Agata Swidowska
Hospitality
Cardiff
Summary
Excellent face to face communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills. Organized and methodical, with good prioritization and time management. Flexibility, adaptability and willingness to face new challenges. Ability to work well under pressure and to strict deadlines and timescales. Dedicated to achieving set goals, reaching targets and exceeding expectations. Enjoys learning and developing with strong teams. Highly motivated individual who has a friendly, approachable, easy going personality who flourishes as part of a team or individually. Proven record in generating and increasing revenue in previous roles.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Hotel General Manager
The Hog Hotel (hotel Closing To Be Redeveloped Into Flats)
09.2021 - 01.2023
- Winning “Best Small Hotel of the Year” in East of England by Visit England in first 7th months
- Awarded 4 Silver Stars and Two AA Rosettes in first year
- Oversight of front office, food and beverage functions, housekeeping and back office with focus on exceptional customer service, professional standards and adherence of company procedures
- Full P&L responsibility ensuring profitability targets are protected and top line sales achieved
- Ensuring full compliance to health and safety legislation and company policies
- Monitoring and supervising hotel maintenance and building improvements including fire protection procedures
- Recruiting, training and managing team of 20, monitoring performance and scheduling regular evaluation meetings to ensure hotel objectives are being met
- Increasing top line sales by 32% and developing new service initiatives
- Responsible for all events
- Responded to customer concerns with speed and knowledge, delivering professional, personalised service
- Prevented overspending by constantly monitoring budgets and payroll records
Director and Owner
Good Life Cafe And Holiday Apartments
03.2016 - 05.2020
- Increased turnover from £42,000 to £155,000
- Day-to-day running of business and ensuring to deliver exceptional guest satisfaction
- Project-managed refurbishment of upper floors of building to create 3 holiday flats with annual income of £40,000
- Ensuring business was profitable and essential cost margins were achieved
- Responsible for recruitment and retention of all team members
- Ensuring business complied with all legal and environmental health legislation
- Preparation of accounts to be audited by Accountant
- Responsible for marketing and promotion of accommodation and cafe
- All events and outside catering responsibility
Maternity Leave
Home
10.2014 - 02.2016
Events and Sales Executive
L'Horizon Beach Hotel & SPA
04.2014 - 09.2014
- Proactively selling conference, meetings and event space through site visits
- Contacting reactive enquiries and converting business
- Responsible for all weddings and civil partnership enquiries, planning and ensuring success of all events
- Nurturing client relationships to ensure repeat enquiries and revenue generation
- Managing specific meetings and events accounts
- Work to achieve weekly and monthly budget and revenue targets
- Liaise with Revenue Manager to ensure all leads are executed and followed up on
- Increased revenue growth from existing customers through targeted account management and development
- 5 conference and events rooms with maximum occupancy of 300
Events and Sales Executive
Hilton London Paddington
03.2012 - 01.2014
- Proactively selling meetings and event space through site visits and FAM trips
- Responsible for all weddings and civil partnership enquiries, planning and executing events
- Work to achieve weekly and monthly budget and revenue targets
- Proactively identified and solved complex strategy problems to positively impact sales management and business direction
- Fostered positive relationships with customers to enhance loyalty and retention.
- Built focused new client networks, growing business opportunities and increasing revenue possibilities.
- Maintained accurate contract records, clearly detailing and setting reminders for renewal timeframes to maximise customer retention.
- Exceeded sales and revenue targets by 10%, using consultative and value-driven approach to account management.
- Total conversion over 1.1m over 12 months
- Effectively handled daily customer meetings, sales calls and account management tasks, improving sales team efficiency.
Events Manager
The Red Coronation Hotel Collection
12.2010 - 12.2011
- Events manger for Rubens At The Palace Hotel, 41 Hotel and Bbar
- Liaised with clients to determine event requirements and constraints, outlining package options to meet needs and exceed expectations
- Taking, processing and converting enquiries into guaranteed business
- Maximise revenue for each event, up selling product at every opportunity
- Making sound business decisions
- Creating monthly reports and analysing forecast
- Preparing contracts and invoices
- Secured new clients and built excellent customer relationships
- Facilitated smooth running of events, leading pre-event team briefings to present final action plan and provide updates on last-minute details.
- Produced detailed proposals for all type of events, using intricate market awareness and negotiating techniques to acquire best possible deals
- Chairwoman of Green Team for Rubens, 41 Hotel and BBar
Management Programme Participant
The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, Apostles Hotel
01.2009 - 12.2010
- Programme included placements in Front Office, Revenue, Reservations, Human Resources, Sales and Marketing, Events, Housekeeping, F & B Operations, Accounts and Kitchen,
- Full management responsibilities in all departments
- 6 months long project work in Old Government House Hotel in Guernsey
- 1 month long project in 12 Apostle Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa,
- Member of Green Team of RCH Collection and founder of Green Team in OGH Hotel in Guernsey
- Conducted testing to diagnose system faults.
Room Service Supervisor
Claridge's Hotel
06.2008 - 12.2008
- Assisting management in running room service
- Managed over 50 calls from guests daily
- Established new service standards
- Arrange functions in rooms, meetings, lunches, dinners, cocktails parties
- Handle guest criticism both negative and positive
- Cashing up, preparing reports, goods ordering
Education
BA (Hons) - Hospitality Business Management
Westminster Kingsway Collage with Leeds University
London /2006 - /2007
Master's Degree - Tourism and Recreation
Academy of Physical Education
Krakow, Poland /2001 - /2003
Bachelor's Degree - Pedagogy of Leisure
Academy of Physical Education
Krakow. Poland /1999 - /2001
High School Diploma - Hospitality
School of Hospitality Education
Krakow /1993 - /1998
Skills
- Events operational management expertise
- Target driven
- Employee development
- Customer relations expertise
- Front desk operations
- Venue sales
- People management
- Hotel administration
- Budgetary control
- Strong commercial acumen
Timeline
Hotel General Manager
The Hog Hotel (hotel Closing To Be Redeveloped Into Flats)
09.2021 - 01.2023
Director and Owner
Good Life Cafe And Holiday Apartments
03.2016 - 05.2020
Maternity Leave
Home
10.2014 - 02.2016
Events and Sales Executive
L'Horizon Beach Hotel & SPA
04.2014 - 09.2014
Events and Sales Executive
Hilton London Paddington
03.2012 - 01.2014
Events Manager
The Red Coronation Hotel Collection
12.2010 - 12.2011
Management Programme Participant
The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, Apostles Hotel
01.2009 - 12.2010
Room Service Supervisor
Claridge's Hotel
06.2008 - 12.2008
BA (Hons) - Hospitality Business Management
Westminster Kingsway Collage with Leeds University
/2006 - /2007
Master's Degree - Tourism and Recreation
Academy of Physical Education
/2001 - /2003
Bachelor's Degree - Pedagogy of Leisure
Academy of Physical Education
/1999 - /2001
High School Diploma - Hospitality
School of Hospitality Education
/1993 - /1998
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