Steven E. Combs, MHA, MBA

Languages spoken: Spanish

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

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.