Ron Callari

Ron Callari

Social Media Scientist

Greater New York City Area

Current
Past
  • Hospitality Analyst at Lodging.com
  • Regional Director of Sales & Marketing at GF Management
  • VP Sales at Meristar Hotel & Resorts
  • Director of Advertising/PR/Promotions at Marriott Hotels & Resorts - Mexico & Caribbean Division
  • President at INNovations, Inc.

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Education
  • Cornell University
Recommended
Ron has 9 recommendations 9 people have recommended Ron
Connections
500+ connections
Industry
Internet
Websites

Ron Callari’s Summary

Social Media Strategist who can analyze the big picture without sacrificing detail. Out of the box thinker who can accurately assess, internet marketing, marketplaces and markets for B2C and B2B clients in an expeditious and thorough manner. Currently developing new social media tool for hotels and restaurants to create buzz, evangelists and sales. see--> http://flip.to/e1h7x/buzz

Regular contributor for Digital Media Buzz, InventorSpot and kidd millennium

Freelance Journalist for the last 10 years, specializing in business, travel and politics, editorial cartoons: published by USA Today, Alternet, Lodging.com, the World and I, etc. (www.kiddmillennium.com/kiddswriter.html)

Editorial Cartoonist: http://www.kiddmillennium.com/kiddskartoons.html

Social Networks:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/roncallari
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/roncallari

Author of 'Uncle Dubya's Jihad Jamboree' and 'Crude Behavior (www.kiddmillennium.com)

Ron Callari’s Specialties:

Consultative relationships, Social Media, SEO, SEM, CRM, PPC, Blogging, direct sales, internet marketing, market analysis, hotel negotiations, advertising, public relations, promotions, branding and identity, high success rate with owners, brands, franchises, domestically and internationally. Experience with limited, select and full service hotels and tradeshow management.

Ron Callari’s Experience

  • Founder, President & CEO

    iOptimize Marketing

    (Internet industry)

    2008 — Present (1 year )

    Responsible for the national branding and marketing strategy through online and traditional marketing campaigns, CRM, including concept development, collateral / campaign preparation, white papers, analytics and campaign refinement. Negotiate deals and manage relationships with outside service providers (PR, web designers, and developers, etc.) Develop a detailed marketing analytics / reporting system. Oversee sponsorship strategy and facilitate speaking engagements for industry related events. Oversight of travel accounts for SEO/ SEM/ Social Media for ambitious & leading companies wanting to extend and cement their market position in their sector, and reap significant returns from their investment in search marketing. Responsibilities include improving search rankings, ROI and RevPAR to capture and defend decisive market share for hotels, airlines, casinos, cruise lines, car rentals, CVBs, TPIs, travel agencies, consortia and tour operations.

  • Chief Marketing Officer

    iOptimize Marketing

    (Marketing and Advertising industry)

    January 2008 — September 2008 (9 months)

  • VP Sales & Marketing

    Marshall Management, Inc.

    (Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Hospitality industry)

    2006 — 2008 (2 years )

    Sales and marketing direction and oversight of 10 full and select-service hotels on Eastern Seaboard., including the brands of Hilton, Doubletree and the Intercontinental Hotel Group. Pre-opening of Hampton Inn, Four Points and Fairfield Inn by Marriott in New York City and Long Island City. Responsible for market research & analysis, revenue management, fiscal planning, online distribution and business plan development, in addition to recruitment and training. Total Approximate Sales Volume of $135 million.

  • Program Executive

    Travel Planners

    (Hospitality industry)

    2001 — 2006 (5 years )

    Direction of tradeshows and conventions in key markets, hotel negotiations, company’s liaison with show management, customer presentations, pre-cons, initiate sales and e-marketing strategies to increase volume of business with exhibitors and attendees. Accounts include the American Psychiatric Association (Atlanta ’05 – 10,000 reservations) , Chem Show ( NYC – ’05 – 8.000 reservations), the EMS Expo (New Orleans ’05- 9.000 reservations), Specialty Graphics Assoc ( New Orleans ’06 – Las Vegas 10,000 reservations) and the AHR Expo (Chicago – ’06 – 50,000 roomnights).
    • Operations Manager
    Manage staff responsible for the entire inventory of rooms booked into a proprietary reservation system, including customer and inventory management for 100+ tradeshows nationwide, producing $30 million annually. Directing the automation of rooming lists, cut-off extensions, and electronic downloading of bulk reservations with major chains inclusive of Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Starwood .

  • Hospitality Analyst

    Lodging.com

    (Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Online Media industry)

    2001 — 2003 (2 years )

    Hotel statistical analysis for 40 destinations, produce monthly newsletter, interviewed online industry leaders including Orbitz, Marriott, Meristar, SynXis. Sceptre Hospitality, write and edit travel and airline destination guides for the company’s Web site travel and airline destination guides.

  • Regional Director of Sales & Marketing

    GF Management

    (Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Hospitality industry)

    1999 — 2001 (2 years )

    Oversee hotels in Charlotte, Greensboro, DC, Richmond, Orlando, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Asset Manager for Marriott Hotel in Atlanta. Sold to key accounts. Direct annual budget development, analyze P&Ls, forecasting and revenue management. Regional Director of Revenue reports to this position. Direct advertising, public relations and marketing. Liaison with the hotel corporations of Hilton, Starwood, Radisson and Holiday Inn. Consult, train, recruit and direct sales for all hotels. Total Sales volume of $100 million.

