Description

The citywide sales executive is responsible for the selling and marketing of Metro Atlanta as a destination for prospective trade shows and group meetings. The primary responsibility will be to generate leads and subsequent bookings for trade shows and meetings (1,000 room nights on peak or more).

Requirements

Primary Responsibilities (including, but are not limited to):

• Establish and maintain working relationships with trade show/citywide event planners with the goal of soliciting RFPs to bid on annual meetings and other large events greater than 1,000 room nights on peak.
• Maintain accurate and current information/correspondence in ACVB’s CRM system on all assigned accounts regarding contacts, history/future of annual meetings, notes on solicitation efforts and decision-influencers, and trace dates for future follow up to solicit RFPs.
• Initiate creative sales and marketing techniques to influence meeting business to Atlanta.
• Stay current regarding the city’s offerings and developments with particular emphasis on the downtown hotel community and Georgia World Congress Center. In addition, assist with referrals to other ACVB member facilities that support “citywide” events (Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart, Cobb Convention Center, Georgia International Convention Center, and affiliated hotels).
• Maintain a thorough working knowledge of the Georgia World Congress Center’s capacity and the overall city-wide objectives to fully understand opportunity dates, preferred patterns, strategic group-moves, etc. as they pertain to soliciting new business.
• Assist in scheduling and making sales calls with GWCC and hotel sales managers.
• Champion all sales projects and client events as they pertain to the solicitation of new business and/or promotion of Atlanta (customer events, sponsorships, golf outings, etc.)
• Active involvement in industry-related professional organizations and actively pursue leadership roles to promote Atlanta.
• Travel as needed to set-up, execute, or participate in trade shows and sales missions as outlined in sales division programs.
• Operate all projects and personal expenses within the appropriate financial guidelines provided and recap/report such expenditures in a timely fashion.
• Record and document all activity in an organized manner for monthly or quarterly reviews with sales leadership.
• Communicate on a regular basis all noteworthy activities for ACVB e-communications and newsletters.
• Be proficient with the use of any programs utilized by ACVB to include Microsoft Office, expense reporting program, CRM, etc.
• Work with other sales managers and coordinators as a team; this includes supervision of the assigned coordinator.

Qualifications

• Education
  • High school graduate or equivalent required
  • Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred
• Work Experience
  • Minimum five to seven (5-7) years of sales experience in CVB, DMO, convention center, hotel or hospitality contract sales; five (5) of which focus on trade show sales 
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
  • Strong sales skills, including communication (verbal and written) and presentation skills
  • Strong knowledge of hotels and event facilities
  • Exceptional ability to qualify business
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Strong negotiation skills
  • Detail oriented
  • Extensive knowledge of Atlanta hotels and facilities strongly preferred
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office: Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • Ability to work with CRMs and other computer databases 
• Other
  • Ability to work a flexible schedule to include early mornings, late evenings and weekends
  • Ability to travel 15 to 25% 

Core Competencies

• Communication Skills
• Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
• Teamwork
• Customer Service
• Management

Additional Information

•  Work hours
  • Monday – Friday (moderate to significant early morning, late evening, and weekend work) 
• Work location
  • This is a full on-site position located in the Atlanta office
• Work environment
  • Standard, temperature-controlled office environment with moderate, office noise level
  • During site visits work environment changes depending on location: hotel, restaurant, convention facilities, airplane, and related travel and event venues 
• Physical requirements
  • Light lifting of 5 to 10 lbs.
  • Position requires moderate to significant amount of walking during site visits with clients
  • Position requires moderate to significant amount of driving during site visits with clients 
• Travel
  15 – 25%
   

Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parental status, familial status, national origin, age or disability.