Raluca Mihaescu

My current role is Hospitality Portfolio Manager, for one of the biggest investment companies from Romania, being involved in the hospitality company’s projects : Corinthia Grand Hotel du Boulevard, Swissotel Bucharest, Corinthia Maldives

• Conduct regular analysis and interpretations of revenue, demand generators, financial reporting and management data to evaluate hotel performance and, where necessary, develop short- and long-term strategies to improve performance
• Follows negotiation and implementation of investment works necessary for hotel operations according to the approved budget
• For example: equipping kitchens according to requirements, implementing software specific to hotel industry, back-of-house, etc
• Ensures the implementation of brand requirements in investment projects
• Analyzes business requirements, including creating presentations, communications, and drafting related documents
• Attributions regarding opening budgets (pre-opening, OS&E): Thoroughly analyzes the budgets submitted by the Operator; Makes comparisons with current market and proposes cost optimization; Presents comparative budgets to hierarchical superior(s); Negotiates with Operator optimization of these budgets; Presents hierarchically, periodically / upon request, economic and financial statements and other requested synthesis documents
• Participates in design or operational meetings that have impact on the Budget of hotel units
• Shares at company level, know-how specific to the hospitality industry
• Ensures defining and communication of the requirements of partners, legal and regulatory authorities applicable in hospitality industry
• Provides support for obtaining all licenses necessary to operate as a hotel unit, according to legal framework (eg Risk Analysis, DSP Authorization, DSV Authorization, Tourism License and Hotel Classification, qualifications necessary for the hotel industry in confirmation with ITM, etc.)
• Participates in conclusion of commercial transactions and legal acts regarding investments carried out for hotel operations
• Represents the company with professionalism and responsibility in front of authorities, collaborators, third parties, etc
• Support in creating annual budget for the Hospitality department
• Maintains a solid professional connection with the selected Hotel Operators
• Responsible for negotiating and maintaining contact with transport and / or accommodation service providers (travel agencies, hotels, etc.)
• Responsible for maintaining the contact with the company's PR agency, as well as for drawing up and following the company's social media plan
• Responsible, together with the communication director, with the company's communication & PR plan – with a focus on hospitality
• Ensures the conclusion and signing of contracts to promote the company's image taking into account the approved communication strategy
• Ensures the implementation of Niro Investment SA's image and communication strategies nationally and internationally.
• Implemented robust compliance measures to adhere to regulatory requirements while managing client assets effectively.

As General Manager for a hotel opening, I was responsible for managing all the pre-opening and operational activities in order to successfully open the new property and reaching further the qualitative and quantitative forecasted results

• Responsible for a team of 50 colaborators
• Established comprehensive employee training programs to develop skills, improve productivity, and maintain compliance with industry regulations.
• Key achievements and responsibilities: Coordinating all hotel’s operations for assuring the Top Line objectives
• Coordinating all the pre-opening tasks following the Accor standards and procedures
• Correlating the construction site works with the Accor pre-opening plan
• Supervising constantly the works on site, to make sure all the Accor technical requirements are reached and covered
• Responsible for making sure all the legal authorisations are in place before opening the hotel
• Assuring the implementation of the PMS systems, PBX, etc
• Negotiating and signing all the contracts for the hotel opening with suppliers and partners
• Checking the competition and the local market, in order to build together with the RM team the sales and prices strategy for the hotel
• Recruiting all hotel staff for the first year of operations
• Creating together with the sales director the sales and marketing plan for the pre opening and after opening period
• Preparing the hotel budget for the first year of operations
• Preparing the P&L of the hotel accordingly with the approved business plan.

As General Manager, I led a team of 57 employees (excluding outsourced staff) and I am responsible of both quantitative and qualitative results of the hotel

• Key achievements and responsibilities: Coordinating all hotel’s operations for assuring the Top Line objectives
• Increasing total revenue vs BUD with +8%
• Increasing ARR with 7% vs BUD
• Increasing clients satisfaction survey with 4 pct over the last 2 years of operations ( from 76 to 81 pct)
• Quality results – internal audit -91% score
• Controlling the P&L in order to make sure that GOP is delivered as per the Budget proposal
• Making sure that the GSS score is well maintained at the targeted level by assuring a high quality of the guest satisfaction rating
• Making sure that all employees are participating in all compulsory trainings ( like: security, hygiene, etc)
• Ensuring the guest satisfaction score imposed by Ibis brand by constantly and correctly managing the GSS tool (Guest Satisfaction Service)
• Making sure that all employees are respecting all the requirements related with the brand specifications, in order to keep up with the clients expectations for increasing the guests satisfaction.

