Grace Likidis

Iconic Influencers is a boutique luxury agency that works with premium personal brands to co-create Iconic strategies from brand and offer through to sales and exit. specialising in luxury branding, deals and connections.

• Work closely with CEO to ensure visibility on the company's day-to-day operations in each department.
• Manage budget implementations, employee reviews, training, meeting schedules and contract negotiations.
• Created and implemented company policies and procedures.
• Reduced costs, managed agreements and performed risk analysis to improve overall profitability.
• Enhanced operational efficiency and productivity by managing budgets, payroll, accounts receivable and overall costs.
• Managed and produced incoming contracts and service agreements.
• Coordinated all changes and amendments to agreements and contracts
• Work closely with Lawyers to update and implement new clauses, terms and agreements.
• Demonstrated a proactive approach to risk management, anticipating and addressing potential issues before they escalated.
• Reviewed quotes and handled negotiations with contractors, stakeholders and other parties to obtain the best pricing and service for the organisation.
• Maximised efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures and technology systems.
• Navigated global employment laws and regulations and adjusted company practices and policies to confirm complete compliance.
• Managed all recruitment, HR issues and staff onboarding
• Manage all VIP client onboarding

I have had the privilege of spending 14 years at the Ghanem Group and being part of the growth of this elite hospitality consultancy. I started my career here when the Ghanem Group began with only 1 venue. Over the years they have taken locations, concepts, trends and systems, and transformed that into a portfolio of 10 hugely successful and well-known hospitality venues (such as; Byblos, Blackbird, Iris, Donna Chang, and Boom Boom Room).

• Worked alongside the Directors of the company as the right hand.
• Oversaw and managed all venue's Marketing, Sales and Events Departments.
• Oversaw weekly and monthly KPI’s, wage analysis and costings with all venue managers.
• Established relationships with key decision-makers within the organization to promote growth and retention.
• Established positive and effective communication among staff and organization leadership, reducing miscommunications and missed deadlines.
• Identified and resolved unauthorized, unsafe or ineffective practices.
• Partnered with vendors and suppliers to effectively manage relationships and budgets.
• Worked in a matrix management environment with oversight of division-level managers, operations, sales, finance, human resources, safety and compliance.
• Researched and identified opportunities for company growth and market expansion and improve bottom-line profit..
• Negotiated and fostered long-term agreements with contractors, landlords, business partnerships and suppliers
• Worked closely with the Directors in navigating the venues through the Covid Pandemic. Setting up the Dark Kitchen, closing and reopening venues, and ensuring all restrictions and mandates were implemented. Assisted the relevant departments in innovating and optimising offerings, staff and service changes to adapt and survive the various stages of restrictions and limited options in operating events and venues during this time.
• Created and implemented staff incentive programs to assist with the hospitality staffing shortage and retain staff.

• Became the key link between the venue managers and the Directors.
• Solved problems in a timely and effective manner.
• Managed and maintained a reporting and filing system covering sales, expenses, month-to-month and year-on-year comparisons.
• Prepared and proofread reports detailing operations activities.
• Educated staff on organisational mission and goals to help employees achieve success.
• Assisted to grow the company portfolio by working on various venue tenders and concept proposals.
• Oversaw all departments and venues making sure the directors had the correct knowledge and insight into the business's day-to-day operations.
• Mitigated risk by ensuring all company policies and procedures were executed to the correct standard.
• Assisted the accounting and payroll departments.
• Oversaw and worked with the relevant departments on company's own ticketed events - venue launches, Melbourne Cup, NYE etc.
• Managed relationships between relative stakeholders such as; the Office of Liquor and Gaming, Tenancy management/Landlords and Brisbane City Council Environmental health officers etc.
• Oversaw that each of the venues complied with and implemented all safe food regulations and Kitchen Compliance with the Brisbane City Council.
• Staff hiring, maintenance and assisting with HR issues.

• Worked and oversaw multiple venues simultaneously - Byblos Brisbane and Melbourne, Byblos Catering, 5th Element and Blackbird Bar and Grill.
• Assisted in company growth, starting with a sole venue to a portfolio of 5 venues in 8 years.
• Boosted brand awareness and generated leads while managing internal and external marketing campaigns and programs.
• Created company brand messaging and collateral.
• Managed workflow between staff, coordinating documents, planning and ensuring effective and clear communications between relative departments.
• Utilized market trends and worked with the food and beverage departments to implement these.
• Managed administrative logistics of events planning, event booking and event promotions.
• Liaised with marketing and PR contractors to promote venues and special events.
• Oversaw preparation and management of event budgets.
• Hired and cross-trained staff members.
• Worked closely with clients to create bespoke events.
• Developed and nurtured a database of regular customers and clients across all venues.
• Fostered relationships with local and national suppliers to obtain the best price, quality, and creative events in the market.
• Coordinated catering services and planned menus to complement event themes and entertainment.
• Solicited feedback from clients to assess event success and uncover opportunities for improvement.
• Supported senior leadership by developing sales reports, optimising group-wide inquiries, cancellations policies, booking agreements and risk mitigation.

• Manage all enquiries with 5-star services from the first initial inquiry, quoting process, venue viewing, menu tastings and detailed finalisations.
• Produce detailed event orders for all relevant departments.
• Ensure all event payments were issued and received.
• Update and maintain the database.
• Foster relationships with preferred suppliers and industry partners.
• Conduct weekly department meetings.
• Attend and represent the venue at relevant networking and expo events.
• Supervise the beginning of the event to see that client is happy and everything is in order.
• Keep the booking system, event software and marketing collateral up to date.
• Assist with marketing internal events such as corporate launches, NYE etc.
• Preset monthly and yearly sales budgets to the managers and directors.

• Answered multi-line phone system, routing calls, delivering messages to staff and greeting visitors.
• Executed record filing system to improve document organization and management.
• Scheduled office meetings and client appointments for staff teams.
• Sorted and distributed office mail.
• Generated reports and typed letters in Word and prepared PowerPoint presentations.
• Restocked supplies and placed purchase orders to maintain adequate stock levels.
• Supported efficient meetings by organizing spaces and materials, documenting discussions and distributing meeting notes.