Christopher Thomas Nickel's Page

Job Seeker or Employer

Jobseeker

Objective (Job seekers: Please include the nearest metropolitan area and the locations where you want to work. Employers/Recruiters: Please describe your company and any positions you hope to fill.)

To become gainfully employed in the customer service, travel or hotel industry with a focus on management.

Contact Information

314-239-2265

What types of jobs are you seeking? (select all that apply)

Full Time, Part Time, Temporary, Customer Service, Hotel, Travel Industry

Work Experience (most recent)

Meridian Enterprises Corporation St Louis, MO
Business Development Manager 2007 - 2009
Acting liaison between Account Executive and vendor; cultivated relationships and demonstrated ability to source space with a careful eye on budget and expectations. Responsibilities included gathering information on specific destinations, sourcing hotel space, preparing detailed information for presentation, writing letters of agreements, negotiating hotel contracts and delivering group space to point of sale.

Work Experience (earlier)

Maritz Travel Company St Louis, MO
Senior Travel Director 1999 - 2007
Responsible for operating on-site logistics, multiple events and travel plans for groups from 50 to 5000 participants in both domestic and international locations. Average of 15 business meetings and 20 incentive trips per year; proven leadership through the coordination and training of staff, domestic and international, ranging from 2 to 15 during program operations; handle contracts and billing procedures between various vendors and clients with budgets ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000; developing relationships and contacts worldwide by serving as the principal liaison between my company, the client and multiple suppliers. Provide exceptional customer service for well-traveled Fortune 500 company attendees as well as first time travelers.

Specific Job Skills

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Interpersonal and Teamwork Skills
Strengthened company portfolio by developing new business in group travel by writing incentive travel proposals, sourcing hotel room blocks, negotiating hotel contracts and providing initial cost analysis.
Interacted with a wide variety of personalities while scheduling sales meetings with hoteliers, providing support for account managers while adhering to company standards.

Customer Service and Sales Skills
Interacted with clients and utilized excellent organizational skills to arrange and coordinate group business meeting and incentive programs in various locales around the globe.
Responsible for operating on-site logistics, multiple events and travel plans for groups from 50 to 5000 participants in both domestic and international locations.
Developed relationships and contacts worldwide by serving as the principal liaison between my company, the client and multiple suppliers.
Hotel customer service experience that includes valet parking, bellman, concierge, and front desk positions with a passion for satisfying the customer.

Managerial and Supervisory Skills
Proved leadership through the coordination and training of staff, domestic and international, ranging from 2 to 25 employees during program operations consisting of logistics that include, hotel room block management, food and beverage events, transportation, hospitality desk management and senior executive VIP management.
Served as manager of Business Development to procure future business for tier two incentive houses that included gathering destination information on specific destinations, writing million dollar contracts and delivering group space to point of sale.

Quantitative Skills
Completed and identified client budgets ranging from $75,000 –$2.5 million while adhering to a strict cost plus or margin format.
Prepare final billing with a focus on reconciling spending with various vendors.

Education

Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO
2 years
Axia College, University of Phoenix, Currently enrolled and working on Associates of Business