As Interim General Manager, I had to lead a team of 54 employees (excluding outsourced staff) and to be responsible of both quantitative and qualitative results of the hotel, replacing the GM of the hotel, during her maternity leave

• Key achievements and responsibilities: Coordinating all hotel’s operations for assuring the Top Line objectives
• Increasing total revenue vs BUD with +7%
• Increasing ARR with 2.5% vs BUD
• Increasing GOI with 4% vs BUD
• Increasing clients satisfaction survey with 1 pct ( from 83 to 84 pct)
• Controlling the P&L in order to make sure that GOP is delivered as per the Budget proposal
• Making sure that the GSS score is well maintained at the targeted level by assuring a high quality of the guest satisfaction rating
• Making sure that all employees are participating in all compulsory trainings ( like: security, hygiene, etc)
• Ensuring the guest satisfaction score imposed by Ibis brand by constantly and correctly managing the GSS tool (Guest Satisfaction Service)
• Making sure that all employees are respecting all the requirements related with the brand specifications, in order to keep up with the clients expectations for increasing the guests satisfaction.

As Director of Sales and Marketing for the four Ibis hotels in Romania, I was in charge of the top line results of the hotel, as well as of the brand awareness in the marketplace during all this period, facing all the challenges of the crises and those generated by the new 3 Ibis hotel openings that we had while this period, building and training a team of 12 sales team members for all the hotels

• Key achievements and responsibilities: Creating and implementing the sales & marketing strategy, business development, training, recruitment
• Leading the Sales and Events team (10 members) and being responsible of the quantitative results of the hotel
• Responsible for the commercial sales, marketing and PR activities for all Ibis hotels in Romania: 2 hotels in Bucharest, 1 hotel in Constanta and 1 hotel in Sibiu (total of 760 rooms to manage)
• 3 hotel openings in Bucharest, Constanta and Sibiu in 4 years
• Organizing and coordinating the 10th Years Ibis in Romania annivesary on June 2011 and all corporate and social events for Ibis Hotels Romania
• Increasing the corporate segment with 17% in the last 2 years of this position
• Increasing the leisure segment with 6% in last 2 years of this position
• Creating, managing and mantaining content and updates the local Ibis Romania website with new promotions and news for obtaining additional revenue ( with technical support) increasing the online direct distribution with 8%
• Reporting to the General Manager Ibis Romania.

As an Executive Director, I was in charge of the top line results of the company, as well as of the brand awareness in the marketplace

• Key achievements and responsibilities: Developing and creating the sales and marketing strategy for the company
• Responsible for organizing the operational teams at the event venue
• Increasing revenue for the company with 100% in less than 1 year
• Creating a clientele for the company
• Organizing big and important events such as weddings, charity galas, product launches, store openings, and private dinners and parties for high-profile clients.

As Director of Sales, I was in charge of the top line results of the hotel, as well as of the brand awareness in the marketplace

• Key achievements and responsibilities: Creating and implementing the sales & marketing strategy, business development, training, recruitment
• Leading the Sales and Events team (6 members) and being responsible of the quantitative results of the hotel
• Responsible for negotiations with Ministerial delegations, international organizations, and embassies
• Creating and responding to the Sales & Marketing plan
• Participating in the elaboration of the pricing policy and rates strategy of the hotel
• Communication with Hilton International sales offices
• Ensuring the hotel sales team is within the strategies, standards, and policies of Hilton International
• Manage over 60 accounts, keeping and increasing rates while competition increased
• Ensuring ongoing training plan for the sales team
• Experience in organizing international fairs and exhibitions.

As a sales account manager, I was in charge of a client’s portfolio and I was responsible for promoting the brand awareness across the market

• Key achievements and responsibilities: Commercial sales and promotional activities of the Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest and other Hilton International properties
• Negotiate and conclude agreements with Romanian and multinational corporate clients, government, embassies, airlines, and travel agents
• Managed over 120 accounts, increasing annually revenue and occupancy for the hotel
• Organizing and supervising conferences, meetings, banquets, social functions, and catering service packages
• Keeping up to date with the strategies, standards, and policies of Hilton International
• Ensuring that potential sales leads are converted into business
• Experience in organizing international fairs and exhibitions.