Hotel Cateys 2017: Revenue Manager of the Year winner, Rachel Perry, Radisson Blu Edinburgh

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Rachel Perry, revenue development manager for Radisson Blu Edinburgh, epitomises the professional, customer-focused, team-orientated and commercially aware outlook of a modern revenue manager.

She is responsible for strategically driving the commercial elements of the Radisson Blu Edinburgh, a four-star, 238-bedroom hotel located on the historic Royal Mile of Scotland's capital city.

Over the past 18 months the hotel, which is part of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, has continued to achieve very positive growth, an achievement that is in no small part down to the professionalism and performance of Perry.

She has directly achieved and surpassed all her commercial targets. Compared with 2015/2016, she achieved a 4.5% growth in events revenue and 22.3% year-on-year growth in total room revenue. Within this growth she achieved significant uplift in group base business and some stunning results in meetings and events, smashing her target. The figures helped ensure that the meetings and events team at Radisson Blu Edinburgh was one of the best financial performers across the whole Radisson Blu (UK) Group.

Moreover, Perry also enthuses her team to perform to the best of their abilities. Results from an internal management assessment process, in which colleagues are asked for anonymous feedback on seven key indicators, highlighted her strong people development skills. She achieved an overall department score of 88.4%, while her leadership performance rating increased 6% (compared with 2015) to 83.4%, while innovation was at 85% (up 11% from 2015).

Over the past 18 months Perry has also embraced a broader management remit with exposure to all parts of the hotel business. This has included strategy, revenue streams, overseeing operational efficiencies, encouraging improved team dynamics and contributing to internal and external communications.

Taken together, all of these factors along with her ongoing commitment to personal and team training underline Perry’s impressive credentials as a revenue manager with an extremely bright future.

What the judges said
“Rachel showed great total revenue management and the ability to think outside the box to drive results. We were impressed by the leadership she had shown, which will contribute to the development of future revenue managers.” Neil Braude

“This entry demonstrated well-rounded revenue achievements from all parts of the business. The inclusive approach stood out, particularly in relation to involvement with the commercial team.” Kate Ciblik

“Rachel is a really good all-rounder who demonstrated fantastic and innovative ways to generate revenue for redundant areas of the business.” Sarah Glanville

Shortlisted
Amy Ayers, Holiday Inn Winchester (Zinnia Hotels)

Natalie Grose, Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts

Darren Kerr, Rosewood London

Rachel Perry, Radisson Blu Edinburgh

Jonathan Prikockis, Home Grown Hotels

Past winners
2016 Olga Sommer, Ham Yard hotel

2015 Catherine Bernard, Lancaster London

2014 Helle Nørgaard Beattie, Hyatt Regency London â€" the Churchill