Marion Hughes has over 20 years of experience in business development, sales, and marketing in the global travel industry. She has a proven track record of revenue generation, partnership building, and exceeding sales quotas. Her skills include strategic planning, digital marketing, technology sales, and managing global teams. She is fluent in French, Spanish, and Portuguese and has lived in Paris for over 20 years.

1. Marion Hughes
2600 J F K Boulevard H 1 (201) 360-0818
Apt 1 B Jersey City NJ 07306 C 1 (646) 670-8837
marion.hughes@gmail.com
EXECUTIVE PROFILE
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=4409769&trk=tab_pro
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: 20+ years global business development in the travel industry with emphasis on revenue
management and generation via electronic distribution, online marketing and technology sales.
SALES: Outstanding pipeline management skills with a track record of predictability and exceeding quotas. Skilled
negotiator and closer. Flexible and creative and able to present value proposition. Proven partnership-building track
record.
PERSONALITY: Capable, extremely productive, organized, efficient, ethical and multicultural; possessing team
mentality and polished oral/written communication skills. At ease with c-suite management for sponsorship,
partnership and alliances.
TALENTS: Able to develop and deploy strategies to boost revenues, increase fundraising and grow market share.
Elected to international industry body (www.hedna.org) Board of Directors Chairwoman of Sponsorship and
Fundraising for annual global conference
Languages: Fluent French, Spanish, Portuguese
Mobility: 20+ years full time residence in Paris, FR (permanent “carte de sejour” / permit to reside in France)
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EDUCATION
University of Phoenix, AZ
MBA, Concentration in strategic planning for competitive advantage, global business, marketing
Pennsylvania State University; State College, PA 1983
Bachelor of Arts, Advertising; School of Communications. Concentration: electronic publishing, media planning
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EXPERIENCE
Senior Account Director April 2010-April 2011
www.getaroom.com
Account Director for Getaroom.com's most important market: Manhattan ...Lead the relationship and expansion
efforts for a challenged start-up dot.com. Managed and grew a small portfolio of 63 properties increasing it to 143
hotels generating almost $10 million in online reservations. Started in April 2010 when NYC market generated about
$400,000 and at the end of 2010 NYC was booking over $850,000/mo in revenue.
As Senior Director I managed all GAR participation, negotiation of margins and contracting for over 140 hotel
properties on the site; performed the revenue specialist role and managed the team who handled updating and
maintaining rates and inventory for the properties. Simultaneously executed the sales manager role by working with
hotels to utilize GAR technology to run flash sales and create promos that generated incremental reservations.

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Accomplishments: Increased participation in portfolio by 40%, took OPAQUE hotels from only 8% up to 29% in less
than one year. Generated increased respect for the company and helped it grow in a challenging period.
Extranet training of GAR Administration Tools, Revenue Management Strategies, Channel Management Software
EZYield, Rate Tiger, Channel Direct, Salesforce, and Excel and Powerpoint.
Vice President, Revenue Generation June 2009-September 2009
www.professionaltravelguide.com
Hired by CEO in June to evaluate and revise suggested recovery strategy and roll out new e-commerce model. High-
level industry presentations to both suppliers and agencies on a global level for sponsorship and partner alliances.
Managed team of 5 and interacted with executive committee on strategic review of goals and revenue streams.
Managed multimillion dollar advertising program as well as all promotions, and direct marketing activity for firm.
Developed long term strategic marketing goals and detailed marketing plans. Developed new product suite; organized
implementation schedule for new product rollout and continued with strategic analysis.
NOTE: Company shareholders entered discussions to sell to competitor which ended September 2009 --
buyers bid was rejected and the firm closed down, terminating entire team.
Independent Contractor: April 2008-December.
2009
 Managed several short-term consulting projects for CEO’s re-organizing global business development
including a super intense two month project at www.professionaltravelguide.com mentioned above
 Sept – December 2009 I Joined the global Intelligent Hotels Revenue Management Analysis team teaching
Revenue Management for HSMAI in Scandinavia
 Utilized several months of “personal leave” assisting my 89 year old father as we sold his home and
moved him to assisted living after death of my mother (am an “only child”)
 Completed MBA. Sold Paris apartment and finalized permanent relocation to NYC after two decades
overseas.)
Vice President, Development, InterActive Services Division May 2007 – July 2008
Open Hospitality Inc., New York (www.openhospitality.com)
 Startup hotel reservation technology providerin preparation for launch of a new digital agency division.
Created pricing/marketing policies and documentation and menu of interactive offerings. Developed
process for RFP evaluation and response, yearly rates schedule for digital services, wrote and negotiated
contracts, and advised on connectivity deals for portal strategies and distribution systems. Handled all PR
and advertising for interactive division launch.
 http://www.openhospitality.com/default.aspx?pg=news_travel&rp=news
 http://www.openhospitality.com/default.aspx?pg=news_hawks&rp=news
Vice President Strategic Development January 2005 – May 2007
Open World Limited, Bath, UK / Paris, FR
A privately held digital agency with a stellar luxury hotel client base (no longer in operation.) Managed the team of
sales people who were responsible for hundreds of luxury hotel chains and independent properties’ web presence.
Clients included The New York Palace, Dorchester Group, Peninsula Hotels Group, Fairmont, Raffles, Swissotels, Hyatt,
Pan Pacific, Concorde Hotels, Rocco Forte, InterContinental, Le Meridien, Warwick Hotels and Small Luxury Hotels
among others.
 Head of OpenWorld’s travel portal division. Sites included (www.luxurytravel.com,
www.worldexecutive.com, etc.)

