Director of Sales

Job Title: Director of SalesDepartment: Convention SalesDirect Report: Vice President of SalesFLSA Status: ExemptAbout Visit Austin and Our Mission:Visit Austin is charged with marketing Austin nationally and internationally as a premier business and leisure destination, thus enriching our community's overall quality of life. Visit Austin devotes itself to promoting all the things in Austin that people are already talking about. This city has a one-of-a-kind culture and universal appeal, and we want to make sure people know about it.Our values are our guiding principles and fundamental beliefs that define how we desire to work. Values create cohesion across the organization by establishing shared mindsets, behaviors, and expectations that allow everyone to do their best work. Our Values: Austin is in our DNA | Listening empowers our work | We’re all in this together | You matter | Celebrate wins and learn from losses | Execute with PurposeThis position has sales management responsibilities and will be an individual contributor to the sales team. They are responsible for the management of the Sales Managers and Sales Coordinators and ensuring achievement of goals and objectives through completion of the Convention Sales portion of the Visit Austin Marketing Plan. Additionally, solicitation and confirmation of convention business from assigned markets and to promote Austin as a premiere destination for conventions and meetings that utilize one or more hotel as well as convention facilities.Summary of Position and Duties:●Monitor the daily operation of the Convention Sales Managers and Sales Coordinators to ensure appropriate productivity as well as to ensure prompt response to client and hotel needs.●Oversee and effectively manage all administration areas related to Convention Sales Managers, including lead distribution, measurement systems, reporting, file maintenance and more.●Achieve total hotel room night sales goals for their team (Convention Sales Managers) and for themselves individually.●Conduct regularly scheduled individual meetings with Convention Sales Managers to review account management and sales progress.●Serve as a back-up to generate leads and conduct successful customer site visits on behalf of the Sales Directors and Sales Managers.●Along with the Vice President of Sales, Executive Vice President and Director of Market Analysis & Research develop and implement goal setting and incentive programs for the Convention Sales Managers and Sales Coordinators.●Conduct annual performance evaluations for the Convention Sales Managers and Sales Coordinators.●Coach and mentor the Convention Sales Managers and Sales Coordinators to encourage professional development and career growth.●Maintain strong working relationships with the hotel and hospitality community.●Take an active role with key industry organizations - supporting our sales events and marketing deliverables with those organizations.●Be willing to travel and work evenings and weekends, as necessary.●Continue to take advantage of training opportunities to enhance professional growth.●Have a good knowledge of Austin and its competitors as a convention destination and all that it has to offer clients.●Ensure and participate in on-going sales team site tours to hotels, off-site venues, and local businesses.●Along with the Vice President of Sales & Executive Vice President Implement the Visit Austin strategic plan initiatives, the sales goals in the Visit Austin yearly Marketing Plan and the 2025-2030 Plan.●Be knowledgeable and prepared to be firsthand with the latest computer systems and software packages and use the technology effectively in cases without an assistant.●Always present yourself in a mature, professional manner and strive to lead by example.●Have a good understanding of all the policies and procedures of Visit Austin and make sure the Convention Sales Managers follow them appropriately.●Complete all special projects as assigned by the President & CEO, Executive Vice President and/or the Vice President of Sales in a timely manner.●Perform other duties as required.Additional Responsibilities: Market Management●Send clear, concise, and timely leads and communication to the hospitality community.●Administer client proposals and presentations with excellent written and oral communications.●Prospect for new business through solicitation, network through local and national organizations, exhibit at tradeshows, coordinate and participate in concentrated sales efforts in assigned markets, as well as regularly scheduled outside sales calls and client development.●Provide detailed feedback and status reports to the convention center and hotel community as appropriate on any group/meeting considering Austin.●Maintain close relationships with customers by following up quickly on any requests, entertaining them in social settings and developing a strong understanding of their programs and their needs.●Coordinate client site visits to Austin when applicable. Site visits may include securing hotel rooms and developing an itinerary that covers what is important to the client’s decision. Evening and weekend entertaining often required.Key Qualifications and Skill Requirements:●7 years of sales experience and a minimum of 3-5 years as an account director for a successful group hotel or Destination Marketing Organization.●Must live in the Austin Metro Area to be able to work hybrid office schedule and handle in person meetings with staff, local partner, client sites, other events as needed.●Ability to demonstrate leadership and supervisory skills, as well as successful execution of sales goals.●Excellent communication and organizational skills.●Proven successful experience in booking small and large top national association and corporate convention clients for cities and hotels.●Experience in booking business related to convention centers is a plus.●Must be able to manage multiple projects on an ongoing basis.●Ability for critical decision making that benefits both the customer, hotels, and the sales team.Visit Austin participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Visit Austin is an equal opportunity employer.