Preston Smelt
Summerville
Summary
Dynamic individual with hands-on experience in revenue management and talent for navigating challenges. Brings strong problem-solving skills and proactive approach to new tasks. Known for adaptability, creativity, and results-oriented mindset. Committed to making meaningful contributions and advancing organizational goals.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Revenue Management
YourPad
10.2024 - Current
- Manage inventory and pricing for 243 Short Term Rental units in the greater Charleston, SC market
- Forecast revenues for every unit for a rolling 12 month period
- Perform analysis on potential acquisitions, ensuring YourPad’s perspective of potential performance is line with property owners’ expectations
- Appraise managing partners and property owners of potential macro shifts in demand that would cause a shift in performance expectations
Portfolio Revenue Manager, Revenue Management for Hire (RMH)
InterContinental Hotels Group
02.2023 - 09.2024
- Manage a diverse portfolio of hotels
- Educate hotels on strategies for revenue management, including: STAR analysis, IHG specific report analysis, brand/IHG Rewards Club promotions, website strategies (OTAs/Opaques), sales ideas, and weekly hot topics
- Successfully manage relationships with hotels that are struggling to maintain Market Share, working to find strategies that allow those hotels to improve RGI
- Proficient in Holidex Plus, PDI and Perform, as well as key RMH tools and reports
President
Anderby Brewing
07.2019 - 07.2023
- Founded brewery in October 2018, overseeing all aspects of starting a new business
- Head Brewer through 6/2022 as COVID forced downsizing of team
- Leading expansion into craft distilling
- Forecasting sales, hiring production staff and management roles
Manager, RM Systems Integration – Global Revenue Management and Property Based Systems
InterContinental Hotels Group
06.2011 - 02.2020
- Lead efforts to develop and deliver functional requirements for IHG’s new Revenue Management System
- Primary liaison between the Revenue Management team and the Guest Reservations System team to ensure both systems stay in sync from a concept standpoint throughout the design process
- Serve as the primary Revenue Management Subject Matter Expert during GRS design sessions
- Represent revenue management product and strategy interests in GRS related task forces and design sessions
- Hire and manage team members based on budget and workflow schedules
- OnBoarding and Talent Development Manager, Global Revenue Management (7/2012-9/2014)
- Facilitate new hire onboarding for both the Global Revenue Management and Americas Revenue Management teams
- Designed and implemented a new onboarding process developed around the needs of the adult learner
- Developed real life case studies to develop consulting skills of Revenue Managers
- Developed new training material covering new tools available to Revenue Managers
- Enhance current training materials based on institutional changes
- Manage the recruitment, interviewing and hiring processes for Global Revenue Management. This included conducting informational sessions on college campuses, attending career fairs and interviewing students
- Key team member in developing the Revenue Management Advanced Certification training, in terms of both the eLearning and Workshop content. Assisted in delivering train-the-trainer sessions for the Americas, Europe and Greater China regions
Corporate Revenue Manager
Charlestowne Hotels
12.2010 - 05.2011
- Responsible for the day-to-day revenue management of a portfolio of independent boutique luxury hotels. This portfolio consisted of three AAA four-diamond hotels, Conde Nast Gold List award winners, Travel+Leisure Top 500, and TripAdvisor Top Hotels in the World award winners
- Responsible for analyzing all leads (Group, IBT, FIT, etc.) before contracting
- Attended regular meetings of Charleston Travel Council and CVB
- Forecasted Rooms Revenue on a monthly basis
- Prepared monthly reports for ownership
- Attended Quarterly Ownership meetings
- Developed marketing campaigns, including but not limited to, Social Meeting campaigns, monthly newsletters, ad spend on print or online channels
- Researched opportunities through various distribution channels and new websites
- Develop offers and implement contracts when necessary
Director of Revenue Management
Hilton Atlanta
07.2008 - 12.2010
