Marion Hughes

2600 J F K Boulevard H 1 (201) 360-0818

Apt 1 B Jersey City NJ 07306 C 1 (646) 670-8837

marion.hughes@gmail.com

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=4409769&trk=tab_pro

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: 20+ years global business development in the travel industry with emphasis on revenue management and generation via electronic distribution, online marketing and technology sales. SALES: Outstanding pipeline management skills with a track record of predictability and exceeding quotas. Skilled negotiator and closer. Flexible and creative and able to present value proposition. Proven partnership-building track record. PERSONALITY: Capable, extremely productive, organized, efficient, ethical and multicultural; possessing team mentality and polished oral/written communication skills. At ease with c-suite management for sponsorship, partnership and alliances. TALENTS: Able to develop and deploy strategies to boost revenues, increase fundraising and grow market share. Elected to international industry body (www.hedna.org) Board of Directors Chairwoman of Sponsorship and Fundraising for annual global conference Languages: Fluent French, Spanish, Portuguese Mobility: 20+ years full time residence in Paris, FR (permanent “carte de sejour” / permit to reside in France)

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EDUCATION

University of Phoenix, AZ MBA, Concentration in strategic planning for competitive advantage, global business, marketing Pennsylvania State University; State College, PA 1983 Bachelor of Arts, Advertising; School of Communications. Concentration: electronic publishing, media planning

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EXPERIENCE Senior Account Director April 2010-April 2011 www.getaroom.com Account Director for Getaroom.com's most important market: Manhattan ...Lead the relationship and expansion efforts for a challenged start-up dot.com. Managed and grew a small portfolio of 63 properties increasing it to 143 hotels generating almost $10 million in online reservations. Started in April 2010 when NYC market generated about $400,000 and at the end of 2010 NYC was booking over $850,000/mo in revenue. As Senior Director I managed all GAR participation, negotiation of margins and contracting for over 140 hotel properties on the site; performed the revenue specialist role and managed the team who handled updating and maintaining rates and inventory for the properties. Simultaneously executed the sales manager role by working with hotels to utilize GAR technology to run flash sales and create promos that generated incremental reservations.

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Accomplishments: Increased participation in portfolio by 40%, took OPAQUE hotels from only 8% up to 29% in less than one year. Generated increased respect for the company and helped it grow in a challenging period. Extranet training of GAR Administration Tools, Revenue Management Strategies, Channel Management Software EZYield, Rate Tiger, Channel Direct, Salesforce, and Excel and Powerpoint. Vice President, Revenue Generation June 2009-September 2009 www.professionaltravelguide.com Hired by CEO in June to evaluate and revise suggested recovery strategy and roll out new e-commerce model. High-level industry presentations to both suppliers and agencies on a global level for sponsorship and partner alliances. Managed team of 5 and interacted with executive committee on strategic review of goals and revenue streams. Managed multimillion dollar advertising program as well as all promotions, and direct marketing activity for firm. Developed long term strategic marketing goals and detailed marketing plans. Developed new product suite; organized implementation schedule for new product rollout and continued with strategic analysis. NOTE: Company shareholders entered discussions to sell to competitor which ended September 2009 --buyers bid was rejected and the firm closed down, terminating entire team. Independent Contractor: April 2008-December. 2009

Managed several short-term consulting projects for CEO’s re-organizing global business development including a super intense two month project at www.professionaltravelguide.com mentioned above

Sept – December 2009 I Joined the global Intelligent Hotels Revenue Management Analysis team teaching Revenue Management for HSMAI in Scandinavia

Utilized several months of “personal leave” assisting my 89 year old father as we sold his home and moved him to assisted living after death of my mother (am an “only child”)

Completed MBA. Sold Paris apartment and finalized permanent relocation to NYC after two decades overseas.)

Vice President, Development, InterActive Services Division May 2007 – July 2008 Open Hospitality Inc., New York (www.openhospitality.com)

Startup hotel reservation technology providerin preparation for launch of a new digital agency division. Created pricing/marketing policies and documentation and menu of interactive offerings. Developed process for RFP evaluation and response, yearly rates schedule for digital services, wrote and negotiated contracts, and advised on connectivity deals for portal strategies and distribution systems. Handled all PR and advertising for interactive division launch.

http://www.openhospitality.com/default.aspx?pg=news_travel&rp=news

http://www.openhospitality.com/default.aspx?pg=news_hawks&rp=news

Vice President Strategic Development January 2005 – May 2007 Open World Limited, Bath, UK / Paris, FR

A privately held digital agency with a stellar luxury hotel client base (no longer in operation.) Managed the team of sales people who were responsible for hundreds of luxury hotel chains and independent properties’ web presence. Clients included The New York Palace, Dorchester Group, Peninsula Hotels Group, Fairmont, Raffles, Swissotels, Hyatt, Pan Pacific, Concorde Hotels, Rocco Forte, InterContinental, Le Meridien, Warwick Hotels and Small Luxury Hotels among others.

