Melody N. Pleasant, Corporate Director of Sales

Melody Pleasant brings nearly twenty years of hands-on experience in hotel management, marketing, and sales to Southwind Hospitality. After completing her education at the University of South Carolina in 1985, she joined the Marriott Corporation in Columbia, South Carolina as Sales Manger and later accepted a position as Senior Sales Manager with Embassy Suites Golf Resort in Greenville, South Carolina.

In 1998 Ms. Pleasant moved to Florida and accepted a position as Senior Sales Manager for Adam's Mark Hotels of Florida, based in Daytona Beach. Her duties included responsibility for State Association and Government Markets for multiple corporate properties. She consistently surpassed booking goals for Adam's Mark by 110%-125%, and also participated in pre-opening sales campaigns.

Ms. Pleasant then spent six years as Director of Sales for the Plaza Resort and Spa and the Plaza Ocean Club in Daytona Beach, where she was responsible for the sales and catering staff for both hotels, including 500 guest rooms and 40,000 square feet of meeting space. While at Plaza Resorts, she developed a new marketing plan that included the optimization of booking strategies, forecasting, and internet sales which increased revenue for both properties by 15%-20% annually. During this period, Pleasant also had the opportunity to work closely with the Convention and Visitors Bureau on special events and city-wide conventions, and became a board member of the CVB Meetings and Conventions committee.

Prior to joining Southwind Hospitality in 2009, Ms. Pleasant was Director of Sales for the Plantation Golf Resort and Spa in Crystal River, Florida for two years. Her responsibilities included not only the $5.6 million guest room revenue, but the golf, marina and spa revenues as well. She was in charge of all marketing and advertising efforts for the resort, and increased group rooms by 50% for 2008 and beyond.

Ms. Pleasant also excels at networking, has a comprehensive knowledge of the hotel market, and knows how to work effectively with others to develop a powerful sales team and successful marketing strategies.