Executive Digest, 21st of April, 2017
Francisco Nogueira de Sousa, General Manager of Praia D’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort, was named the best General Manager of the Marriott Group in Europe, receiving the Excellence Award for Europe 2016. The award was presented during an event organized by the hotel chain to recognize outstanding professionals and teams.
You can access the online version here.
Av. de Berna, 35, 3º Dto
1050-038 Lisboa, Portugal
“An intelligent and creative strategist but also an inspiring perfectionist with great interpersonal skills. One of the most valuable hospitality professionals I have ever met.”
Jorge Catarino – CEO & Founder, JAC
“A profound expert on the hospitality sector allied to high moral standards and great interpersonal skills that have allowed him to fully succeed in delivering in full his big challenges.”
Nuno Ferreira Pires – CEO, Sport TV
“I was impressed by his commercially- minded and thoughtful approach to branding and strategic positioning, which clearly makes him stand out.”
Sérgio Leandro – SVP Operations, Highgate
“His market up-to datenesss and analytical skillset combined with his expertise in project management make him an outstanding hospitality consultant.”
Mario Chessa – Hospitality and Luxury Real Estate Advisor
“We were able, through his leadership, motivated team work, and a great belief and focus in the objectives, to implement this model effectively.”
João Catanho – Director of Revenue and Distribution Europe & LatAm, Minor Hotels
“A true leader with an entrepreneurial spirit that adds tremendous value to all ventures he is involved with. A team leader, a great motivator, results oriented, pragmatic and extremely dynamic.”
José Reino da Costa – ExCom member, Millennium Ageas
“I’ve been consistently impressed by his drive, his focus on getting things done – the right way – and his clarity of purpose.”
João Soares – Senior Partner, Bain & Company
“A calculated risk taker, pragmatic leader and realist who seems to grasp ideas holistically whilst still taking note to the more acute details. Filipe is a value creator in the truest sense. ”
Alexandre Matos – Consultant and Board Advisor
“All opinions were important, no matter where you are on the organization chart, making it a pleasure to work under his management.”
Luís Carvalho – Regional Director of E-Commerce and Distribution, Minor Hotels
“Filipe played a key role in developing a strategy to get buy-in from both the sales team and senior management, as well as in mobilizing everyone for implementation.”
Nelson Fontainhas – Partner, Deloitte
“Deeply impressed by his thoroughness, strong analytical skills and drive to shape the organization into a new paradigm.”
Gonçalo Cadete – Managing Partner, Estoril Capital Partners
“He stands out for his professionalism, expertise and leadership. I find him inspiring and motivating.”
Louise Lijmbach – Manager Portugal, Booking.com
“A highly driven person, focused on results and very pragmatic, with a deep concern on fundamental structural improvements across all functional areas and the competence to deliver.”
João Rodrigues Pena – Executive Director, Consultant and Entrepreneur
“He has been able to perform in various roles in different industries, sometimes in quite difficult environments, always focused in creating value and developing strong teams and businesses.”
Joaquim Souza – Senior Executive and Investor
“Extremely well connected professionally with an incredible background not only in hospitality but also in other areas.”
Oriol Juvé de Yebra – Resort Manager, Six Senses Ibiza
Senior Partner
Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
Head of Consulting Services
Graduated in economics by Nova School of Business and Economics and an MBA by INSEAD, Filipe started his career at Roland Berger and BCG. He was in banking, in Strategic Marketing and as Head of Direct Banking, and was the COO for pmelink.pt, the biggest e-commerce platform in Portugal at the time. Filipe joined leading Portuguese group Tivoli Hotels & Resorts in 2007, as Head of Development and was assigned to the Board of Directors as CS&MO, and, later, as an interim COO, leading to the successful acquisition by Minor Hotels. He co-created, at ISCTE/ INDEG, the first post-graduation in Portugal directed at top management in hospitality and was an advisor of Nova SBE for the subject of management applied to hospitality.
Achievements
Was a member of the Executive Board that executed the € 300 million deal to sell 14-property Tivoli group to Minor Hotels, under deep financial distress, while assuring a 2.3x increase in EBITDA in only two years.
Led a deep commercial re-structuring that resulted in a 37% growth in Room Revenue in 3 years, with a mature portfolio.
Increased direct Revenue by 80% in only two years.
Co-ordinated a comprehensive operational efficiency program, that untapped yearly cost savings amounting to 8% of Total Revenue.
Led critical negotiations with key operational business partners, that resulted in 50-80% cost savings, for the same universe, with equivalent or superior service levels.
Reached 1st place in student satisfaction on the first year of his post-graduation program at ISCTE/ INDEG.
“He is innovative and has some great leadership skills, keeping the cohesion and
motivation of a workgroup. His positive attitude is one of his best attributes.”
Sérgio Leandro – SVP Operations, Highgate
“A role model of leadership, an example to all his followers. Francisco can handle all challenges like no other, improving the motivation of all subordinates.”
