Achievements

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

▸ On site Director of Sales and General Manager for two suburban Dallas properties reopened and repositioned during Covid-19 in Spring/Summer 2020 securing corporate and training base business.

* Opening business transient manager for a boutique luxury hotel in Dallas from October 2019 thru March 2020 uncovering high profile LNR accounts, while working in tandem with national sales representation based in New York City.

* With an independent resort property in South Florida with 400 rooms, uncovered 2,600 room nights at $800K with high profile corporate group and media group rooms to operate over Superbowl. I operated this project remote for three months.

* With a Hilton branded property in Denver, Colorado, I uncovered 5,000 room nights and $1M in group business in a period of four months, with group to actualize in calendar 2019 and 2020.

* On Site with a New York based hotel management company: booked $2.5M in group room revenue for three properties as well as created sales SOPs, trained new hires and managed convention services. This project was scheduled for three months and closed after fifteen months in 2018. 

* Opening General Manager for a high profile IHG branded property in Brooklyn, New York in 2016.

▸ As an independent, sourcing group nationwide, booked $100K in hotel revenue in 2018

▸ Lead sales efforts for a 226 key full-service midtown Manhattan property as Director of Sales. Direct and implement all sales strategies for group, business travel and FIT segments. Managed a team of two revenue producing sales managers. Increase annual LNR activity by $20K, group activity $140K, and FIT activity by $200K. Completed 2015 at 137% production to goal. Completed 2016 at 140% production to goal.

▸ Sales Manager with a luxury convention midtown Manhattan property focused on corporate group and key accounts: Pfizer, Colgate-Palmolive, KPMG, and the United Nations, producing $3M in the year.

▸ Managed a hotel sales business development project in Southern California for three months and booked $1M in group revenue ITYFTY 2013.

▸ With the Convention and Visitors Bureau from 2010 to 2012, conducted client Familiarization Trips and generated all group hotel business, uncovering group accounts, and one key account producing $1M in hotel room revenue in the year, signed to a five-year contract in 2012.

* Obtained the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in Summer 2005. Attended the CMP Conclave in 2019. 

ABOUT JOE SOTO, CMP

I am a twenty-five year hotel veteran with expertise in hotel sales and business development, full service meeting planning and destination management and CVB sales.

▸ Independent business owner focused on hotel business development and support projects 

▸ Seasoned hotel sales leader, trainer and closer with experience in major markets: group, local and national business travel, FIT, tour, leisure, air and ground, and citywide and destination/CVB

▸ Experienced meeting professional knowledgeable in sourcing and program operation. Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) since Summer 2005

▸ General Manager experienced in full service hotel operation, opening, leadership of a team of department heads, management of vendor agreements, maintain ownership and brand relationships and compliance 

▸ Knowledgeable in STR Reporting, Agency 360, Delphi, Salespro and Sales Force

▸ Completed the 2008 Boston Marathon, raising money for the Boston Living Center and ran the 2020 Virtual New York City Marathon.

When not hard at work, I can be found running in Central Park in New York City.