Canadian National ExhibitionManager, Guest Services
May. 2022Toronto, Ontario, CanadaAs a Guest Services Manager at the Canadian National Exhibition, I lead transformative initiatives to elevate guest experience, staff performance, and operational excellence at Canada’s largest annual fair. Key Responsibilities & Achievements: ➤Lead the end-to-end planning and operational execution of the Guest Services Department including eight large-scale hospitality programs at Canada’s largest annual fair, serving over 1.4 million guests. ➤Build and sustain trust-based relationships with internal stakeholders, producers, vendors, and event partners to ensure the seamless delivery of guest-facing services in alignment with safety standards, regulatory requirements, and org objectives. ➤Oversee a 280+ person seasonal workforce, including recruitment, onboarding, and performance management, while mentoring team leads and aligning staff development with service excellence goals and operational priorities. ➤Collaborate closely with city agencies, planners, and on-site coordinators to deliver events that balance client expectations with venue capabilities, guest safety, and contract deliverables. ➤Support vendor negotiations, monitor department spending, and contribute to budget planning to maintain fiscal discipline while meeting service-level commitments. ➤Resolve real-time service or staffing issues with discretion, escalating matters when required to uphold operational continuity and guest satisfaction. ➤Achieved a 30% increase in guest satisfaction through targeted service interventions, operational adjustments, and integrated post-event evaluations. ➤Contribute to organizational improvement through detailed post-event debriefs, data-informed recommendations, and cross- departmental knowledge sharing