KRISTIN KREKEL
Arlington
Summary
Results-driven Hospitality Sales Professional skilled in maximizing group revenue and fostering strategic partnerships. Experienced in managing complex sales, negotiating high-value contracts, and crafting tailored proposals to enhance guest experiences. Proven ability to lead collaborative teams and develop strategic sales plans that drive revenue growth.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Sales Manager
Washington Hilton
Washington
05.2023 - Current
- Responsible for Group Sales at one of the largest conference hotels in Washington, DC. The hotel features 1107 guestrooms and over 118,000 square feet of meeting and event space including the iconic International Ballroom – home to the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, First Lady’s Luncheon & National Prayer Breakfast.
- Represent hotel by managing and negotiating the sales process of large and complex group accommodations (generally over 300 guest rooms), including meeting space and/or on-site hotel catering covering all market segments.
- Manage outside sales activities to discuss business opportunities and entertain customers in local and assigned markets.
- Directed site visits and H.O.S.T. programs for accounts, participating in trade shows and industry events to engage customers.
- Negotiate contracts with customers and commission agreements with third party agencies.
- Managed preparation of proposals and contracts to inform prospective customers about hotel guest rooms, meeting space, and banquet availability.
- Represent hotel in significant interactions dealing with customers relative to sales and operational questions, concerns, and issues.
- Attend weekly sales departmental meeting and other scheduled meetings to support business operations e.g., tentative review, lost business review, group-pick up, among others.
- Assessed hotel operations to analyze effects on sales for guestrooms, meeting space, and banquet facilities.
- Provided guidance to sales managers and event managers on best practices and strategies.
Cluster Assistant Director of Sales
Cluster Hilton Austria
Vienna
01.2020 - 05.2023
- Acting Head of Department: January 2020 – April 2021.
- Account management international markets: USA, Canada, UK & Ireland, Israel, Middle East, India; international travel: 40%.
- Interim account management: Germany, Switzerland, Nordics (March 2020 – December 2021).
- Managed IBT and project business operations, ensuring seamless execution and alignment with business objectives.
- Specialty markets: Entertainment, Government, Pharma/Healthcare, Consulting.
- Repositioning of Hilton Vienna Park during & after full refurbishment (February 2019 – present).
- Developed strategies and action plans to mitigate pandemic impact, enhancing operational resilience and adaptability.
- Team training & scheduling, Sales incentive setup, Agency360 analysis, reporting.
- Oversaw three Hilton properties in Vienna, including Austria's largest conference and event hotel with 1244 guest rooms and 43 function spaces, integrating Grand Tirolia Hotel Kitzbuhel into portfolio from December 2018 to April 2021.
Cluster International Sales Manager
Cluster Hilton Austria
Vienna
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Managed accounts across international markets: USA, Canada, UK & Ireland, ensuring alignment with market needs.
- Oversaw 35% of CMTG / CONV / SMERF revenue share within the cluster, contributing to overall cluster performance.
- Developed and maintained relationships with clients to secure recurring business and enhance client loyalty.
- Strong focus on site personalization and creative ideas to help secure the business.
- Project: Sales team restructuring (August 2019).
Cluster Sales Manager & Team Lead Local Team
Cluster Hilton Austria
Vienna
01.2018 - 12.2018
- Managed over 40% of the revenue share for the cluster IBT business.
- Managed relationships with local MICE agencies, convention centers, conference organizers, and music agencies to drive collaboration and maximize business opportunities.
- Led local team to successfully execute projects, ensuring alignment with client expectations.
- Focus segments: Pharma/Healthcare, Consulting, Government & IT.
Task force for Delphi FDC implementation
Cluster Hilton Austria
08.2018 - 08.2018
Sales Manager
Hampton by Hilton Bournemouth
Bournemouth
06.2017 - 01.2018
- Managed accounts across all segments for Sales & GC&E, ensuring alignment with client needs.
- Facilitated the de-clustering of all local IBT and meeting agreements.
Sales Coordinator & Sales Executive
Hilton & Hampton by Hilton Bournemouth
Bournemouth
07.2015 - 05.2017
- Pre-opening & Opening.
- Account management - focus on IBT & specialty markets: Sports & Entertainment.
HR task force for internal rebranding from Hilton to Waldorf Astoria
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian
Edinburgh
06.2014 - 07.2014
Education
Degree in Hotel Administration & Management -
Waldorf Astoria Berlin
Berlin, Germany06-2015
IHK Degree in Hotel Administration & Management -
Brillat-Savarin-College
Berlin, Germany06-2015
High School Diploma -
Ignacio High School
Ignacio, CO, USA01-2000
Skills
- Luxury, full- & focus-service sales experience
- Multi-brand sales
- Pre-opening expertise
- Customized proposal development & presentation
- Strategic pricing strategies
- Client engagement
- Proposal development
- Pricing strategies
- Hotel pre-openings
- Retention strategies
- International market development
- Experience design
- Tailored experience creation
- Analytical skills
- Forecasting techniques
- Business analysis
- Trend evaluation
- Strategic planning
- Collaborative leadership
- Cross-functional partnerships
- Excellent verbal & written communication skills
- Bilingual in English and German
- USABA certified goalball referee
Task Force
- Cluster Hilton Austria, 08/01/18, Task force for Delphi FDC implementation.
- Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, 06/01/14, HR task force for internal rebranding from Hilton to Waldorf Astoria.
Timeline
Senior Sales Manager
Washington Hilton
05.2023 - Current
Cluster Assistant Director of Sales
Cluster Hilton Austria
01.2020 - 05.2023
Cluster International Sales Manager
Cluster Hilton Austria
01.2019 - 01.2020
Task force for Delphi FDC implementation
Cluster Hilton Austria
08.2018 - 08.2018
Cluster Sales Manager & Team Lead Local Team
Cluster Hilton Austria
01.2018 - 12.2018
Sales Manager
Hampton by Hilton Bournemouth
06.2017 - 01.2018
Sales Coordinator & Sales Executive
Hilton & Hampton by Hilton Bournemouth
07.2015 - 05.2017
HR task force for internal rebranding from Hilton to Waldorf Astoria
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian
06.2014 - 07.2014
Degree in Hotel Administration & Management -
Waldorf Astoria Berlin
IHK Degree in Hotel Administration & Management -
Brillat-Savarin-College
High School Diploma -
Ignacio High School