Head of OpenWorld’s travel portal division. Sites included (www.luxurytravel.com, www.worldexecutive.com, etc.)

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Managed $30 million USD in revenue yearly; oversaw group of 5 regional sales managers. Doubled

the bookable hotel inventory in under 18 months; individually increased sales by $4 million in one year; created revenue analysis team, established new sources of product line and inventory, as well as improved commission collection processes, resulting in over $800,000 in additional commission revenues.

Strengthened and built partnerships with over 80 luxury or major hotel chains on a direct to brand scale;

completely re-launched Luxurytravel.com; oversaw all contracting with GDS and various third party inventory sources; established XML feeds directly into multiple CRS systems via direct connectivity with Pegasus. Oversaw all marketing activity including SEO and all online advertising sales.

Led team of 7 business development managers located in Europe, Asia Pacific/Middle East. Trained/managed multicultural staff to understand the sales cycle, overcoming objections, cold calling approaches, contract negotiations and managing expectations. Set up centralized sales tracking, CRM system, and managed lead generation, tracking of prospects to close, all RFP responses. Negotiated sales with groups for redesign and rebuilds of hotel websites in excess of $2 million per contract.

International Business Development Director July 2003 – January 2005 WorldChoiceTravel.com, (Travelocity.com/SABRE) Paris, FR

Expanded international affiliate program for the white label division of Travelocity.com; landed two key

European partners generating over $6 million in online bookings. Negotiated and confirmed private label distribution contracts with dozens of internationally owned and operated travel sales websites.

European Director Business Development August 2001 - May 2003 Lexington Services (GDS Representation) Paris, FR

Managed EMEA sales for hundreds of European independent or small chain hotels using Lexington for

GDS/ADS delivery. Prepared electronic distribution representation and analysis, ADS channel management and yield strategy. Managed partner relations with TravelClick, Sabre, Amadeus WorldSpan, Sabre and Galileo. Signed one luxury hotel group worth in excess of $4 million per annum. Successfully retained existing hotel client base of hotels using Lexington for GDS representation post 9/11; grew client base by 30% in 2003.

International Director of Sales March 1998 – August 2001 HotelView™ (Internet video marketing for hotels) Paris, FR

Headed EMEA sales; international contracting with that region’s hotel chains and individual properties to produce full library of digital video recorded tours for online distribution/streaming video. Signed major deals with Orient Express, Leading Hotels of the World, Movenpick, Millenium Copthorne, Kempinski, ACCOR.

Initiated and negotiated key content distribution partnerships; contracting licensing agreements with major partners such as Leading Hotels of the World, EXCITE.co.uk, Expedia Europe, Liberty Channels, Travel Television, ASTA,

Developed strategic alliance with Businessmeetings.com, SABRE, and WorldRes.

Area Director of Sales and Marketing October 1995 – January 1998 Pestana Hotels and Resorts; Madeira, Portugal

Managed all sales/marketing for 6 convention hotels; led staff of 14 at this luxury meetings resort. Grew

ADR by 14% and occupancy by 38%. Tour Operator negotiation; rate analysis and revenue management. Reorganized and successfully grew Meetings, Groups and Incentives division; handled all marketing; organized all European trade missions and trade show participation, including EIBTM, ITME an all MPI/SITE events; directed and purchased all print advertising and PR campaigns;

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Vice President of Sales February 1995 -January 1996 Tecnopolo (Int’l Conference and Exhibition Center); Madeira, Portugal

Managed sales team of 5, set and deployed pre-opening marketing strategy for multimillion dollar technology, conference and exhibition venue.

Researched , wrote and presented Board of directors with in-depth market research on conferences and incentive/exhibition industry in Europe. Created/developed sales strategy, positioning. Prepared full media campaign, public relations, ran site inspections and negotiations with local hoteliers. All pricing and contracts were written and managed by myself and I hired and trained a team of 5 account executives for sales and launch of centre.

European Advertising Director January 1993 - January 1995 Official Meeting Facilities Guide, Reed Elsevier Publishing, Paris, FR

Sold ads into premier directory of European meeting and conference facilities; consistently achieved and

surpassed all sales objectives established by publisher. Sold outside front cover several issues and was named salesperson of the year Managed all relationships with major convention centers, meeting facilities and CVB’s in France, Spain,

Portugal, and Greece Advertising Account Director-Europe 1988 -1993 Fairchild Publications; Paris, FR

European Account Director for the leading North American publishing company: W, Women’s Wear Daily, Travel Agent Magazine, Footwear News, Sportstyle, Golf Pro Merchandiser

Advertising Account Executive 1983 - 1988 Yellow Pages, Boston, MA / Philadelphia, PA

Senior Account Executive for official phone book ad sales; ranked top in state.