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Steven E. Combs

Steven E. Combs, BS

Languages spoken: Spanish

Academic Information

Departments Adjunct -

Academic Office Information

u0268985@utah.edu

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

  • Hands-on General Management Experience with full P&L accountability.
  • Solid experience in communicating, training, mentoring and holding people accountable for performance.
  • Cross-functional Hotel Operations experience in Revenue Management, Front Office Operations, Sales & Marketing, and Accounting.
  • Teamwork Experience functioning at varied levels from Advisory Board Membership, Website Development Committees, Sales & Marketing Direction.
  • Experience interfacing and meeting needs of all stake-holders (owners, customers, employees) in hospitality operations.
  • Passion for hospitality.
  • Possession of a learning mentality.

EDUCATION

2000 M.B.A. Marketing Westminster College

1989 B.A. Economics, Brigham Young University

EMPLOYMENT

Acting Director of Sales & Marketing, 2008-Present, Grand America Hotels and Resorts, Salt Lake City, UT

·In addition to concurrent duties as Director of Revenue Management supervised a team of 12 sales team members.

·Responsible for selection and hiring of sales managers.

·Directed Sales & Marketing effort to include management of and selection of trade shows and travel schedule of sales team.

·Worked directly with creative services to develop marketing collateral and was responsible for marketing channel placement.

·Completed total redesign of sales team bonus program.

·Managed rate quoting process and associated contract negotiations.

·Extensive review and approval of sales contracts.

·Co-directed development of new website.

·Other miscellaneous duties as directed by President of company.

Director of Revenue Management, 2000-Present, Grand America Hotels and Resorts, Salt Lake City, UT

·Developed and implemented revenue management culture and processes to maximize revpar focusing primarily on one 775 room 5 Diamond Hotel and one 850 room 4 Diamond Hotel and secondarily on 4 other properties.

·Managed all channels of distribution and relationships with suppliers and vendor partners, including GDSs, Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, TravelClick, Sceptre, Micros-Fidelio, and Opus 2.

·Responsible for pricing product, transient and group, with respect to changing demand and competitive maneuvers.

·Developed demand estimations and price/cross-price elasticities utilizing econometrics.

·Developed budgeting and forecasting models for multiple hotels.

·Extensive design and use of spreadsheets and pivot tables used to analyze operations and sales pace/performance on a consistent monthly basis.

·Developed and maintained bonus compensation plan for all sales personnel.

·Active participant of website development committee.

·Project Manager for Fidelio Opera, Opus 2 Top Line Profit (now known as ORMS), and Opera Sales & Catering installation including complete system configuration entailing market segmentation, transaction codes, rate structure, etc.

·Opening management team member of 775 room hotel with 75,000 square feet of meeting space.

Official “Olympic Family Hotel” for 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Reservations Advisory Board, 2002-2003 Leading Hotels of the World, NYC, NY.

·Board member contributing operations expertise, planning, fundraising, and assistance with annual meeting planning.

Corporate Director Revenue Management Development, 2000, Wyndham Int’l, Dallas, TX

·Managed E-Commerce marketing and distribution for more than 170 hotels both domestic and international.

·Negotiated contracts with Internet Travel Providers including Expedia and Hotels.com on behalf of over 170 hotels.

·Liaison between corporation, hotels, and partners.

·Evaluated numerous business models with respect to content, efficiency, and marketing strategy and made recommendations to senior management for national brand participation.

·Analyzed, recommended, and secured inventory/pricing for all e-commerce partners.

·Developed and deployed sophisticated demand forecasting models which were adopted as corporate standards nationwide.

Area Revenue Manager, 1996-2000, Red Lion/DoubleTree Hotels, Salt Lake City, UT

·Primary Responsibilities for one property in UT and minor responsibilities for 4 properties in ID and MT.

·Extensive forecasting responsibilities including daily, monthly, quarterly, and yearly revenues and occupancy.

·Specification and development of various forecasting models.

·Extensive rate analysis and adjustment.

·Budget development responsibilities.

·Using multivariate regression analysis, constructed accurate estimated demand curves and elasticity estimates.

·Managed call center employees including, hiring, training, monitoring performance and evaluations.

General Manager, 1993-1996, Alamo Rent A Car, Anchorage, AK

·Senior executive for Alamo Rent A Car in the State of Alaska, functioning with a great deal of autonomy.

·Accountable for a 1,200 car fleet. This included fleet size analysis, title management, receiving, mechanical repairs, body-work, preventative maintenance, mileage management, turn-back compliance, and retail of vehicles.

·Management of underground fuel tanks, including management of a construction project replacing a 10,000 gallon tank, and all associated environmental regulations.

·Responsible for maintaining corporate brand standards and customer service levels.

·Full profit/loss accountability for operations with over 20 million in assets and 6 million in sales.

·Sole managerial accountability for 7 managers and 55 employees and all associated activities including but not limited to, I-9 Qualifications, Workers compensation management, Unemployment management and testifying before state labor boards.

·Development of operating and capital budgets.

·Reduced fleet by 33% over two years yet maintained flat revenue via creative daily/weekly pricing schedules.

·Oversaw competitive bid process with Airport Authority for on-site operations resulting in premier selection of airport counter space.

·Managed extensive airport operations remodel.

Station Manager, 1991-1993, Hertz Rent A Car, Anchorage, AK

·Managed customer service operations at Airport.

·Fleet vehicle management including preventative maintenance, mechanical maintenance, and body work.

·Underground fuel tank management.

·Revenue management duties including sales of auxiliary products.

·Functioned as operation Safety Manager.

Manager/Marketing Associate, 1989-1991, Host-Marriott, Anchorage, AK

·Relief manager for airport operations, including, 4 lounges, 4 snack bars, 2 restaurants, one cafeteria, kitchen and storeroom.

·Conducted inventories, ordered food, verified cashier transactions, deposits, and banks.

·Quality assurance and management of Food & Beverage operations and service personnel.

·Implemented national branding campaigns.

·Assisted in contract bid process with Airport Authority.

·Assisted with preliminary remodel plans.