Melvyn Yap

• Increasing the number of hosted buyers in both China and Asia through business development of accounts and sourcing new contacts.
• Maintain an accurate database of industry contacts for analysis and future recruitment.
• Developing relationships with key industry clients to encourage a commitment and third-party endorsement to the event.
• Regular communication with hosted buyers on the telephone, via e-mail and at face-to-face meetings where and when required.
• Travel to events and other related activities to promote the event and acquire market intelligence.
• Selling exhibition space to the most sought-after suppliers of luxury travel products in Asia and China, and passing leads for other ILTM events back to RX team.
• Create and develop strategic relationships with the leading travel providers to maximise client growth and retention.
• Develop and manage bespoke partnerships with the top key accounts.
• Proactively create your own network in order to assist new and organic business development.
• Attend other ILTM and Reed Exhibitions events thereby maintaining relationships, expanding the database and prospecting for new business.
• Work closely with senior management and other team departments to develop and execute sales and business development plans.
• Close liaison with sales, marketing, senior management as well as leveraging supporting functions in order to achieve strategic and operational aims.

• Local follow up of the potential leads brought by Singapore Tourism Board, Marina Bay Sands and Suntec congress centers.
• Attendance to Mice Sector events organized by main local actors (meetings organized by Tourism board or exhibition centers, get together initiated by main hotels groups), representing bnetwork locally in Singapore.
• Assistance of customers for local site inspections (events’ organizers wishing to evaluate the hotels offer, or select the hotel(s) they will use for their staff, speakers).
• Local assistance for negotiation with hotels, when received offer would not be satisfying.

• Singapore Tourism Board licensed Tourist Guide
• Finalist for Singapore Tourism Awards 2024 in the category "CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE FOR TOURIST GUIDING".
• Leading Tours for ground operators during the cruise season. Led groups from vessels - Queen Mary II, Westerdam, Island Princess, Acardia, Silver Muse.
• Conduct Private Tours from Travel companies from USA, Europe and Asia.
• Built personal relationships with guests to promote positive experiences.
• Facilitated memorable experiences for diverse groups by tailoring presentations to cater to different age groups, cultural backgrounds, and language abilities.
• Adapted to unexpected schedule changes by being flexible and adjusting itineraries to keep tours moving smoothly.
• Planned and organized tours by determining routes, selecting sights and landmarks to visit, and coordinating transportation and accommodations.
• Continued learning and updating knowledge about tour areas, culture and history to provide accurate, timely and exciting information to tour groups.

• Lead tour groups to destinations in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Spain, Portugal.
• Act as day-to-day guide, interpreter and manager of the group.
• Deal directly with guests issues and concerns, ensuring that passenger satisfaction is effectively achieved.
• Maintain the established travel itinerary as closely as possible, making changes only when necessary.
• Make reservations for accommodation, transportation and activities as required.
• Assist and accompany guests during optional activities and meals.
• Advise guests on suitable restaurants, additional transport requirements, purchase of souvenirs, etc.
• Maintain daily expenditure accounts, retain receipts and keep expenses within the trip budget provided.
• Provide a report for each trip.
• Train new Leaders as required, passing on as much trip-related information as possible.

• Education and Training: Conduct workshops, classes, and tasting sessions to educate individuals about sake production, history, and tasting techniques.
• Sake Appreciation: Share stories, traditions, and cultural significance related to sake, fostering a deeper understanding among learners.
• Pairing Expertise: Provide guidance on pairing sake with Japanese cuisine, enhancing the overall dining experience.
• Serving Etiquette: Teach proper sake serving techniques, glassware selection, and temperature considerations.
• Stay Current: Keep up-to-date with industry trends, new sake varieties, and brewing techniques.

