Laurie Meiring
MBA | Marketing | Digital Marketing | Hospitality
Parkwood, Johannesburg +27 --
Professional Profile
I am an extroverted, hardworking hospitality veteran with 15 years Hotel and Restaurant Operations experience and 5
years Marketing and Digital Marketing experience. I have worked and studied in multiple countries including the United
States, South Africa, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Mauritius, The Seychelles, and The
Netherlands. In 2018 I completed an MBA in Digital Marketing, graduating Cum Laude and 2 nd in a class of over 400.
Core Skills
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Veteran Hospitality Professional
Marketing/Digital Marketing
Food and Beverage Marketing
PR and Communications
Event Management and Brand Activations
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Goal Planning and Budgets
Photography and Videography
Social Media
Graphic Design
Customer Relationship Management
Career Summary
Cluster Director of Marketing
October 2019 – Present
Melrose Arch Marriott Hotel Cluster – 4 Properties, 705 Rooms, 6
Restaurants, 24 Meeting Rooms
Member of Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Pre-Opening Team, March 2020
Cluster includes Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch, Marriott Executive Apartments Melrose Arch,
African Pride Melrose Arch Autograph Collection and Protea Hotel Fire and Ice! Melrose Arch
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Annual planning, Goal setting and Budgeting
Hotel Demand Generation, Digital and Performance Marketing
Restaurant and Bar Concept Creation/Development, Food and Beverage Marketing
PR and Communication Activities, VIP Client Management, Brand Activations and Event Management
In House Design and Management of all Hotel Collateral including all forms of Hotel Signage
Oversight of Professional Photography and Videography Shoots
Corporate Gifting Design and Execution
Chief Marketing Officer
February 2021 - Present
AfroAnimation Virtual Summit | Afro+ App
Remote part time role responsible for digital marketing and demand generation for AfroAnimation annual
Virtual Summit as well as driving Afro+ App Downloads
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Paid Reach for inaugural AfroAnimation Virtual Summit in May 2021 generating 1,970 attendees
Driving Afro+ App downloads since August 2021 launch, currently 7,500 users
Area Digital Field Marketing Manager
June 2017 – September 2019
Marriott International
Digital Marketing Lead for 13 Marriott hotels in sub–Saharan Africa including South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania,
Ethiopia, Uganda, Djibouti, Mauritius, and The Seychelles
Promoted from Area Digital Field Marketing Specialist after a period of one year
Key Responsibilities
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Digital Strategy, Online Marketing, Lead Generation, Performance Marketing, Website Management, Social
Media, Online Travel Agency (OTA) Management and Digital Strategy
Restaurant Manager
July 2015 – May 2017
Westin Cape Town, Marriott International
Chef / Restaurant Owner
Jan 2013 – June 2015
Castella Amare Restaurant, Melkbos South Africa
General Manager
July 2009 – July 2012
Logali House Hotel, Juba, South Sudan
Hotel and Restaurant Operations, Business Management in a Post-Conflict Hardship Environment
o Oversaw VIP Delegations including George Clooney, Ben Affleck, Joanna Lumley, South African Vice President
Kgalema Mothlanthe, Gordon Brown and Kofi Annan.
Food & Beverage Manager
July 2008– July 2009
Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Regional Camp Manager
Jan 2007 – March 2008
Africa Expeditions, Juba South Sudan
Assistant General Manager
Jan 2005 – Dec 2006
Stellenbosch Hotel, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Education
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Master’s in Business Administration, Business School Netherlands, September 2018, Graduated 2nd in Class of
400, Cum Laude
Chef’s Diploma, Warwick’s Chef School, Hermanus, South Africa December 2012, Graduated 2 nd in Class of 60,
95.39%
Bachelor of Science, Hotel and Restaurant Management, East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg
Pennsylvania, USA, Graduated with Honours GPA 3.89 (out of 4)
Corporate Social Responsibility
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Marriott TakeCare Champion (June 2016 – present) driving internal Wellness Initiatives and strong working
relations for a more productive and motivated workforce
Member Westin Cape Town’s Corporate Social Investment Committee -) participated in regular
community outreach and ‘Spirit to Serve’ projects in the local community
