JOB TITLE: National Sales Manager – SPORTS TOURISM

Organization Summary:

VisitGreenvilleSC (VGSC) is a not-for-profit, membership-based, economic engine, and accredited Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). We proudly represent and serve the City and County of Greenville, South Carolina, the hospitality industry, and hundreds of small businesses. As Greenville's official sales and marketing organization, our Mission is to maximize Greenville’s Visitor Economy by developing and promoting exceptional visitor experiences to elevate the quality of life and prosperity for our community.

VGSC is a values-based organization placing a great deal of importance on adhering and embracing the following values in all that we do:

• Integrity: Doing the right thing all the time. We build trust through honesty, transparency, and respect.
• Open: We actively seek new perspectives with the belief that we’re stronger because of our differences.
• Resilience: We believe our response to adversity, not the adversity itself, defines who we are. We are positive, flexible and persevere to find success.
• Passion: We are inspired by an authentic love for Greenville, and we strengthen our community by sharing it with the world.
• Excellence: Our team, our vendors and our stakeholders deliver bold, creative, and high-performing solutions.

Position Summary: The National Sales Manager position is responsible for business development and relationship building in their assigned specialty market.  The National Sales Manager position is also responsible for presenting VisitGreenvilleSC’s unique selling points during market trips, in proposals, presentations and pitches. This position is responsible for effectively soliciting and becoming not only familiar, but intimate with, priority accounts in the defined market segments. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Sell and promote Greenville as a top destination for groups and events in the Sports market segment.
• Meet individual sales goals each quarter/year.
• Solicit new and existing accounts through telephone solicitation, outside sales calls, presentations, site inspections, trade shows written communication, proposals, active pitching, as well as servicing calls/inquiries that come directly to VisitGreenvilleSC, etc.
• Identify and develop new market opportunities and grow existing accounts.
• Maintain client database through CRM. Track leads. Track traces. Maintain up to date files and communication of accounts.
• Regularly contact/communicate/correspond with existing accounts based on tracing frequencies, selling cycles, etc.
• Invite clients/prospects to the destination for entertainment, tours, site inspections, FAMS, sales blitzes, etc.
• Produce group business leads for local hotels/venues as well as act as a liaison between meeting planner and hotel/venue partner.
• Participate in tradeshow registration, sponsorship, booth presence, representing VisitGreenvilleSC, soliciting and collecting qualified leads and pertinent account info (booking venue, seasonality, space needs, peak room nights, etc.)

• Meet, greet, and tour with onsite contacts. Manage all arrangements associated with site visits and FAM tours of destination/hotels/venues/etc.
• Identify opportunities to increase access to existing sports facilities throughout the city and county.
• Serve as an advocate for the development of new sports facilities as we work to grow the full sports potential for the destination.
• Assist in managing sales budget, account/solicitation expenditures.
• Ensure timely, prompt, and accurate reports on sales activities, lead generation, definite room night bookings, site visits, trip activity, communications, and all other reporting requirements.
• Attend and participate in internal meetings.
• Participation on industry committees and boards when appropriate, as well as maintain membership in local, state, regional and national industry organizations.
• Develop/maintain knowledge of market trends, competition, and customers. Stay up to date on industry best practices, standards, and benchmarks.
• Other duties as determined by Leadership.

VisitGreenvilleSC is an employer that offers equal opportunities. We evaluate qualified candidates and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors as defined in federal and state laws, or any other characteristics protected by federal or state law.

Candidate Profile: The successful incumbent will be a high energy, positive and self-motivated individual who is just as comfortable jumping on a plane for a sales trip as being in the office developing a proposal for a client. Possessing superb communications skills, an innovative sales approach and team player skills, this incumbent will have the ability to adapt easily to change and thrive on creating collaborative and productive relationships.  This incumbent will be able to create and use complex data for the purposes of meeting goals and managing accounts. They will possess the ability to thrive under pressure and deadlines, have excellent listening skills and be a talented problem solver.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, Business, Hospitality or Tourism or related field training/experience required.
• Three (3) to five (5) years of progressive experience in full-service hotel sales or with a CVB/DMO required.
• Proficient understanding of the tourism and hospitality industry with advanced knowledge of group meeting/convention sales and third-party planners
• Experience selling in assigned market groups/accounts and working with meeting planners/third parties preferred.
• Excellent presentation skills and communications required.

• Proficiency in Microsoft and Google products and Sales databases and/or sales CRM platforms
• Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. and transport equipment and materials for use in programs.

• Able to effectively manage time and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Able to travel and work varied hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed.

About VisitGreenvilleSC

VisitGreenvilleSC (VGSC) is a not-for-profit, membership-based, economic engine, and accredited Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). We proudly represent and serve the City and County of Greenville, South Carolina, the hospitality industry, and hundreds of small businesses. As Greenville's official sales and marketing organization, our Mission is to maximize Greenville’s Visitor Economy by developing and promoting exceptional visitor experiences to elevate the quality of life and prosperity for our community.

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