- Responsible for all of the Revenue Management duties of a $40 million Rooms Revenue/$10 million Catering Revenue Convention Hotel in downtown Atlanta
- Responsible for six direct reports including an Assistant Director of Revenue Management, Group/Catering Revenue Manager, Reservations Manager and three Reservations Agents
- Responsible for monitoring economic trends for the Atlanta market, core business segments and the overall hotel industry
- Set all strategies with 365 day booking window; including Group, Transient, and Crew
- Determined free-sell strategies on Meeting Space for Local Catering Team within 365 day window
- Responsible for monitoring and recommending F&B minimums on all Group business
- Responsible for all Rooms and Catering Revenue forecasts, including Annual Budget, Monthly Forecasts, 14-day and 3-Day Operational Forecasts
- Led Weekly Revenue Meetings comprised of GM, DOS, DOSM, Resident, DoFO, and RM Team
- Worked in conjunction with GM, DOSM, and DOS to set strategies for all out-bound years
- Responsible for all reporting to Hilton Worldwide and Ownership that related to Rooms or Catering Revenues
Assistant Director, RMHCC
Hilton Worldwide Revenue Management Consolidated Hotel Center
09.2005 - 06.2008
- Responsible for the day-to-day revenue management duties of two Budget Model hotels, while overseeing the growth and development of each member of the team for advancement within Hilton Worldwide
- Oversee a team of five Revenue Managers and one Revenue Analyst
- Created and implemented the Revenue Management Development Program which allowed the RMHCC to hire applicants who have strong experiences in either Hotels or Revenue Management from other industries, directly into Revenue Manager Positions. These applicants were then put through an accelerated training process to acclimate them to Hilton RM Systems and Philosophies before taking on direct RM responsibilities
- Assist the Director with office planning and personnel changes
Assistant Director of Revenue Management
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
12.2004 - 09.2005
- Managed and forecasted all transient channels on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. Produced the 14-day Forecast, the Transient Monthly and Rolling Forecasts, and the Transient Annual Budget
- Acted as the primary liaison between the Hotel and Harrah’s Casino, as I was responsible for monitoring the inventory allotments to maximize the Hotel’s revenue opportunities
- Created and completed key reports on a monthly basis, including, but not limited to Monthly STAR evaluations, DRM Critiques, and the E-Mix report
- Assisted the Director of Sales & Marketing and the Director of Leisure Sales in establishing and maintaining Individual Tour promotions and inventory. Evaluated each promotion or channel’s performance and recommended changes in strategies
Revenue Manager
Doubletree Hotel Tallahassee
01.2004
- Exceeded budgeted room revenue by 6.5% and prior year by 8.4%, through implementation of MAR’s, Group Ceilings, and enhanced Length of Stay pricing
- Produced the 14-day Forecast, the Transient Monthly and Rolling Forecasts, and the Transient Annual Budget
- Helped beta test OnQ Operations Audit (HOME) which would allow individual properties to balance daily revenues between OnQ FM and PeopleSoft
Education
B.S. - Economics
Charleston Southern University
Charleston, SC01.2003
Skills
- Revenue reporting
- Pricing strategy
- Customer segmentation
- Strategic forecasting
- Competitor analysis
- Data-driven decision making
- Adaptable to market fluctuations
- Training solutions development
- Team building
Timeline
Director of Revenue Management
YourPad
10.2024 - Current
Portfolio Revenue Manager, Revenue Management for Hire (RMH)
InterContinental Hotels Group
02.2023 - 09.2024
President
Anderby Brewing
07.2019 - 07.2023
Manager, RM Systems Integration – Global Revenue Management and Property Based Systems
InterContinental Hotels Group
06.2011 - 02.2020
Corporate Revenue Manager
Charlestowne Hotels
12.2010 - 05.2011
Director of Revenue Management
Hilton Atlanta
07.2008 - 12.2010
Assistant Director, RMHCC
Hilton Worldwide Revenue Management Consolidated Hotel Center
09.2005 - 06.2008
Assistant Director of Revenue Management
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
12.2004 - 09.2005
Revenue Manager
Doubletree Hotel Tallahassee
01.2004
B.S. - Economics
Charleston Southern University