MercedesGZ

Full CV / Resume

 

MERCEDES GUTIERREZ ZALDIVAR

(54 9 11)  40 31 3766 –

Ayacucho 1739 piso 16 D Capital Federal – Argentina

January 18th 1971  - Argentina

 

 

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE      

 

 

Proactive executive with over 25 years of expertise in the organization, promotion and sale of cultural and tourist activities, both urban and rural.

Passionate for art, education and culture, life in the open and sports, I have developed my professional career since 1991 in three areas: tourism, event planning and teaching.

I am a good leader and coordinator of results-oriented groups, continuously striving to learn and develop. Love working with people of all ages.

Strongly focused on guest and client satisfaction.

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

 

Nianduti, Cultural Tourism, Federal Capital City

Creator and Director – November 2011 to date

Nianduti is a company engaged in the organization of events and cultural activities for argentines and foreigners.

 

Our mission is to design and carry our events, training and programs for companies, families and individuals. Programs are designed based on the interests of our clients: nature, art, Argentine cuisine and culture.

Main responsibilities:

• Starting up a service company


• Communications and Image: image development and promotion in social networks, site, brochure, etc.


• Operations: designing and implementing program models and tours.


• Staff: training. Selection of guides and vendors.


• Sales: client search and outreach.


• Creating and developing a network to offer high added value tours and programs. Quotations.

 

Estudio Vanney Abogados, Law Firm, Federal Capital City

Office Manager – November 2012 to date

 

Estudio Vanney Abogados was founded in 1974, it has 6 lawyers, an ant and 3 clerks. It is engaged mainly in Civil, Commercial and Labor Law.

 

The Firm has been reorganizing and developing as to of clients and work load ever since I joined it as Office Manager. I am responsible for the overall organization and operation of the Firm, identifying and implementing opportunities for improvement. My working hours are flexible.

Main responsibilities:

• Active participation in the Selection of Administrative Staff


• Identifying and selecting training courses for staff


• Drafting policies and procedures manuals


• Relationship with vendors: assessment, engagement and procurement of goods and services


• Improvement and development of new technology (specific law and communications and remote work software)


• Re-designing of work areas, implementing new technologies in a cost-effective manner


• Communications: image assessment, logotypes, brochures, social networks and design.


• Subordinates: 3 employees

 

 

Ladrillos y Margaritas, Federal Capital City

Creator and Director  - November 2008 to December 2011

 

Ladrillos y Margaritas was an artistic and educational enterprise providing a didactic toy-making workshop and art history lessons for children and teenagers.

 

Our main accomplishment was that students could learn art history using various techniques, develop new skills such as cooking or comic design, work in a common project in an environment where the others’ opinions were heard and appreciated and ultimay use the lessons learned in other areas of their life such as school and home.

 

Main responsibilities:

• Designing programs to learn art history through cooking, modeling, drawing, painting and visiting museums, artists and galleries.


• Teaching classes


• Designing, manufacturing and selling wood, cloth and cardboard didactic toys


• Special workshops for Christmas and during vacation time

 

Estancia Don Mario, Province of Buenos Aires

Manager – November 2008 to June 2010

Farm estate open to its owners’ business s, family members and friends.

 

This work was performed during a short period for a group of investors that later left the country. Marketing was the owners’ responsibility. My main challenge was training the staff, not only on tourism aspects but in caring for nature, the environment and the best use of the available resources.

Subordinates: 5 employees

 

Main responsibilities:

• Training staff


• Designing activities program. Vendor engagement.


• Management of ho, including menu design


• Liaising between owners, guests and staff.

 

Estancia La Fortuna, Salto, Province of Buenos Aires

General Manager, November 2004 to April 2008

 

Traditional Argentine farm estate in the Province of Buenos Aires open to the public in 2002 (with capacity to accommodate 20 to 350 guests) offering a typical day in the countryside.

 

Main accomplishments:

Increased sales ( of tourists) and profitability by 70%.

Increased store sales by 60%. Increased satisfaction of guests, being top in South America in the Princess and Holland America cruises’ rankings (2007-2008). Training and developing loyalty of permanent and temporary staff.

 

Main responsibilities:

• Training and coordinating the work of the staff in all service areas: asado makers, gauchos, sales staff, cooks and dancers.


• Designing and decorating areas open to the public (park and rooms) and working areas.


• Coordinating guest activities.


• Hosting in English, delivering a speech about horses, gauchos, livestock, agriculture and folklore dance.


