Albert Bester

Johannesburg│+2776 4412629│

Senior Management: Hospitality

Snapshot: Highly motivated, creative and versatile hospitality management professional with 25 years of experience in implementing strategies for enhancing revenue generation through operational prudence. Proficient in managing F&B operations, initiating start up operations as well as building effective, productive working relationships with clients and staff utilizing excellent management, negotiation and public relations skills; seeking challenging senior managerial assignments with a professionally managed organization in the field of hospitality to leverage acquired skills in accomplishing organizational growth objectives

Core Competencies…

Revenue Management ~ Budgeting & Forecasting ~ Catering Operations ~ Training & Development ~ Business Development ~ Sales & Marketing ~ Market & Trend Analysis ~ Service Delivery Management ~ Customer Relationship Management ~ Cross Functional Team Coordination

Leadership Strengths & Highlights

Resourceful in mapping client’s requirements & ensuring rendering of effective solutions in-line with the specified guidelines of the organization based on continuous interaction with the customer

Significant exposure in optimizing/ maintaining food, labor costs and net profit margin, based on forecasted targets

Proven ability in implementation of training programs that enhance culinary abilities, catering menu knowledge and customer relationship skills

Adroit in consistently streamline operations by utilizing & implementing processes aligned to company standards and clients’ needs, thereby ensuring profitability, quality and excellent customer service

Insightful knowledge of process / procedures, cost control and revenue maximization for change management in service operations entailing mapping business processes and studying workflow to identify gaps, ensuring business functionality as well as enhancing competitive advantage

Effective in establishing & maintaining KPI, analyzing performance reports, identifying areas to improve, as well as implementing measures for enhancing performance levels and meeting the objectives

A strong team leader and motivator, fostering an atmosphere encouraging highly talented professionals to balance individual skills with productivity with exceptional planning, execution, negotiation and interpersonal skills

Professional Experience

Elegancia Hospitality Group, Doha - Qatar : General Manager-Hospitality Operations : Jul2013– July 2016

Enterprise Impact:

  • Functioned as member of the pre-opening team of two high profile properties, involved in managing day to day operations, defining and implementing business procedures, budgets, hiring and training of staff including engineering, housekeeping, spa as well as travelling to the other properties

Key Profile:

  • Focus on planning, organizing & implementing organizational procedures for maintaining seamless operations across 3 high profile properties in Qatar
  • Generate awareness amongst employees on organizational policies & procedures for implementing the same in day to day business transactions
  • Coordinate with various support teams with regards to maintenance of accommodations & service facilities
  • Ensure compliance to organizational health & safety policies, housekeeping & hygiene standards through periodic monitoring/ preventive maintenance of the premises
  • Guide employees in enhancing customer satisfaction through qualitative service delivery
  • Monitor performance of team members and render productivity enhancement feedback. Organize training sessions for team members based on identified training needs
  • Liaise with vendors & suppliers with regards to supply of items based on requirements. Optimize resource utilization and manage departmental assets

Sabbatical – 2012 - 2013

Drakensberg Gardens Golf and Spa Resort, South Africa : Food and Beverage Manager / Assistant General Manager : Apr 2007 – Mar 2011

Enterprise Impact:

  • Played key role in enhancing standards & procedures, organizing themed functions and redesigning outlet menus based on seasonal trends

Key Profile:

  • Managed day to day operations of 5 restaurant outlets and 9 bar outlets in a 860 hectare resort including activities related to recruiting & grooming of team members as well as managing other administrative functions
  • Set up food & beverage business plans by surveying demand across various outlets, identifying and evaluating competition
  • Designed innovative marketing, advertising and public relation programs aligned to market trends for enhancing sales and revenue generation
  • Prepared financial, marketing and sales projections, analyses and estimates by evaluating market trends. Optimized food and labor costs by evaluating P&L, preparing financial plans, forecasts and budgets
  • Enhanced client satisfaction by monitoring, evaluating, auditing food, beverage and service offerings and building productive business relationship with preferred clients
  • Maintained safe, secure, healthy facility environment by establishing, following, enforcing sanitation standards and procedures
  • Guided team members in reconciling, updating, standardizing beverage lists as well as in planning/ evaluating & implementing beverage standards. Benchmarked local competition for each outlet based on compared prices and evaluated concepts
  • Evaluated team performance and rendered productivity enhancement feedback. Recommended training sessions for team members based on identified training needs
  • Presented various status reports at senior management reviews to enable effective decision making for restructuring business strategies

Boston Gold Group : General Manager : Apr 2006 – Mar 2007

Enterprise Impact:

  • Instrumental in developing new menus for the organization based on evaluated market trends and other related factors

Key Profile:

  • Drafted business plans pertaining to catering operations encompassing various aspects of program requirements, preparation of meals for 4 restaurant outlets as well as outside catering
  • Focused on enhancing brand awareness through implementation of various promotional schemes. Prepared / ensured compliance to food, operating costs and other budgetary parameters
  • Coordinated with suppliers for purchasing and control of stock based on reorder levels
  • Implemented and ensured compliance to contract terms, production & quality control standards
  • Rendered consultancy on various aspects related to development of food service, definition of processes and other related factors
  • Managed various administrative aspects related to catering operations including compilation, storage and retrieval of production data for reports
  • Participated in recruitment, grooming & mentoring team members based in business as well as operational requirements
  • Built/ maintained productive business relationship with existing clients and prospects aimed at identification/ development of new business opportunities

Intercontinental – Kabul Afghanistan : Director Food and Beverage : Oct 2002 – Mar 2006

Enterprise Impact:

  • Acquired significant exposure in managing pre-opening phase of the F&B department of the hotel

Key Profile:

  • Spearheaded team efforts related to upgrade of F&B,banqueting departments and 2 restaurants. Participated in supplier negotiations for procuring cost effective items based on operational requirements
  • Coordinated activities related to designing new menus, organizing trainings as well as implementing standards, procedures and effective cost control measures
  • Set up food & beverage business plans by surveying demand across various outlets, identifying and evaluating competition
  • Maintained safe, secure, healthy facility environment by establishing, following, enforcing sanitation standards and procedures

Previous Assignments

  • City Royal Hotel│ PietermaritzburgHotel Duty ManagerAug 1999 – Aug 2002
  • Sun International-Wild Coast Sun, Durban│ Assistant Banqueting Manager Jun 1998 – Jun 1999
  • Blue Waters Hotel, Durban│ Duty ManagerFeb 1997 – May 1998
  • Sun International Amatola Sun│ Assistant F&B / Duty Manager Aug 1996 – Feb 1997
  • Sun International Mpekweni Sun Marine Resort│ Assistant F&B / Duty ManagerFeb 1995 – Jul 1996
  • Four Seasons Hotel – Durban│ Senior Assistant Manager Sep 1992 – Jan 1995

Academics

Education

  • Diploma – Hotel Management (Food Service Management), Natal Technikon (Not Completed)
  • High School Certificate (Grade 10)

Professional Development

  • Kitchen and Personal Hygiene
  • Food Hygiene – Woolworths

Date of Birth:26thApril 1968 ~ Languages Known:English and Afrikaans ~ Nationality:South African

Passport Details: A02271109 valid till 2022~ References: Available on Request