Develops and directs overall sales efforts to increase group bookings, revenue and position Destin-Fort Walton Beach and its Convention Center as a premiere meeting and convention destination.

• Supervises and provides direction and training to assigned staff; evaluates and reviews performance of staff, to include hiring, termination and discipline recommendations.
• Develops and maintains the sales and marketing plan for group business to the destination and convention center
• Serves as an organization point of contact for assigned group markets; identifies and solicits target groups, potential markets and key accounts utilizing a variety of methods (i.e., trade shows, internet research, lead generating services).
• Initiates weekly prospective/qualified sales calls on new and emerging markets; manages and assigns lead referrals to sales staff or partners.
• Negotiates and prepares proposals/contracts to potential clients of the convention center.
• Ensures sales team works closely with events, operations and catering teams to achieve convention center client satisfaction and seamless event management.
• Plans and directs marketing efforts and promotional items in conjunction with the marketing team; generates innovative ideas to attract business and boost brand awareness.
• Provides group market analysis and monthly pace report: for the destination and convention center.
• Establishes monthly, quarterly and annual sales goals with specific performance metrics aligned with business strategies; presents sales activities and revenue reports to the General Manager and Tourist Development Council.
• Reviews and updates strategies by performing an annual comp set analysis.
• Meets regularly with marketing team to ensure brand alignment, consistency, and promotion of groups; stays up-to-date with industry trends and practices and maintains awareness of competing destinations.
• Communicates with clients to resolve issues and inquiries; improves customer experience based on client feedback.
• Coordinates and fosters relationships with local stakeholders and conducts familiarization tours for potential group business.
• Attends and participates in regional, national and international trade shows.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education, Training, and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Sales, Marketing, Business Management, Communications or closely related field supplemented by a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in destination, convention center or hotel/resort group sales; to include a minimum of two (2) years in a management or supervisory role, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Demonstrated working knowledge and proficiency with sales performance metrics is required. Demonstrated success in booking new business is required. Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) software preferred. Experience with event diagramming software preferred. Experience in a governmental organization or destination-marketing organization is preferred.

Licenses and/or Certifications: Requires a valid driver license.

Physical Requirements: Requires the ability to operate modern office equipment, to include computers, copy/fax machines, and related peripherals. Must be able to exert 10 to 50 pounds of force occasionally and or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. This position will encounter periodic walking and standing. May require bending, stooping and twisting. Physical demands are essentially those of sedentary work.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to communicate effectively in English, including the ability to convey, record and exchange information; requires the ability to explain procedures and to give, receive and follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to read a variety of moderately complex technical data, policy and procedure manuals, codes, professional journals. Requires the ability to prepare forms and reports using prescribed formats, and adhering to all rules of grammar, spelling, diction and punctuation. Requires the ability to communicate with a broad array of individuals from various professional backgrounds.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; to interpret a variety of technical instructions in written, mathematical or diagrammatic form; to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques; to make independent judgments in absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Requires the application of principles of influence systems and synthesis functions.

Numerical Aptitude: Must be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide; calculate decimals and percentages; compute discount, profit and loss, ratio and proportion; perform statistical calculations.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under moderate levels of stress, imposed by frequent deadlines, peak workloads, or public contact. Requires the ability to exercise consistent tact and courtesy when in frequent contact with various professionals, county staff, and the general public.