Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau

Job Description

Position: Citywide Sales Executive, Chicago Area Sales Office
Department: Sales
Exemption Status: Exempt
Position Reports to: Vice President, Sales

General Description

The Citywide Sales Executive is responsible for the selling and marketing of Atlanta as a destination for prospective trade shows and group meetings with a specialized focus on customers located in the greater Chicago area.

Responsibilities (including, but are not limited to the following)

Sales

• Make quarterly trips to Atlanta for site visits and related business
• Prospect potential meeting business: telemarketing, regularly trace existing accounts for future solicitation and utilize various resources to include Atlanta based influencers of association and corporate meetings, convention center, hotels and related facilities 
• Qualify leads to include identification of group schedule, room night needs and convention center space   
• Send leads to hotels and convention center, execute appropriate follow-up   
• Maintain ongoing communication with clients, hotels, convention center and related vendors regarding changes, updates, decision dates, etc.   
• Make bid presentations for destination/site selection committee  
• Coordinate and conduct site inspections
• Serve as an intermediary between clients and hospitality industry partners
• Distribute definite booking and lost information to all parties involved in the lead process  
• Represent ACVB at trade shows and related events as assigned by the director, trade show sales; this may include coordinating the participation of Atlanta hospitality industry partners, set-up/breakdown of trade show booth and related activities
• Make regular trips to mid-west for sales calls to prospective and existing customers, pre-promotion visits
• Present new business opportunities

Leadership

• Manage programs, projects and expenses according to ACVB guidelines

Other Duties

• Maintain a positive working relationship with ACVB members  
• Ensure all account details and activity are documented in CRM  
• Maintain current knowledge of mid-west market, ACVB member hotels (inventory), convention center space, venues, restaurants and attractions
• Attend ACVB, member, and hospitality related events as directed 
• Stay up to date with hospitality industry trends 

Supervisory Responsibilities

The position will assist in supervising an assigned sales team administrative support team member who will also support sales team members. The position will be responsible for the performance evaluation, professional development and day-to-day leadership of the designated direct report. 

Knowledge & Skills

• Excellent technology-based skillset to include knowledge of Microsoft Office software programs (Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams, etc.) and CRMs
• Extensive knowledge of Atlanta’s hospitality industry with an emphasis on the hotel and event facility inventory
• Strong sales experience and skillset

Core Competencies (areas reviewed in annual performance evaluation)

• Job knowledge & accuracy
• Independence, autonomy and self-starter skills
• Detail-oriented and proactive with the ability to take initiative
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to exercise good judgment and diplomacy in a wide variety of public contact situations
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Strong customer service and business etiquette skills

Education & Work Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required; college degree strongly preferred
• Minimum 8 years of sales experience required; hospitality industry preferred
• Minimum 3 years of management experience required

Additional Information

• Work Hours: Monday – Friday (early mornings, late evenings and weekend work expected as needed)
• Work Environment: Standard, temperature-controlled office environment with moderate office noise level
  • During offsite meetings and events and site visits, work environment changes depending on location: hotel, restaurant, convention facilities, airplane, and related travel and event venues
• Work Location: This is a full-time remote position located in the greater Chicago/Midwest area. Candidates must either work in-market in Chicago or be based in the Midwest area and have worked the Midwest market for a minimum of 3 years.
• Physical Requirements: Note: the physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Where applicable, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions
  • Light lifting up to 10 lbs.
  • Position requires significant amount of walking/standing during site visits, trade shows and related sales activity
  • Position requires significant amount of driving and traveling during client visits and familiarization (FAM) trips
• Travel: 20-30%

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.