Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, the recently re-imagined AAA Five Diamond coastal escape, has announced the appointment of a new industry sales team of recognized hospitality standouts. The appointments of Sandra Heydt as Vice President of Sales and Dawn Bilawa as Director of Travel Industry Sales are the latest in the Eau Palm Beach brand’s initiative to introduce the resort’s unique “new-fashioned luxury” concept to elite travel industry advisors including members of Virtuoso, American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, Signature, Ensemble and more.
The new “power duo” is led by Sandra Heydt, a respected thought leader and seasoned instructor in hospitality sales, marketing, training and motivational techniques. “This is an exciting time for the resort and we’re thrilled to be part of this dynamic team,” said Sandra Heydt. “The Eau Palm Beach approach to ‘new-fashioned’ luxury and concept of effortless living responds to the changing make-up of the luxury traveler. We’re thrilled to share this new experience with the clients of top industry advisors – beginning upon arrival with stunning ocean vistas on three sides, a chilled aromatherapy towel to wipe away outside cares and a champagne toast.”
In her role as Vice President of Sales, Heydt oversees all day-to-day aspects of the sales department. Prior to joining the team at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, Heydt founded and ran Panetiere Marketing Advisors, a hotel sales and marketing consulting firm that was successfully tapped by over 100 hotels and resorts to reach specific revenue goals. Heydt has also held executive positions in Sales and Marketing capacities at a number of Four and Five Diamond properties including the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa in Denver, Colorado; the Resort Semiahmoo in Blaine, Washington, where she also briefly stepped into the position of General Manager and The Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was an integral part of the senior team that led the hotels transition from Four to Five Diamond status.
With over a decade of luxury resort expertise, Dawn Bilawa brings an intuitive and anticipatory service model to her position of Director of Travel Industry Sales at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. In her role, Bilawa manages the leisure market both domestically and internationally in addition to wholesale and tour operators. Bilawa has a strong track record of delivering outstanding customer service that is well paired with vast experience in the luxury consortia. “We have received incredible feedback on the new Eau Palm Beach guest enhancement experience from the most seasoned industry professionals commenting specifically on the genuine nature of our hoteliers. Many of the luxury travel advisors have stated we have never been in contact with a nicer hotel staff,” commented Bilawa. “The overwhelming sentiment has been that top advisors can’t wait for their clients to come in and enjoy the Eau Palm Beach culture of effortless living. Beyond welcoming touches like an awaiting beach bag and flip-flops in your guest room upon arrival to champagne check in and a sensuous lobby turndown each night, clients appreciate the effortless living with no added resort fees or Wi-Fi charges.”
Prior to joining the team at Eau Palm Beach, Bilawa held the position of Regional Sales Manager with Morgans Hotel Group, where she represented the Delano South Beach, Mondrian South Beach and Shore Club. Prior to that, as a sales consultant for Kurtz-Ahlers & Associates, Bilawa represented a collection of 70 international and domestic luxury hotels and resorts including the Six Senses Resorts & Spa, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and GHM Hotels and Resorts. Bilawa’s career roots began with the Ritz-Carlton, holding sales positions with a variety of the brands hotels in Phoenix, Laguna Niguel and Lake Las Vegas.
