Catherine Hussey Williams

Business development, partnerships and account management professional with a strong track record in consultative sales, strategic relationship building and commercial negotiation. Skilled at identifying opportunities, understanding client needs and developing tailored solutions that create long-term value. Fluent in French, with professional working Spanish, I enjoy building trusted relationships across international markets and cultures.

Product & Business Development Manager at Grape Escapes (2023-01 – Present)

• Develop strategic partnerships with luxury hotels, Champagne houses, wineries and tourism suppliers across France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
• Negotiate commercial agreements including rates, commission structures, payment terms and contractual arrangements.
• Identify new partnership opportunities and grow the supplier portfolio across multiple European regions.
• Manage and train a Product Executive while working closely with sales, marketing and operations to deliver commercially successful travel experiences.

Head of Sales & Partnerships at Winerist (2017-01 – 2022-12)

• Led B2C sales alongside B2B product sourcing and supplier onboarding across Europe.
• Identified and contracted wineries, hotels and tourism experiences while negotiating commercial agreements.
• Represented the business at international trade events and managed partner relationships from prospecting through to launch, helping grow a portfolio of premium wine tourism experiences.

Business Development Manager at Hospitality Staffing Solutions, USA (2013-10 – 2015-06)

• Managed business development across the Southern, Central and Eastern USA, identifying and developing new opportunities with hotel groups and hospitality operators.
• Built and managed a strategic sales pipeline through networking, referrals and outbound prospecting using Salesforce CRM.
• Prepared RFI and tender responses, negotiated commercial agreements and secured meetings between prospective clients and senior leadership.
• Worked closely with the CEO, Vice Presidents and Area Managers to identify strategic growth opportunities and support business expansion.

Recruiter / Field Support at Hospitality Staffing Solutions, USA (2012-01 – 2013-05)

• Recruited hourly and management-level employees for hospitality clients across the United States.
• Supported recruitment, onboarding and HR projects while building strong relationships with hiring managers.
• Authored more than 100 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to improve operational consistency and training.
• Trained in Avionté and provided recruitment systems and process support to field teams.

Area Manager at Hospitality Staffing Solutions, USA (2007-01 – 2011-12)

• Managed a four-state territory with responsibility for operational performance, business development, client relationships and service delivery.
• Recruited, interviewed and developed housekeeping teams for hotel clients across multiple states.
• Delivered induction and practical skills training in Spanish to predominantly Hispanic workforces.
• Partnered with hotel General Managers on staffing, service quality and client satisfaction.

Contracts Manager at GTA Travel (2003-01 – 2006-12)

• Managed the contracting of hotels across Paris, negotiating rates, allocations and commercial terms.
• Developed long-term supplier relationships and maintained a competitive hotel portfolio.

Contracts Manager at Specialist Holidays Group (2001-01 – 2003-12)

• Sourced and contracted luxury villas across France and Spain.
• Negotiated commercial agreements and expanded the supplier portfolio through relationship management and market research.

BA (Hons) in French & Hispanic Studies – University of Liverpool