• Setting up a regional products store, being responsible for the selection of products and vendors, procurement management and supervision.


• Developing the image and promotional strategy (site design, DVD, postcards and presentation cards).


• Promoting the product in international fairs.


• Training the permanent and temporary staff developing their loyalty.


• Responsible for the operation of six vintage carriages and the health and wellbeing of the animals.


• Developing a social support program in the city of Salto, selecting beneficiary institutions and following up on donations.


• Subordinates: 50 employees.

 

Estancia La Fortuna, Salto, Province of Buenos Aires

Manager – January 2006 to January 2008

 

La Fortuna Casa & Ho operated independently in Estancia La Fortuna, offering 5 star accommodation to foreign tourists exclusively in its 8 rooms.

 

Main responsibilities:

• Starting up the ho project and its service policy


• Selecting and training staff in food and beverages, housekeeping, maintenance and public areas. Drafting policies and procedures manuals.


• Designing menus for the different seasons and special dietary requirements.


• Welcoming guests and coordinating activities such as food tasting, horse riding and cooking lessons.


• Procurement management for the various areas.


• Image development. Promoting and selling the product in international fairs.


• Subordinates: 6 employees

 

South American Tours (SAT)

Sales Director – November 2004 to April 2008

 

South American Tours is a destination management company with offices in Germany, the USA, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay and Ecuador.

 

Main accomplishments: implementing a homogeneous sales policy across the company as a whole and not as a sum of countries and improving communications between managers, working together to attain the goals set. This was evidenced by increased sales, both in client agencies and in new agencies in Great Britain and the United States (2004-2008) and increased satisfaction of guides by means of training, awards and promotions: lower temporary staff rotation rate and consistent company image.

 

Main responsibilities and accomplishments:

• Identifying potential international consumers (individuals, groups or cruises) through tourist agencies in their home countries


• Developing a client network (foreign tourist agencies) and ing potential clients in international tourism fairs, especially: ITB Berlin, WTM London, LTM Latin America.


• Proofreading, updating and improving internal sales files for each destination offered by the company: videos, photos, PPT presentations, description of tours, overview and infrastructure of destinations.


• Organizing and managing – in cooperation with the respective country directors – training courses for local guides


• Training call center teams in the USA


• Designing new tours in the City of Buenos Aires


• Developing the company’s social support plans


• Reporting directly to the owner, working in cooperation with country managers.

 

Tourist Guide and Event Planner

Free lance – October 1996 to November 2004

 

Group guide and coordinator for leading tourist agencies, companies and foundations. Organization of events for universities and foundations.

 

Main responsibilities:

• Guide to individuals and groups in the City of Buenos Aires. Coordination of tours and activities for large groups (800 passengers).


• Travelling with groups in Argentina, guiding and coordinating the groups


• Defining new programs and alternative routes. Developing hands on proposals such as gastronomic tours with cooking lessons, dancing lessons and art workshops


• Designing self-guided visits to the main tourist attractions in the city


• Tourist guide in National Cultural Galleries (Palais de Glace) for Argentine art exhibitions.


• Developing and coordinating extracurricular activities for exchange postgraduate students from leading foreign universities and foundations

 

 

 

EDUCATION AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

 

 

Degree in Field Naturalist and Interpreter of the Natural Patrimony. Aves Argentinas, member of Bird Life International currently in course.

Degree in Human Resources, Capacitarte, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Virtual program.

Postgraduate course on University Education Teaching [“Ciclo Pedagógico Universitario”], Universidad del Salvador, City of Buenos Aires 2015-2016 (Completed)

 

BA in Art History and Management, Universidad del Salvador. Ciudad de Buenos Aires. 2010-2015. Best average grade award.

Ho Management Degree [Tecnicatura en Administración Hoera], Escuela Superior de Hoería. 1991-1994.

               

LAST COURSES

Small and Medium Size Companies [PyMES ], Government of the City of Buenos Aires. 2013

Costs and Finance. Centro Metropolitano de Diseño (CMD) City of Buenos Aires. 2013

 

LANGUAGES

Spanish: Native language

English: advanced level, both oral and written

Portuguese: good level, both oral and written

French: In 3rd year course, Alliance Français Buenos Aires

 

TECHNOLOGY

Windows, Prezi, Mail Chimp and social networks

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ACAS Member. Monprofit organization that promotes building schools and education in the border area of Argentina. Since 2018