Abhishek K. Sonawanne
Mira Road East
Summary
Seeking a responsible and rewarding position in a dynamic environment and involved in the growth process of the organisation, willing to learn new things and build my experience every day, utilizing my industrial experience and educational background.
More than 20 years of experience in handling the entire gamut of Hospitality and Travel management and CRM + Marketing activities. Experience in Admin (All facets) - 10 years. Dynamic Professional with hands-on experience in domestic and international travel booking, Hotel bookings, vendor management, and visa processing for all countries. Proven track record of delivering high-quality customer service, with optimized cost and streamlined processes. A leader who believes ‘simple is efficient’ and a service-oriented approach can deliver under High pressure and tight deadlines. Experience in creating fresh SOP. A strong negotiator with great networking skills, brought substantial savings through contracts with suppliers of Travel & Related Services. Working closely with online partners to drive placement and awareness of Pharms Brand Communicating performance and status to various stakeholders.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager – Hospitality Event, Marketing
Shyam Steel Manufacturing Ltd.
12.2023 - Current
- Developed and executed a marketing and promotional strategy for a large-scale corporate event, resulting in a 25% increase in attendance and a 15% increase in revenue
- Responsible for entire facility management, housekeeping management, and vehicle management
- Manage visas for the maximum country and insurance claim policy
- Administrative work like ticket booking arrangements for events during this year's embalmment with different vendors
- Other Admin work such as assisting all directors in secretarial services as & when required
- Appointment / Meeting fixing with dealers/distributors
- Retail Marketing team services for setting up meetings and appointments with your existing dealers for your dealer meet programs
- Retail marketing team owns and manages a huge database of dealers and distributors across various industry verticals
- Online advertising: - The retail Marketing team is visited by a large number of distributors and dealers to check on new dealership offerings
- Hospitality & Logistic management Room contracting, car vendors management
- Branding Management, International ticketing and visa management
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers, resulting in a 10% reduction in event expenses while maintaining high-quality services
- Supervised a team of more than 100 event staff and volunteers, ensuring seamless event execution and receiving a 95% satisfaction rating from attendees
Manager – Marketing Services
Alkem Laboratories Limited
06.2022 - 08.2023
- Proven track record of getting promotions every two years
- Handling more than 10 business divisions for their travel booking, hotel accommodations, events management, and conferences
- Regular organizing hospitality at domestic and international conferences like 'Apicon' (more than 1000 guests), 'Prediction' (handling 900 guests), 'Ascicon'
- Work globally within the team to foster creativity, innovation and successful project delivery
- Stays abreast of current and emerging trends in the IT and Healthcare environment
- Building Solutions that can be leveraged or reused across the organization
- Build collaborative relationships with business partners and external vendors to deliver on company and departmental strategies and initiatives
- Ensuring timely resolution of user problems within assigned areas of responsibility
- Develops and implements CRM solutions coordinating applications across the enterprise or its units/departments
- Perform multiple tasks under aggressive timeframes and competing deadlines
- Oversee the development of professional-level technical and non-technical documentation as well as training to internal and external customer CARE agents
- Manage relationships with marketing automation vendors to understand application roadmap, planned enhancements and updates
- International Brand Plan Activities in Africa & Europe
- Manage projects from initiation through delivery and production support
- Work closely with the technical services team to define and implement new functionality and product offerings based on the Salesforce / CRM platform
- Organizing and facilitating the 'Star Night Award' at international destinations like Thailand, Singapore, and Dubai catering to more than 100 customers with hotel booking, travel arrangements, event management and vendor management
- Identification of vendors & negotiations
- Introduce & Implement cost efficiency
- Conduct & Act on employee feedback
- Reduce complaints on guest houses and able to effectively use resources available to meet employee needs, as per company rules and regulations and within required timelines
Travel Officer & Administrator
Jindal’ Drilling & Industries Ltd.
12.2009 - 12.2014
- Coordinate with the Indian high commissioner for the visa process for identified candidates and work with FRRO
- Exchange the foreign currency
- Ensure that, along with the provision of the equipment required, the maintenance of houses and pest controls are done regularly
- Ensure employees adhere to basic rules and regulations as prescribed by the company
- Ensure staff accommodation is kept clean and maintained to the highest standard of living
Admin Travel Manager
AL TAHER LIASION PVT.LTD
09.2008 - 11.2009
- Booking international flights, rental cars and hotels for corporate clients and luxury cruises for other clients
- Managing database and negotiating with unbounded operators and suppliers
- Managing supply chain
- Manpower supplying in Nigeria, Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, South Africa, Kenya, managed by all tickets and visa processing part + Yellow fever vaccination
- Organize, maintain & update the internal database with digital personnel records of relevant employee information
- Act as a coordinator between locations & H.O
- By ensuring pending issues/matters are resolved within a suitable & tolerable TAT
Senior Travel Counselor
CARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL INDIA
12.2007 - 06.2008
- Counselling Barclays Technology Centre India, booking meeting rooms and banquets for them and managing foreign tourists providing them best hotels, guest houses, food and beverages and pick up and drop services
Travel Executive
THOMAS COOK INDIA LIMITED
01.2006 - 12.2007
- Providing travelling flexibility to customers and working with foreign currency
- Preparing insurance policies for customers
Travel Counselor
SITA TRAVEL PVT LTD.
01.2004 - 12.2005
- Arranging domestic tours for clients and providing services all over India
Travel Executive
T.Q. TRAVEL PVT LTD.
10.2000 - 12.2004
- Tour escorting for clients hotel booking all over India
Education
B COM -
CMJ UNIVERSITY
Meghalaya01.2011
HSC -
BHAVANS COLLEGE
01.2002
SSC -
01.1999
Skills
- Great Negotiator
- Cost Effectiveness
- Excellent communication skills
- Customer Centric attitude
- Operating Windows
- Lotus Smart Suite
- Lotus Notes Domino
- Computerised accounting (Tally 72)
- Practical accounting
- Taxation
Languages
True, True, True, True, True, True, True, True, True
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 04/19/84
- Marital Status: Married
Projectachievements
- Resort project in Jammu & Kashmir (Ski Resort) Awarded in Resort presentation competition
- Awarded for Event presentation in Island Tourism Festival in Andaman & Nicobar Tourism Festival competition (Garware Institute in Mumbai University)
Timeline
Manager – Hospitality Event, Marketing
Shyam Steel Manufacturing Ltd.
12.2023 - Current
Manager – Marketing Services
Alkem Laboratories Limited
06.2022 - 08.2023
Travel Officer & Administrator
Jindal’ Drilling & Industries Ltd.
12.2009 - 12.2014
Admin Travel Manager
AL TAHER LIASION PVT.LTD
09.2008 - 11.2009
Senior Travel Counselor
CARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL INDIA
12.2007 - 06.2008
Travel Executive
THOMAS COOK INDIA LIMITED
01.2006 - 12.2007
Travel Counselor
SITA TRAVEL PVT LTD.
01.2004 - 12.2005
Travel Executive
T.Q. TRAVEL PVT LTD.
10.2000 - 12.2004
B COM -
CMJ UNIVERSITY
HSC -
BHAVANS COLLEGE