Kareem Aboutaleb

Invited back to Merriweather Lakehouse by hotel ownership as Director of Front Office during the property’s onboarding with Sage Hospitality from Aimbridge Hospitality, providing trusted continuity and leadership as new management was assumed. Continued strengthening Front Office performance under Sage until Meyer Jabara Hospitality assumed management in late 2024. Promoted to Director of Guest Services in January 2025 under Meyer Jabara, recognizing elevated service leadership, cross-department influence, and the ability to advance the Autograph Collection guest experience during a critical period of organizational evolution.

• Guided the property to a Top 15 ranking among Autograph Collection hotels for guest satisfaction and service execution.
• Surpassed 200% of annual Marriott Bonvoy enrollment goals through redesigned upsell strategy, incentive alignment, and shift accountability.
• Serve as the property’s Autograph Base Coach, leading brand-standard training, service-behavior refinement, and cultural alignment across all guest-facing departments.
• Strengthened hotel-wide coordination by modernizing rooms-control practices and improving communication between Front Office, Sales, and Housekeeping.
• Rebuilt service training frameworks aligned with Autograph standards, elevating consistency, guest engagement, and leadership capability.
• Advanced mobile-journey enhancements and service recovery processes that produced sustained improvement across GSS metrics.

Personally selected directly by Sage Hospitality for a pivotal Rooms leadership role by Christopher Bragg (Director of Rooms) and Sabrina Morse (Director of Revenue), later transitioning under the operational leadership of Maxine Henry (Director of Rooms). Supported major departmental restructuring and strengthened inventory accuracy, group coordination, and daily operational flow, playing a key role in onboarding and developing the new Front Office Manager and Assistant Front Office Manager to ensure continuity and success during a period of departmental change.

• Directed inventory strategy with the DORM and Rooms team to optimize occupancy, ADR performance, and VIP allocation for a high-volume, group-driven property.
• Improved accuracy of room categorization and group coordination, ensuring seamless execution for large events and corporate accounts.
• Supported Sales, Events, and FO leadership by coordinating room blocks, arrival flow, and VIP placement.
• Trained and mentored FO Agents and Supervisors to reinforce service standards and strengthen day-to-day execution.

Served as a key operational leader during rising business volume and evolving brand expectations for an Autograph Collection property. Strengthened service consistency, team readiness, and operational structure across the Front Office.

• Elevated GSS performance, achieving nine out of ten positive review categories through targeted coaching and operational refinement.
• Led Ambassador and Cobalt amenity programs, delivering high-touch luxury service to elite travelers and key corporate partners.
• Modernized scheduling and staffing models to enhance productivity and improve labor forecasting accuracy.
• Strengthened compliance through BSA readiness training, structured drills, and documentation standards.
• Partnered with Engineering to refine emergency communication processes and enhance guest safety programs.
• Built repeatable onboarding pathways and service standards that improved team readiness and internal succession potential.

Advanced into management at a high-volume full-service Marriott, overseeing daily Front Office operations and delivering elevated support for elite travelers and corporate accounts. Demonstrated a strong blend of service intuition, operational discipline, and people leadership—earning multiple recognitions for performance and guest satisfaction impact.

• Delivered elevated service experiences for Marriott elite guests through tailored engagement, anticipatory service, and issue-resolution leadership.
• Developed weekly staffing plans that improved coverage consistency and strengthened operational flow across AM/PM shifts.
• Coordinated large-group arrivals and business-travel needs through close partnership with Sales and Event teams.
• Enhanced frontline service behaviors through active floor presence, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Monitored financial accuracy across checklists including high balances, credit limits, and guest ledger oversight.
• Fostered collaboration with Housekeeping, Engineering, and F&B to ensure seamless daily operations and guest satisfaction.
• Reduced customer issues by [Number]% with introduction of surveys and questionnaires.