Open to opportunities

Anuradha Rajapakse

@anuradharajapakse

Equipped with comprehensive expertise in food handling compliance, retail merchandising, marketing alignment, and multinational team collaboration, I

Sri Lanka

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking for a hospitality role where I can lead reservations or guest-experience teams, optimize online booking performance with data-driven improvements, and ensure fast, high-quality guest satisfaction through strong training and standards.

I am a distinguished hospitality professional with 25 years of global and regional experience specializing in restaurant operations, brand standardization, and elite team training. Recognized for my ability to transform high-volume venues into profit-generating, guest-centric landmarks, My career spans critical markets across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

I have spent over a decade with Hard Rock International, operating primarily out of the Certified Training Store in Dubai. Rising from core foundational roles to F&B Supervisor and International Trainer, I became a vital corporate asset, successfully launching 12 international café openings—including properties in Dubai, Kathmandu, Koh Samui, Istanbul, Maldives and many others. During this time, I personally designed schedules, audited service compliance, managed retail merchandising inventories, and trained over 60% of new regional staff and incoming management personnel.

Transitioning back to Sri Lanka's luxury leisure sector, I served as Resident Manager for Moi Ella by DBI, where I mastered lean operational management, guided P&L frameworks, and successfully elevated property ratings to historical highs. Most recently, as Reservations Manager for Aster Leisure Management, I drove a 55% surge in total revenue and optimized digital pipelines to increase online bookings by 75-80%.

I hold a deep-rooted passion for cultivating a vibrant venue culture ("the vibe"), mentoring multicultural talent, and maintaining flawless operational execution. I am an alumnus of St. Thomas' College Kotte in Sri Lanka.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Reservations Manager

Current

Aster Leisure Management

Mar 2024 - Present (2 years 4 months)

Manage and optimize the online reservation system, training reservation agents and coordinating customer inquiry handling. Improved online bookings by 75–80%, conversion rates by 60%, and revenue by 55% through process improvements and targeted promotional strategies.

Online Reservation Systems Team Leadership Training User Interface Design Dynamic Pricing Promotional Strategy Revenue Management Partnerships With Expedia And Booking.Com Customer Service Complaint Resolution

Resident Manager

Moi Ella By DBI

Feb 2023 - Mar 2024 (1 year 1 month)

Led hotel operations with minimum staff and focused on maximizing guest satisfaction. Managed guest needs and complaints with a positive approach, working with the ITESS hotel key system and learning P&L and hotel management.

Hotel operations management Guest Relations Complaint Handling ITESS Hotel Key System P&L

F&B Supervisor & Training Coord

Hard Rock Café Dubai

Nov 2010 - Jun 2022 (11 years 7 months)

Supervised café floor operations and coordinated opening, swing closing, and cleaning tasks to company standards. Managed staff schedules and trained/empowered teams, including international trainer responsibilities for Hard Rock Café openings and staff training.

Staff Scheduling Guest Feedback Management Opening Swing Closing Cleaning Coordination Training And Development Staff Empowerment Sound System Vibe Management Staff Exams And Evaluations

Server/Host/Bartender

Hard Rock Café Dubai

Jan 2000 - Apr 2009 (9 years 3 months)

Worked as a server, host, and bartender, delivering food-handling and guest-relations service to exceed expectations. Took on front-of-house leadership duties as shift leader and supported restaurant operations including menu knowledge and daily requisitions.

Guest Relations Guest Service Shift Leadership (Front Of House)Food & Menu Knowledge Cash Handling Credit Card Transactions

Merchandiser/Retailer

Hard Rock Café Dubai

Worked in the merchandise shop, supporting retail operations and cashier duties. Managed retail items, requisitions for running-out stock, and weekly/monthly/yearly inventory.

Retail Operations Cash Handling Credit Card Transactions Cashier Merchandising

F&B Supervisor

Moi Ella By DBI

Served as an F&B supervisor at Moi Ella by DBI before being promoted to Resident Manager within a couple of months. Supported service standards across food and beverage operations.

F&B Supervision Service standards

Certified Trainer

Hard Rock Café Dubai

Promoted to trainer to conduct orientations and train new recruits. Trained and validated new managers and supported training with exams, questions, and up-to-date training materials.

Training Delivery Manager Training

Guest Relations Officer

Moi Ella By DBI

Worked in guest relations at Moi Ella by DBI prior to promotion to Resident Manager. Supported guest needs and complaints as part of front-of-house operations.

Guest Relations Guest Needs Support Complaint Handling

Sales & Marketing Assistance

Hard Rock Café Dubai

Supported reservations and sales/marketing activities, including organizing press conferences. Handled guest complaints as part of maintaining guest satisfaction.