  • VP Sales

    Meristar Hotel & Resorts

    (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; MER; Hospitality industry)

    1997 — 1999 (2 years )

    Oversee the sales of 15 hotels, with a total volume in excess of $180 million in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Louisville, Lexington and Charlotte. Sold to key accounts. Develop advertising, PR and marketing plans. Direct budgets, analyze P&Ls and forecasts; oversee revenue management systems. Insure brand management with field, working with Hiltons, Starwood and Marriott properties. Consult, train, recruit and direct sales staffs. Total Sales Volume of $150 million.

  • Director of Advertising/PR/Promotions

    Marriott Hotels & Resorts - Mexico & Caribbean Division

    (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; MAR; Hospitality industry)

    1992 — 1997 (5 years )

    Developed brand strategy, positioning, pricing and creative concepts for all the advertising, public relations and promotions for resorts in Aruba, Bermuda, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. Negotiated strategic alliances with major airlines. Spearheaded major off-season group campaign that generated $1 million in first year.
    • Also Director of Marketing
    Led a comprehensive sales and marketing program for two 450 room resorts in Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; with sales offices New Jersey, Chicago, LA and Mexico City. Maintained a 30% market segment split between FIT, wholesale and group markets. Planned and delivered a 78% occupancy in 1995 and a 79% in 1996, vis-à-vis the resort industry standard of 62%. Developed strategic alliances with Turner Entertainment and the Cartoon Network to enhance children programs. Earned Travel & Leisure’s readership poll for best hotel value in the world in 1997. Promoted to Director of Advertising/PR/ Promotions.

  • President

    INNovations, Inc.

    (Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Hospitality industry)

    1986 — 1992 (6 years )

    Developed a sales and marketing firm that specialized in the niche markets of inns, B&Bs and Boutique hotels and resorts. Created advertising campaigns, promotional opportunities and direct
    sales programs. Instituted a video rating system, a reservation service and joint promotions. Booked over 900 corporate meetings and generated $5 million in new revenue for approximately 85 inns nationwide.

Ron Callari’s Education

  • Cornell University

    MPS , Hotel Administration

Additional Information

Ron Callari’s Websites:

Ron Callari’s Interests:

Social Media & Marketing Analysis & Consulting Social Media Blogging Author of "Crude Behavior" & "Uncle Dubya's Jihad Jamboree" Editorial Cartoonist -" kidd millennium" Freelance writing - travel & political editorials

Ron Callari’s Groups:

Flip.to
Cornell Society of Hotelmen
INN Social Media Execs
Airline Social Media Execs
HSMAI
Editorial Cartoonists

  •    Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Group
  •    Facebook.com
  •    Online Business Owners
  •    eMarketing Association Network
  •    HSMAI - Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International
  •    YouTube innovators Innovation & Creativity You Tube Network
  •    ThoseinMedia
  •    CORNELL HOTELIERS
  •    Online Word of Mouth Marketing Group (OWOMMG)
  •    Travel 2.0: Interactive Travel Industry Professionals
  •    Twitter
  •    Digital Marketing
  •    New Media, Social Media, and Social Networking Participants
  •    Social Media Marketing
  •    Augmented Reality Professionals
  •    Restaurant Network
  •    INN Social Media Executives (frmly HOTEL SEO EXECUTIVES)
  •    Tweeple
  •    Tweeters
  •    Hotel Industry Professionals Worldwide
  •    Marketing & Communication Network
  •    International Real Estate Investors and Professionals.
  •    CMO Executive Network
  •    Hoteliers & Hospitality Professionals
  •    Twitter Me
  •    twitter innovators Innovation & Creativity Network of Tweeters
  •    AIRLINE SOCIAL MEDIA EXECUTIVES (frmly known as Airline SEO Execs)
  •    Future Social Media
  •    KARMA in Business
  •    Social Media Marketers
  •    Interactive Media Worldwide
  •    passionate about boutique hotels
  •    The Knights of New Media Restaurant Marketing
  •    Marketers on twitter
  •    Twitter For Business
  •    Facebook.com Part 2 - The orginal is Full
  •    Twittering
  •    Twitter Power for Business
  •    Twitter for Communicators
  •    Open Innovation and Crowdsourcing
  •    NY/NJ Hotel Industry Professionals
  •    Twitter Twittegy
  •    Twitter Strategies
  •    New Jersey TWITTER Network
  •    Cornell University Alumni In Advertising, Marketing & PR
  •    Monetizing Twitter
  •    Author Planet
  •    Twitter for Real Estate Professionals
  •    World Hotel Managers
  •    Intelligent Social Media

Ron Callari’s Honors:

- Published first book ("Uncle Dubya's Jihad Jamboree") in 2005, (political satire & editorial cartoons) followed by 2nd "Crude Behavior" (2009)

- Awarded HSMAI "Silver Award" for Opening Advertising Campaign for the Newark Airport Marriott

-Awarded "Mark of Innovation" Award from Leisure Magazine for developing a company dedicated to the Inn Industry

- Awarded Marriott Hotel's Food & Beverage Director of Marketing Award at Annual Conference

Ron Callari’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

  • career opportunities
  • consulting offers
  • new ventures
  • job inquiries
  • expertise requests
  • business deals
  • reference requests
  • getting back in touch

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