, Canadian Professional Sales Association

Timeline

Area Sales Manager

Westmont Hotels
01.2012 - Current

Director of Sales

Sonesta ES Suites Toronto
01.2008 - Current

Sales Manager

Homewood Suites by Hilton
01.2006 - 01.2012

Sales Manager

YBA Kanoo Airline Affairs, GSAS
01.2002 - 01.2006

Sales Manager

Worldspan United Arab Emirates
01.2000 - 01.2002

Interactive Sales Manager

Marriot Hotels
01.1998 - 01.2000

National Sales & Marketing Manager

Hertz International
01.1994 - 01.1998

Post-Baccaleurate Diploma - Travel And Tourism

Institute of Modern Management

Certificate - Airline Marketing

IATA

IATA Certification, Advanced Management , Sales & Marketing Hilton Certified Sales & Customer Relation Management / Revenue Management Specialist - undefined

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