Joel Morella

Over 16 years' experience in sales and marketing of hospitality products & services across property. Rich experience in Leisure or Travel Trade segment & B2B and corporate sales. Quickly build outstanding customer relationships & produce results focusing on partnership & account growth, revenue & market share growth, and brand outreach.

Strategy and market-oriented and articulate individual with strong time management skills and a real thirst to succeed in the highly competitive and rapidly changing market. Well-versed with UAE & cross-border markets & competitions in the industry segment.

Director of Sales - Leisure at Bab Al Qasr Hotel & Residences (2022-06 – Present)

Solely responsible in handling all leisure/travel trade accounts for Bab Al Qasr Hotel & Residences with a combined inventory of 677 Hotel rooms and Apartments.

• Solely responsible in handling all leisure/travel trade accounts for Bab Al Qasr Hotel & Residences with a combined inventory of 677 Hotel rooms and Apartments
• Manage and contract international Tour Operators and local Destination Management Companies
• Actively participates with DCT sponsored activities such as roadshows, workshops and exhibitions
• Attended workshops organized by key Tour Operator partners
• Develop new accounts, new market opportunities and get brochure opportunities for the property
• Constantly review and analyze the market and competition changes
• Proactively suggest and implement action plans to meet set goals as needed with the changes in market trends along with the cooperation of the Commercial Director and GM
• Attend and represent the hotels in key International Exhibitions, road shows and Sales Trips: ITB Exhibition (Berlin, Germany), DCT Sponsored Roadshows in Russia/CIS, India, Israel, Germany, UK and East Europe, WTM Exhibition (London, UK), ATM Exhibition (Dubai UAE), MITT Exhibition (Moscow Russia)

Director of Sales at Grand Millennium Al Wahda (2017-04 – 2022-05)

Solely responsible in handling all leisure/travel trade accounts for Grand Millennium Al Wahda Hotel Abu Dhabi combined inventory of 840 Hotel rooms and Apartments.

• Solely responsible in handling all leisure/travel trade accounts for Grand Millennium Al Wahda Hotel Abu Dhabi combined inventory of 840 Hotel rooms and Apartments
• Manages Key local corporate and government accounts
• Manage and contract international Tour Operators and local Destination Management Companies
• Involved in drafting the annual Sales and Marketing Departments business plan pertaining to Leisure segment and implement sales programs and activities related to it
• Proactively suggest and implement action plans to meet set goals as needed with the changes in market trends along with the cooperation of the Revenue Team and GM
• Attend and represent the hotels in key International Exhibitions, road shows and Sales Trips: ITB 2017 (Berlin, Germany), ANEX Tours Roadshow (Moscow, Russia), Sales Calls with key German TO, ITB 2018 (Berlin Germany), ITB 2019 (Berlin Germany)

Cluster Assistant Director of Sales - Leisure at Grand Millennium Al Wahda & Millennium Corniche Hotel Abu Dhabi (2014-09 – 2017-03)

Spearhead the handling of leisure/travel trade accounts for two 5-star properties; Grand Millennium Al Wahda Abu Dhabi and Millennium Corniche Hotel Abu Dhabi with a combined inventory of 1149 Hotel rooms and Apartments

• Spearhead the handling of leisure/travel trade accounts for two 5-star properties; Grand Millennium Al Wahda Abu Dhabi and Millennium Corniche Hotel Abu Dhabi with a combined inventory of 1149 Hotel rooms and Apartments
• Responsible in achieving departmental targets especially for segments handled
• Proactively suggest and implement action plans to meet set goals as needed with the changes in market trends along with the cooperation of DOSM and Revenue Team
• Attend and represent the hotels in key International Exhibitions, road shows and Sales Trips: ITB 2015 (Berlin, Germany), M&C China Sales Mission (Beijing and Shanghai, China), WTM 2015 (London, United Kingdom)

Senior Sales Manager - Leisure at Movenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate (2013-10 – 2014-08)

Generate and maintain customers of travel trade segment through various sales activities.

• Generate and maintain customers of travel trade segment through various sales activities (face-to-face sales calls, telephone calls, entertainment, site inspections, etc); thus ensure complete coverage of own portfolio of accounts and achieve targets and maximum productivity
• Have comprehensive and up to date knowledge of the properties' unique selling points, features, amenities, services and policies
• Solicit groups business targeting the weekend arrivals

Sales Manager - Travel Trade at Rotana Hotels and Resorts - Regional Sales Office (2011-08 – 2013-09)

Responsible for handling leisure/Travel Trade accounts for all UAE hotels (32 properties in total)

• Responsible for handling leisure/Travel Trade accounts for all UAE hotels (32 properties in total)
• Generate and maintain customers of travel trade segment through various sales activities (face-to-face sales calls, telephone calls, entertainment, site inspections, etc); thus ensure complete coverage of own portfolio of accounts and achieve targets and maximum productivity
• Attends road show and exhibition for travel trade to promote brand awareness (DTCM Chinese Road Show in China covering 4 cities, SATTE Indian Exhibition and Chinese Visitor Summit)
• Quote and negotiate Travel Trade contracts with operators/agents for FIT business, leisure groups and also host FAM Trips
• Closely Monitor Accounts Revenue and business production for Travel Trade and Wholesale Accounts and maintain up to date Account & Contact Database in property management system
• Have comprehensive and up to date knowledge of all the properties' unique selling points, features, amenities, services and policies
• Co-ordinate and communicate with Outbound Sales Offices with regards to accounts/markets what are serviced by the Outbound Sales and also produce Sales Leads for other Rotana Hotels outside the coverage area
• Disseminate all Sales related information to other departments as appropriate and update the hotels on the negotiation/progress of every event
• Review direct competition and conduct regular research

Sales Executive - Travel Trade at Rotana Hotels & Resorts (2009-01 – 2011-07)

Groups Coordinator at Rotana Hotels and Resorts (2007-01 – 2008-12)

Bellman/Airport Representative at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel (2000-01 – 2006-12)

Bachelor of Science in Dentistry – Centro Escolar University of the Philippines (1988 – 1993)