Miguel Inácio – Director of F&B, Dolce Campo Real Lisbon
“We recognize the remarkable talent of Francisco Nogueira de Sousa in delivering significant management returns. He played a crucial role with his expertise and knowledge of hotel management.”
Pedro Seabra – President and Partner, Discovery Investments
“An outstanding hotelier with profound knowledge of hotel business. Always looks back for the teams he leads with absolute commitment.”
Pedro Catapirra – Cluster General Manager, Highgate
“The true hotelier from head to toe. His skill to motivate and keep the team focused in achieving results, and specially is unique way to deal with guests was indeed special.”
Paulo Figueiredo – COO, Onyria Group
“A solid talent manager, with substantial knowledge of the hospitality business. A professional with track record on transforming a number of individual professionals into a strong team.”
José Pedro Almeida – CEO & Founder, XLR Revenue Management System
“A natural Leader. He leads with passion and get his team passionate for the company mission and their role in the organization.”
Rui Ventura – Regional Communications & Content Manager, Monster Energy
“The talent, pragmatism, and joy of working with Francisco Nogueira de Sousa became the key to success in elevating Campo Real to a high standard in the Portuguese tourism landscape.”
António Carneiro – President, Regional Tourism Board of the West Region
“Adding his own cheery brand of mentorship, his ideas, suggestions, and thought process has helped Tripwix move into new directions.”
Lisa Bruno – Co-Founder, Tripwix
“The combination of his resilience, trustworthiness, leadership skills and profound knowledge of the hospitality industry makes him the best person to advise and run any business in this field.”
Miguel Figueiredo – Coach, Mentor and Keynote Speaker
Managing Partner
CEO
Dedicated 15 years of his career to Starwood Hotels & Resorts, fast-tracking through different operations and commercial assignments in Portugal and Europe. Francisco was a Managing Director for Portuguese group Hotéis Real, where he led a deep re-structuring. Graduated in Hotel Management, Francisco complemented his education with several programs in Leadership, Strategy, Finance, Marketing, Branding, Sales, Six Sigma, and Blue Ocean Strategy, in schools such as INSEAD and MCE. He started Blueshift in 2012, and was awarded as the best General Manager for the Marriott group in Europe. Francisco was also a member of the Marriott Business Council in Portugal, and currently leads merytu, a tech start-up incubated by Blueshift.
Achievements
Was awarded as the best General Manager for the Marriott group, among 650 properties in Europe.
Led the team behind a 7,4x EBITDA increase for an international brand 5-star hotel under insolvency procedure.
Led the reopening of former Westin Campo Real in only 45 days and the handover do Dolce Hotels & Resorts.
Co-ordinated the turnaround of Portuguese group ‘Hotéis Real’, increasing EBITDA by 162% in 3 years.
Led the turnaround of 5 star ‘Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel & Spa’, increasing the EBITDA tenfold in only one year.
As a Regional Head of Communication and Marketing of Starwood, increased 8x the Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE).
Was the youngest ever Director of Sales and Marketing at Starwood, distinguished as ‘best performance sales person’ in Europe.
“A professional of excellence, both in accounting matters and in the matters related to audit and duties and obligations of statutory auditors. I highlight her integrity, the quality of her work and the sense of ethics and professionalism.”
João Ramos – Partner, PwC
“Excellent financial knowledge and professional ethics. Always with a positive attitude, easy communication, great ability to lead teams.”
Carlos Ramalho da Silva – CFO & Board Member, Yilport Iberia Group
“Affordable and available, responsible and fulfilling and, not least, a reference to the newest ones that follow her in the teams.”
Luís Ferreira – Partner, PWC
“In addition to her personal characteristics that make her a leader, such as responsibility, ethics and fairness, she has excellent knowledge of accounting principles, namely IFRS, and internal control.”
Maria João Faia – Director, PwC
“A professional of excellence, always attentive to the details, and loyal to her colleagues.”
João Martins – Financial and Administrative Manager, Águas do Tejo Atlântico
Partner
CFO
Graduated in Business Economics by ISEG, Carla has post-graduations in Management and Leadership, by Catholic University, and in Top Management in Hospitality and Tourism, by INDEG-ISCTE. She is also certified in auditing and internal control according to the Sarbanes-Oxley law. Carla worked twenty years in auditing and consulting, at Coopers & Lybrand and PWC, where she developed strong skills in financial consolidation and reporting, public offerings and M&A. As a CFO at Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort, Carla was a key element on the turnaround process led by Blueshift.
Achievements
Integrated, as CFO, the team of a hotel, managed under an international brand, that achieved a six-fold EBITDA increase in the two years after taking over.
Was, for 20 years, a consultant at PWC, achieving a Manager position.
Solid experience in financial consolidation and reporting in several corporations quoted on the Portuguese stock exchange Euronext Lisboa.
Experience in IPOs, including a capital increase of € 1,2 billion by Portuguese utility EDP.
Experience and certification in auditing and internal control, according to Sarbanes-Oxley law.
Experience in M&A, as a consultant in several transactions.