Certification

• Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET Level 1 Award in Sake)
• Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET Level 3 Award in Sake)
• Sake Sommelier Academy (SSA Introductory Sake Professional)
• Sake Sommelier Academy (SSA Certified Sake Sommelier)
• SSI International (SSI Sake Navigator)
• SSI International (SSI International Kikisake-shi)
• John Gauntner (CSP Certified Sake Professional)
• The Sake Scholar Course (SSC)

• Assist and support TCEB to plan and enhance the marketing strategies and implement activity programs by arranging and participating in destination promotion such as trade show, road show, familiarization trip, sales mission/corporate function, annual meeting and other activities determined by TCEB within the time period specified.
• Establish a close working relationship with airlines, tour operators, travel agents and other industry partners including Team Thailand in order to do a joint promotion on Thailand and encourage them to become more actively involved in promoting Thailand as MICE destination to their clients.
• Encourage the Meetings and Incentives organizers or any special MICE groups to choose Thailand as the destination and generate MICE visitors to Thailand.
• Maintain and strengthen the current database and build up the new customer targets and update the progress to TCEB.
• Create awareness of TCEB and Thailand through public relations, networking activities and promotions.
• Coordinate and supply information to buyers and target groups. Also act as TCEB’s one stop information center for MICE industry in Singapore.
• Submit monthly, quarterly and annual report to TCEB as agreed in order to update TCEB about sales & marketing activities and market intelligence & analysis.
• To strengthen and expand Thailand’s MICE industry in Singapore.

• Reporting directly to the President, Sales & Marketing.
• Responsible for the revenue performance of 12 Asian countries, namely Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Japan, South Korea & India.
• Partnering with the various support teams to develop regional initiatives and programs for the achievement of the annual revenue budget.
• Work extensively in collaboration with Sales & Distribution, Revenue Management and Marketing in support of commercial objectives.
• Primary liaison between Sales Distribution/Pricing, Business Development, Corporate Office counterparts and other departments as necessary ensuring the top revenue opportunities are appropriately prioritized.
• Responsible for continuously improving the quality & timeliness of account performance and decision-support efforts for Sales.
• Required to implement consistent, accurate and efficient coordinated initiatives driving sales actions to support Silversea commercial objectives.
• Contributing business knowledge and ideas to various ad hoc projects including the development of internal and external presentations.
• Partnering with and providing leadership support to the travel agency community for supporting achievement of assigned sales targets.
• Support prompt and professional attention to the travel agency community so as to increase sales and agency penetration within Asia.
• Ensure sales target achievement while staying within established budget.
• Make effective personal sales calls, conducting consumer presentations & agency staff presentations.
• Development of an annual regional Sales & Marketing plan created with an established budget.
• Execute initiatives and measure results, providing management with monthly progress and goal reports, maintaining regular dialogue with management regarding sales performance.
• Analyse data and results delivered by Sales & Distribution Development, Sales and Revenue Management to maximize organizational efficiencies.
• Assist the composition of collateral material for distribution to travel agents.
• Coordinate with Sales, Marketing, Revenue Management, Hotel Operations, Guest Relations and other key areas to maximize revenue, driving efficiencies for the company to maximize sales, streamline service and optimize consistencies.
• Participate in trade shows or social functions to promote product.
• Includes other duties which may fall out of the immediate scope of this position but which may be required to achieve commercial objectives.

• Responsible for obtaining profitable results for 5 cruise companies that we represented – Silversea Cruises, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and Costa Cruises.
• Manage the sales administration function, operational performance reporting, streamlining processes and systems wherever possible, and advising senior management on maximising business relationships and creating an environment where customer service can flourish.
• Responsible for managing sales, developing a business plan covering sales, revenue, and expense controls, meeting agreed targets, and promoting the company’s presence in Singapore.
• Assist in the development of the annual marketing plan, specifically advising on: realistic forecasts for each of the 5 products (based on historical data, market trends, competitive activity, promotional strategy and sales effort), realistic costs of operating the sales force; and sales promotion programme plans.
• Ensure that all sales activities are in accordance with the guidelines from the Principle and Singapore’s Travel authority.
• Responsible for monitoring the performance of the sales team by establishing a system of reports and communications involving sales reports, cyclical sales meetings and sales newsletters.
• Provide high standards of ongoing training for the travel agency community so that they possess sufficient knowledge, to present information on the company’s products in an accurate and balanced manner, to their clients

• Public Relations & Coordinator officer onboard Thai Vessel, Andaman Princess sailing between Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
• Provide guest satisfaction, answer guest questions, resolve passenger complaints and provide front desk services. Front desk services include registering guest credit cards, processing account payments, and exchanging currencies.

• Served 2 years 6 months for compulsory National Service

• Job placement at UOB Travel during Temasek Polytechnic job attachment stint.
• Main assignment were tour planning and market research on travel agencies in Singapore