Mirella Melis
Summary
Resourceful Luxury Travel Designer with over 20 years’ experience in hospitality and tourism, passionate about creating unique travel experiences across both luxury and budget sectors. Strong research background and proven ability to design tailor-made itineraries for high-end clients worldwide. Alongside my luxury travel career, I have successfully consulted on the opening, branding, and marketing of hostels across Europe, combining business strategy with a passion for community-driven travel. Adept at building long-term industry partnerships, enhancing guest experiences, and positioning properties for sustainable growth.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Luxury Travel Designer
Bellarome Travel/Zicasso
12.2020 - Current
- Provide complex travel consultation with demonstrated knowledge of domestic and international travel
- Capitalized on emerging industry and market trends to enhance business and customer relations strategies.
- Handle all aspects of bookings including airline, hotel, and car rental reservations, private and group tours,
- Process exchanges and refunds for airline tickets
- Assisted with international travel issues, including passports, visas, and currency
- Responsible for timely and accurate processing of client travel inquiries and travel request
- Act as liaison been customer and supplier
- Support clients via phone and e-mail
- Maintain regular communication with customers prior to departure to provide updated travel information including but not limited to delayed departures and earlier flight availability
- Responsible for collecting and recording deposits and final payments.
- Arranged travel accommodations for groups, couples, executives and special needs clients.
- Provided exemplary customer service to new and existing clients, which helped build lasting relationships and secure new travel assignments.
- Maintained operational proficiency in coordinating both international and domestic travel accommodations for customers, arranging for airfare as well as hotel and rental car reservations.
- Organized memorable and exquisite travel itineraries and vacations for high-level clients, celebrities, politicians, and business executives.
Independent Hostel Consultant
Self-employed
01.2015 - Current
- Consulted on the opening, branding, and marketing of multiple hostels across Europe, from concept development to launch.
- Designed creative go-to-market strategies, helping properties build a strong identity and attract their target audiences.
- Advised management teams on guest engagement, social events, and community-driven experiences to boost occupancy and loyalty.
- Provided training on digital marketing, partnerships, and operational efficiency to ensure sustainable long-term growth.
Sales & Marketing Manager
Comforts of Italy s.r.l
11.2017 - 11.2019
- Comforts of Home is Europe’s leading provider of accommodations for study-abroad students, interns, and young professionals
- Establish relationships with potential clients and facilitate integration with partner service solutions
- Build corporate relationships with customers and industry associations
- Assist in marketing strategy development for national and regional divisions
- Leverage new opportunities via the execution of new business projects
- Streamline profit margins through price adjustments and cost reduction analysis
- Collaborate with the marketing team to successfully present and promote products
- Conduct business analysis to deploy customized solutions for prospective clients
- Represent the company at conferences, meetings, and industry events
- Facilitate service level agreements and contract negotiations
- Develop new customer development strategies to capture market channels and increase client penetration
- Implement and execute marketing activities to increase branding and recognition programs
- Suggest improvements in business strategies based on customer feedback mechanisms
- Expanded business development aligned to overall company goals
- Instrumental in developing initiatives for new projects together with the product development team
- Directed all meetings and produced presentations for clients
- Approve budgets and conduct financial due diligence exercises
Business Development Manager
Generator Hostels
01.2016 - 11.2017
- Generator is a global lifestyle brand offering fresh and socially engaging accommodation and hospitality venues
- Create annual and monthly sales budgets for the company in alignment with the business strategic goals
- Take responsibility of and organise the plan, development & management of sales channels
- Take responsibility for team management, talent recruitment & development & performance evaluation
- Integrate relevant issues of daily operation, and provide professional & effective support
- Take a first-line approach with the key customers; both in their offices and any visits to the client as required
- Create, implement and own the targeted sales strategy and activity plan for Generator Italy
- Pro-actively seek out, take ownership and continually deliver new business opportunities across key market segments including group, FIT, private hire events and bar & restaurants
- Facilitate full rate quotation and contracting for local accounts
- Gather market and client information, providing feedback on buying trends
- Represent Generator Hostels at local trade exhibitions and local events
Sales and Marketing Manager
Europe's Famous Hostels
02.2013 - 07.2015
- Responsible for guiding the growth and marketing efforts of Europe’s Famous Hostels as well as the organization and coordination of all administrative tasks
- Develop, expand and champion the brand worldwide through links with travel specialists including universities, travel associations, publications and websites
- Identify and approach potential hostels for expansion of the association Identify, develop and deliver the long-term vision of the association
- To organize and represent EFH at travel-fairs and conventions
- Develop an API in order to have an independent booking engine
Key Properties Relation Manager
HostelBookers.com LTD
05.2006 - 02.2013
- Hostelbookers.com is still the major online budget provider with almost 20,000 quality budget properties - from hostels to guesthouses, hotels and apartments - in over 3,000 destinations worldwide
- Responsible for Key Accounts and the sales team that develops property sales and property relations through various products, and advertising opportunities
- Effective evaluation of key account IT requests versus the commercial ROI and relational goodwill
- Effective team management to meet/exceed monthly targets, and developing effective cross-selling techniques whilst still contributing to a positive client experience
- Effectively identifying two new markets that brought additional 12% revenue through accounts won
- Retained 100% of Key accounts through strong relationships and re-contracting of terms with key decision makers
Education
BA Honours - Tourism And Travel Management
University of Westminster
London07.2001
Diploma - Maths and Science
Liceo Scientifico L.B
07.1996
Skills
- Time Management
- High Attention to Detail
- Creative Problem Solving
- Highly Motivated
- Communication and Negotiation
- Planning and Scheduling
- Microsoft Office
- Effective Time Management
- Adaptability
- Tour and Travel Quotes
- Travel Planning
- Travel Agent CMS
Accomplishments
- Seasoned travel and tourism professional with more than 15 years’ experience assisting customers fulfill their domestic and international travel needs
- Extensive knowledge of many of the top travel destinations and proficiency in the latest travel coordination and booking software
- Gifted at developing custom-built travel itineraries that exceed expectations while still fitting into clients’ budgets
- Dedicated to helping clients reach their dreams of traveling the world
- I have been promoted through varied demanding roles within the travel industry, which has given me a range of skill-sets, and commercial experience, both online & offline, and developed my interpersonal communication skills to a high level.
Languages
Italian
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Spanish
Advanced (C1)
Timeline
Luxury Travel Designer
Bellarome Travel/Zicasso
12.2020 - Current
Sales & Marketing Manager
Comforts of Italy s.r.l
11.2017 - 11.2019
Business Development Manager
Generator Hostels
01.2016 - 11.2017
Independent Hostel Consultant
Self-employed
01.2015 - Current
Sales and Marketing Manager
Europe's Famous Hostels
02.2013 - 07.2015
Key Properties Relation Manager
HostelBookers.com LTD
05.2006 - 02.2013
BA Honours - Tourism And Travel Management
University of Westminster
Diploma - Maths and Science
Liceo Scientifico L.B