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 Managed $30 million USD in revenue yearly; oversaw group of 5 regional sales managers. Doubled
the bookable hotel inventory in under 18 months; individually increased sales by $4 million in one
year; created revenue analysis team, established new sources of product line and inventory, as well as
improved commission collection processes, resulting in over $800,000 in additional commission revenues.
 Strengthened and built partnerships with over 80 luxury or major hotel chains on a direct to brand scale;
completely re-launched Luxurytravel.com; oversaw all contracting with GDS and various third party
inventory sources; established XML feeds directly into multiple CRS systems via direct connectivity with
Pegasus. Oversaw all marketing activity including SEO and all online advertising sales.
 Led team of 7 business development managers located in Europe, Asia Pacific/Middle East.
Trained/managed multicultural staff to understand the sales cycle, overcoming objections, cold calling
approaches, contract negotiations and managing expectations. Set up centralized sales tracking, CRM
system, and managed lead generation, tracking of prospects to close, all RFP responses. Negotiated
sales with groups for redesign and rebuilds of hotel websites in excess of $2 million per
contract.
International Business Development Director July 2003 – January 2005
WorldChoiceTravel.com,
(Travelocity.com/SABRE) Paris, FR
 Expanded international affiliate program for the white label division of Travelocity.com; landed two key
European partners generating over $6 million in online bookings. Negotiated and confirmed private
label distribution contracts with dozens of internationally owned and operated travel sales websites.
European Director Business Development August 2001 - May 2003
Lexington Services (GDS Representation) Paris, FR
 Managed EMEA sales for hundreds of European independent or small chain hotels using Lexington for
GDS/ADS delivery. Prepared electronic distribution representation and analysis, ADS channel
management and yield strategy. Managed partner relations with TravelClick, Sabre, Amadeus WorldSpan,
Sabre and Galileo. Signed one luxury hotel group worth in excess of $4 million per annum.
Successfully retained existing hotel client base of hotels using Lexington for GDS representation post
9/11; grew client base by 30% in 2003.
International Director of Sales March 1998 – August 2001
HotelView™ (Internet video marketing for hotels) Paris, FR
 Headed EMEA sales; international contracting with that region’s hotel chains and individual properties to
produce full library of digital video recorded tours for online distribution/streaming video. Signed major
deals with Orient Express, Leading Hotels of the World, Movenpick, Millenium Copthorne, Kempinski,
ACCOR.
 Initiated and negotiated key content distribution partnerships; contracting licensing agreements with
major partners such as Leading Hotels of the World, EXCITE.co.uk, Expedia Europe, Liberty Channels,
Travel Television, ASTA,
 Developed strategic alliance with Businessmeetings.com, SABRE, and WorldRes.
Area Director of Sales and Marketing October 1995 – January 1998
Pestana Hotels and Resorts; Madeira, Portugal
 Managed all sales/marketing for 6 convention hotels; led staff of 14 at this luxury meetings resort. Grew
ADR by 14% and occupancy by 38%. Tour Operator negotiation; rate analysis and revenue
management. Reorganized and successfully grew Meetings, Groups and Incentives division; handled all
marketing; organized all European trade missions and trade show participation, including EIBTM, ITME an
all MPI/SITE events; directed and purchased all print advertising and PR campaigns;

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Vice President of Sales February 1995 -January 1996
Tecnopolo (Int’l Conference and Exhibition Center); Madeira, Portugal
 Managed sales team of 5, set and deployed pre-opening marketing strategy for multimillion
dollar technology, conference and exhibition venue.
 Researched , wrote and presented Board of directors with in-depth market research on conferences and
incentive/exhibition industry in Europe. Created/developed sales strategy, positioning. Prepared full
media campaign, public relations, ran site inspections and negotiations with local hoteliers. All pricing and
contracts were written and managed by myself and I hired and trained a team of 5 account executives for
sales and launch of centre.
European Advertising Director January 1993 - January 1995
Official Meeting Facilities Guide, Reed Elsevier Publishing, Paris, FR
 Sold ads into premier directory of European meeting and conference facilities; consistently achieved and
surpassed all sales objectives established by publisher.
 Sold outside front cover several issues and was named salesperson of the year
 Managed all relationships with major convention centers, meeting facilities and CVB’s in France, Spain,
Portugal, and Greece
Advertising Account Director-Europe 1988 -1993
Fairchild Publications; Paris, FR
 European Account Director for the leading North American publishing company: W, Women’s Wear Daily,
Travel Agent Magazine, Footwear News, Sportstyle, Golf Pro Merchandiser
Advertising Account Executive 1983 - 1988
Yellow Pages, Boston, MA / Philadelphia, PA
 Senior Account Executive for official phone book ad sales; ranked top in state.