Christine Lawson
Sales & Marketing Executive
Growth Strategist
A strategic, action-oriented Executive Commercial Sales and Revenue leader with a multifaceted background in sales, marketing, and operations. Known to be analytical and creative, delivering breakthrough problem-solving revenue, profit, and market share gains utilizing tactical and operational leadership, commercialization programs, industry-leading sales expansions, and branding initiatives. A trusted leader valued for cross-functional team building and her experience developing robust sales operations, partnerships, and marketing strategies to exceed customer expectations, drive revenue, company, and profit goals.
EXPERIENCE
Jun 2020 – Jun 2021
EVP, Sales & Revenue, Chicago, IL
Recruited for a growing boutique and lifestyle brand, Aparium Hotel Group, LLC, with a current portfolio of 11 hotels and restaurants. Oversight of six corporate team members, the field sales teams, and a $75M P&L budget.
May 2019 - May 2020
Responsible for the development and management of the integration strategy for the newly acquired B2C acquisition, Wedding Spot, brought into the portfolio in May 2019 to diversify the hotel and special event venue partners’ offerings. Ran the newly acquired sales and marketing business, including a team of 13-members ensuring strategic business execution to secure budgeted revenue.
VP, Hospitality Cloud Sales, Tyson’s Corner, VA
Aug 2016 - Feb 2019
SVP, Sales, New York, NY
Recruited as the company’s first SVP overseeing a P&L up to $1B, a team of
4-corporate sales leaders, 12-national sales specialists, and 200 field sales representatives for profitability and growth over 17-luxury hotel properties. Developed and executed strategies, training, tools, programs, and processes to lead and drive top-line revenue results while emphasizing unmatched guest satisfaction. Led initiative to define and promote Loews Meetings & Events brand narrative and experience.
Jan 2013 - Aug 2016
SVP, Sales & Catering, San Francisco, CA
Promoted to SVP overseeing the nationwide sales and catering organization, with P&L accountability for an $800M portfolio. Designed and executed sales, marketing, lead generation, and pricing strategies, supervising a 14-member corporate leadership team and 250 field managers. Managed over 400 vendor relationships and strategic alliances with Fortune 500 partners.
Jan 2001 - Dec 2012
VP, Sales
Led the vision to develop a sales organization for a growing brand, including sales structure, incentive plans, training programs, national sales account development, tools, and programs. Focused the teams on high-performance, driving double-digit annual RevPAR growth since 2010.
Jan 1999 - Dec 2000
Director of Corporate Sales
Promoted into a newly created role to develop and manage the first national sales team, strategy, and systems. Built the national account portfolio to over 350, growing annual revenues from $8M to $20M in 2-years.
RESULTS
Developed strategic sales & revenue organizations and growth plans, including team development, systems, tools, and internal and customer-facing programs.
Focused on continuous innovation of the customer experience, building loyalty, and brand evangelists.
Innovated programs to retain the best talent, reducing the overall cost of sales by 27%, and increasing REVPAR from 92% to 105%.
EXPERTISE
ACCOUNT RELATIONSHIPS
BRANDING & MARKETING
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
STRATEGY
CHANGE MANAGEMENT
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
GLOBAL GROWTH STRATEGIES
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
MARKETING ALLIANCES
MULTI-SITE MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIC PLANNING
VENDOR NEGOTIATIONS
MEET CHRISTINE
EDUCATION
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Business Administration & Marketing
TESTIMONIALS
Niki Leondakis
CEO, CorePower Yoga
I worked with Christine Lawson for nearly 20 years from 1993 to 2012. I wholeheartedly recommend Christine for any role as a sales executive and leader. She has a solid work ethic with a lazer-like focus on achieving (if not overachieving) targets and goals. Christine also has outstanding leadership skills and artfully balances driving for results with the support and mentorship of others. She has strong personal values and consistently upholds them despite how difficult it may be. This results in her peers', direct reports,' and supervisors' admiration for Christine's character and deep respect for her as a leader.
Christine is also a team player who collaborates and actively supports her colleagues' success. She has the courage of her convictions and always tells the truth with humility and compassion. Christine adds value to whatever she is involved in, regardless of whether it is in her area of responsibility. She takes her work and results very seriously yet has the ability to laugh at herself and bring needed lightness to difficult situations, which results in a highly engaged and motivated team.
I would not hesitate to hire Christine again if the opportunity presented itself. If you would like to discuss Christine's suitability for a particular role, I am more than happy to discuss my experience with Christine over the phone.
Nick Horgan
Chief Sales Officer
Tambourine
Christine Lawson is an exceptional leader and talent. I was fortunate enough to work with her on numerous complex enterprise projects, and she was always able to ensure alignment of the teams from both companies. I have known a large number of people who reported to Christine, as well as the senior leadership team who Christine reported to, and both have always shared an extremely high opinion of her. The energy and intelligence that she brings to an organization produces outsized results.
Suzanne Halperin
VP, Catering & Banquet Brand Operations
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
Christine Lawson is a force. She is an inspiring and unparalleled leader and a master at her craft. She is results driven and self-motivated.
She is hyper focused on learning outside of her own discipline, making her an even more potent leader. She is nimble and can quickly pivot to make the best decisions on behalf of the company.
She has always been my mentor in addition to her other employees. Many have been promoted under her leadership, guidance, and support, as she is highly committed to her teams personal and professional growth.
She has created reports, playbooks, and a vast number of tools and one stop shop opportunities to simplify the booking process and make the overall shopping experience a seamless one for our clients.
She has so much foresight, creativity, and dedication in staying ahead of the competition. She never stops evolving the company with fresh, innovative, and creative ideas to drive revenue and create new revenue streams.
Q & A
Why did you choose your profession?
While it sounds cliché, I am passionate about the convergence of people, curious about their personal and professional needs and collaborating to find an elegant solution. I have been fortunate to have spent my career in hospitality which has afforded me the opportunity to partner with people while tapping into my love of travel and hotels.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Working for Bill Kimpton and being part of developing the structure, team, and culture at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. We were a small and passionate group of people who committed to building an incredible company of boutique hotels & restaurants, providing customers with bespoke experiences and developed a tremendously innovative, inclusive, and rich culture.
Which recent projects are you proud of?
- Multi-Media Meetings & Events Brand Repositioning.
- Organizational restructure of national sales team, aligning sales talent with accounts and geography to maximize revenues. Increased sales by 15% in less than a year.
- Making the decision to take some personal time to reflect, recharge and invest in myself, including spending more quality time with my family and friends.
Do you live by any piece of advice or motto?
Trying to please everyone is a recipe for disaster so focus on what you feel is right and work from there.
What are you passionate about?
Making people feel comfortable, included and part of something bigger.
And music. Nothing makes me happier than great music.
What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute to your success, and why?
Perseverance. Throughout my life, I have observed people that I admire work towards a goal despite obstacles because they believed in what they were trying to accomplish. While both personal and professional endeavors are not always easy, I believe in being resilient, ready to pivot and in pressing on.
What is the one thing you need to know about your co-workers?
I need to know that they are honest, possess integrity, are driven by high-performance, committed to team, and that there is a currency of trust.
Do you have a favorite season?
Spring. It is full of possibilities.
Who inspires you and why?
My Mom and Dad inspire me. They are good people with strong integrity. They always taught me to be humble, hardworking, kind and to give a hand to those in need.
INTERESTS & HOBBIES
