Director of Midwest Sales

POSITION SUMMARY

Identify, Prospect, solicit, and transact meetings, conventions, trade shows and other group business as a lead generator in the designated Midwest Region of the U.S. for members of Louisville Tourism. Work in conjunction with the Director of Northeast Sales and Director of Southeast Sales under the direction of the VP of Convention Development. Provide field support to convention sales managers and other Louisville Tourism staff as required.

• Coordinate and implement strategies to fulfill sales goals and marketing efforts.
• Solicit and qualify customers and accounts through personal sales calls and presentations, sales trips, telephone calls, CRM database (Simpleview), trade shows, industry events, prospecting and inquiries in order to generate sales leads and room night production for Louisville Tourism members, while maintaining the Louisville Tourism brand in-market.
• Maintain personal contact with customers in Midwest Region and quantify these contacts in Simpleview.
• Make formal presentations to prospective customers targeting multi-management companies, meeting planning companies and as the opportunity arises at local industry functions.
• Provide field support to Bureau based convention sales managers in their specific markets.
• Act as liaison between customers, the Bureau and member hotels, convention centers and facilities as needed.
• Stay continuously informed of Louisville’s offerings to include changes in hotels, conventions centers, facilities, attractions, transportation including airline access and any other information that would be of interest to customers and communicate updates to the customers as needed.
• Conduct site visits with prospective clients as needed.
• Provide Chicago and Midwest Regional support to Bureau members as directed by the VP of Convention Development.
• Maintain active membership in industry organizations and attend/exhibit at targeted conventions, trade shows and functions.
• Develop and oversee special events such as sales missions, customer events, Holiday Showcase trade show, hosted & sponsored receptions, etc.
• Performs other duties as directed by the VP of Convention Development.
• Transact business in segments of citywide parameter per designated sales goal parameters.
• Management of budgets
• Maintain account management and update notes & traces in Simpleview.

• Bachelor’s degree and/or 6 to 10 years of related industry experience with a CVB, hotel or meeting planning background.
• Knowledge of destination marketing and the meetings industry.
• Team player; results oriented; self-starter; time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent presentation, written and verbal communication skills. Mathematical aptitude.
• General understanding and working computer knowledge including MS Windows and MS Office.
• Maintain residency within Midwest Territory, Chicago-area preferred.