Issia Thelwell is currently the Director of Leisure Sales at Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Previously she worked as the Senior Group Sales Manager at the iconic Jamaica resort and Sales & Marketing Manager at Round Hill Hotel and Villas.
Born & raised in the tourism capital of Jamaica - Montego Bay - Issia is a proud patriot and cultural ambassador for Brand Jamaica. She is most recognized for her stellar performance in two of Jamaica’s top national pageants placing as Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 1st Runner Up (2015) and Miss Jamaica World 1st Runner Up (2018).
Driven by a passion to help Jamaica remain one of the leading competitive destinations, Issia began her career in tourism and hospitality in 2014 at the Hyatt Ziva & Zilara Rose Hall. Since then, she has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience in the hotel industry in areas such as Customer Service, Training & Development, Communications and Sales & Marketing. In 2018, she was appointed Sales & Marketing Manager at Round Hill Hotel and Villas with responsibilities for Transient Sales and Social Media Management. She was a selected member of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) inaugural 2019 Young Leaders' Forum - a regional initiative designed to develop the next generation of Caribbean tourism leaders. Today, Issia is the Senior Group Sales Manager at Half Moon, Jamaica's highest rated luxury resort.
Half Moon Jamaica
Current
The Half Moon Hotel is a legendary luxury resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, renowned for its illustrious history and exceptional operation. Established in 1954, the resort began as a 35-acre estate and has since grown into a sprawling 400-acre oasis of elegance and charm.
Group Sales Strategy: Develop and implement an innovative and effective sales strategy to maximize revenue from incentive group bookings while maintaining the hotel's luxury brand standards.
Team Leadership: Lead and motivate a high-performing sales team, providing guidance, training, and ongoing support to achieve sales targets and foster a collaborative work environment.
Client Relationship Management: Establish and maintain strong relationships with key clients, including corporate executives, event planners, and travel agencies, to drive repeat business and generate new sales opportunities.
Sales Target Achievement: Set ambitious sales targets, track progress, and take proactive measures to meet or exceed revenue goals, consistently analyzing market trends and identifying opportunities for growth.
Proposal and Contract Negotiation: Prepare compelling proposals and negotiate contracts to secure large incentive group bookings, ensuring profitable and mutually beneficial agreements.
Event Planning and Coordination: Collaborate with the operations team to oversee the flawless planning and execution of incentive group events, ensuring exceptional service and exceeding guest expectations.
Market Research: Stay abreast of industry trends, competitor activities, and market demands, providing insights and recommendations to senior executives for continuous improvement of sales strategies.
Reporting and Analysis: Generate accurate sales reports and forecasts, analyzing data to identify areas for improvement and implementing effective strategies to optimize sales performance.
Budget Management: Develop and manage the sales department budget, allocating resources appropriately and ensuring cost-effective practices are implemented without compromising quality or guest satisfaction.
Collaborative Partnerships: Cultivate partnerships with local businesses, destination management companies, and other relevant stakeholders to enhance the hotel's visibility, promote cross-marketing opportunities, and drive additional group bookings.
Round Hill Hotel and Villas
Round Hill Hotel holds a storied past that dates back to the 1950s when it was originally conceived as a private villa by the renowned socialite, John Pringle. Over the years, it evolved into a world-class resort, attracting an elite clientele including celebrities, artists, and influential personalities. Its history is steeped in elegance and glamour, and the resort retains its timeless charm to this day.
Sales & Marketing Manager (2018- 2022)
Sales and Marketing Strategy: Develop and execute comprehensive sales and marketing strategies to drive revenue growth and enhance the hotel's brand positioning in the luxury segment.
Digital Marketing: Lead and oversee all digital marketing efforts, including website management, search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), email marketing, online advertising, and social media campaigns.
Social Media Management: Develop and manage an effective social media strategy, overseeing the creation of engaging content, monitoring social media channels, and fostering meaningful interactions with guests and followers.
Brand Management: Ensure consistent brand messaging and visual identity across all marketing channels and touchpoints, maintaining brand standards and guidelines throughout all communication materials.
Market Research and Analysis: Conduct market research to identify target segments, monitor competitor activities, and stay updated on industry trends, leveraging insights to refine marketing strategies and drive business growth.
Budget Management: Develop and manage the sales and marketing budget, allocating resources effectively and efficiently, while monitoring expenses and ensuring a strong return on investment (ROI).
Collaboration with Stakeholders: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including operations, revenue management, and public relations, to align sales and marketing efforts and maximize opportunities for revenue generation.
Performance Tracking and Reporting: Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) for sales and marketing campaigns, providing regular reports and insights to senior management, and making data-driven recommendations for optimization.
Team Leadership and Development: Lead and mentor a team of sales and marketing professionals, providing guidance, training, and ongoing support, while fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
Partnership Development: Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with relevant international organizations, influencers, and media outlets to enhance brand visibility and drive customer acquisition.
Crisis Management: Actively participate in crisis management planning and execution, ensuring the hotel's brand reputation is protected during challenging situations.
Hyatt Ziva & Zilara
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Meetings & Special Events Specialist (2018)
Provided strategic support to Sales operations based on data analysis for site inspections, familiarization trips, weddings, meetings, conventions, incentive trips and other special events.
Support Meetings & Special Events Managers with administrative tasks, and internal departmental communication
Work alongside Meetings & Special Events Managers as onsite Day-of-Event Coordinator for larger corporate groups and social events.
Execute hotel on-site planning, operation, and communication for corporate conferences, executive/C-Suite meetings, and social events, with a focus on delivering exceptional experiences and cultivating client relationships and repeat business opportunities.
Develop unique and elevated event experiences along with all hotel departments
Create up-sell opportunities to drive revenue, and ensure excellent execution and service delivery throughout the duration of the programs and events
Assist in managing Meetings & Special Events Operations and budgets
Research and analyse new products, pricing, and services offered by competing properties
Assist in apprising property of all groups that will impact Events operations
Assist in execution of event management strategies that aligns with the company’s objectives
Conduct daily walk-through of banquet floor to help ensure client satisfaction and quality of company standards
Assist in developing & maintaining working relationships with external vendors and establishing prices and service agreements to enhance the event experience and to increase additional revenue opportunities for the property as needed
Assists in managing department controllable expenses to achieve or exceed financial objectives
Create an atmosphere in all Event Management operations areas that meets or exceeds clients’ expectations
Executive Office Manager (2017- 2018)
Conceptualized and co-managed Award- winning Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives
Executed multi-media culinary experiences that increased Food & Beverage non- package revenue
Managed systematic data analysis focused on improving rapid response for guests & employees
Analyze service issues and identifies trends with the Executive Operations team
Assist General Manager, Hotel Manager and Director of Operations to develop operational strategies in alignment with business objectives
Conduct weekly meetings with divisional managers and review information pertinent to the week’s business.
Support Operations team to effectively manage occupancy and rate, wages and controllable expenses.
Communicate key performance indicators for guest satisfaction to department leaders
Coordinate weekly and annual performance evaluations with direct reports presented to the
Executive team
Review guest feedback with Executive team to ensure appropriate corrective action is taken
Use personal judgment and expertise to enhance the customer experience and/or suggest alternatives to previous arrangements