National Sales Manager

About the position

Responsible for soliciting and booking conventions, meetings, and trade show business by promoting the City through, marketing, advertising, public relations, and strategic initiatives as part of Discover Denton, the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for Denton, Texas.

Responsibilities

• Solicit convention and meeting business in assigned markets through direct solicitations including, but not limited to, presentations, trade show contacts, sales appointments, phone calls, social media channels, and proposal preparations.
• Assist in the strategic planning of Discover Denton's travel, entertaining, and industry tradeshow calendar and budget.
• Generate leads for Denton hotels and venues to retain and attract new and repeat convention business.
• Research, develop and maintain new accounts in assigned market segments for future business including, but not limited to, utilization of available resources within Discover Denton; maintain account management and sales activities of existing and prospective clients.
• Create marketing and promotional presentations; conduct appropriate virtual and/or face-to-face visits to rebooking client events and complete presentations to secure additional business for Discover Denton.
• Collaborate with the Denton hotel staff to meet the hotel room night demands and exchange information vital for securing meeting and convention business.
• Monitor and analyze convention and meeting business to ensure meeting strategic objectives; provide recommendations and implement changes that improve performance metrics and increase business.
• Assist with the development of site inspections, client entertaining, and familiarization (FAM) trips for convention, conference, and executive meeting solicitations.
• Coordinate and conduct site inspections and FAM tours for meeting and event planners; ensure they are familiarized with the Denton Convention Center, hotels, restaurants, event venues, and attractions.
• Establish and preserve relationships in industry organizations including, but not limited to, the DFW hospitality community, membership organizations, local chapters, and events; promote the City of Denton and create awareness in local and national markets.
• Create and maintain documents including, but not limited to, reports, business correspondences, meeting specification needs, and bid proposals.
• Assist with special projects, as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Hospitality Management, Public Relations, Hotel Management, or related field.
• Three (3) years' experience in convention sales, or related field.
• Any combination of related education, experience, certifications, and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and Local Government laws, ordinances, and regulations.
• Knowledge of principles, sales techniques, strategies, and practices used in convention and meeting solicitation.
• Skill in judgment and creativity in decision-making; considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions and select the most appropriate one.
• Skill in informational and entertaining presentation techniques for a wide variety of meetings and event planning audiences.
• Skill in sales, marketing, and managing hotel and event center contracts.
• Skill at the advanced level, Microsoft Office 365, and other software systems necessary to complete work.
• Skill in providing exceptional service to internal and external customers.
• Ability to develop creative, innovative, and engaging programs and content.
• Ability to evaluate, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, and professional journals.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both in oral and written forms, for the needs of the audience.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships.
• Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure and confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently and/or with team environment while handling multiple tasks and changing priorities with attention to detail.
• Ability to motivate, mentor and train through direct and indirect influence.
• Ability to develop, understand, interpret, and apply rules, policies, and procedures operations.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage in addition to life and disability insurance plans.
• Employee Health Clinic.
• Paid Vacation Days and Paid Holidays.
• Retirement Plan.