Acorn winner 2007: Chris McFall
Age: 30
Position: Director of sales, Park Plaza Hotels and Resorts, London
Career to date
McFall worked in F&B and rooms division in four- and five-star hotels in South Africa, Thailand and the USA before returning to the UK and taking a job in PR and marketing at Hilton International. He then took a sales role at the Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum in 2003, being promoted to sales manager six months later, a position he held for 18 months before moving on to the Park Plaza Victoria London in 2005 as senior sales manager. Last year McFall became the youngest director of sales in the company's history, aged just 28.
Why is he a winner?
McFall's CV is impressive to say the least and he continues to make an impact. Last year he helped the Park Plaza Victoria London break previous records in revenue per available room (revpar) and total revenue, with corporate revenue up 20% and total annual turnover up 13% since he joined in summer 2005.
McFall has demonstrated a creative and flexible approach to sales, combined with a very positive work ethic and "can do" attitude and has been quick to explore new opportunities and markets, such as China.
In addition to recruiting, managing and training a sales team of seven, in his time at Park Plaza he has also striven to develop his own skills through attendance on courses in sales and revenue management as well as areas such as leadership skills, rate negotiation and account planning. McFall is also heavily involved in charity work at the hotel and is always willing to muck in - for example, helping out as weekend duty manager once or twice a month.