Digital Sales Director - Online Sales

Are you motivated to promote Vancouver as a top Meeting and Convention destination in the Eastern US, Corporate markets?
If so, Destination Vancouver's Manager, Meeting & Convention Sales, Eastern US, Corporate opportunity could be for you.

This is an independent contractor opportunity based in-market in eastern US, preferably the New York area.

The opportunity is responsible for leading Vancouver's destination sales and marketing efforts in one of our most important markets.
The key purpose of the position is to generate high yield, quality leads and convert them to definite business.
This is done by researching, identifying, developing, and targeting convention business, corporate meetings, incentive programs and all other related group business travel opportunities for Destination Vancouver member businesses, Metro Vancouver, and the surrounding region.

Reporting to the Director of Sales, Meetings & Conventions, Corporate, the Manager provides leadership in the development and implementation of the meetings and conventions portion of the Destination Vancouver annual sales and marketing operational plan and the two-year Business Sprint business plan.
This is done through overall meeting and convention sales and marketing strategies as they apply in the Chicago and Midwest US markets as well as specific market driven sales activities and tactics.
Leadership role on behalf of, not only Destination Vancouver, but the entire Vancouver tourism and hospitality community and industry active in the Eastern US markets.
• Initiate, plan, lead and execute Vancouver's in-market sales activities, sales trips and events, sales missions, conference and tradeshow presence, industry organization representation.
• Initiate, plan, lead and execute Vancouver's in-destination sales activities, qualified individual client site inspections, targeted group familiarization visits and hosting of high priority, client rich industry organization events.
• Build strong strategic relationships with colleagues, clients, members, and partners while delivering a high level of customer sales and service.
• Generates qualified Meeting and Convention group business leads out of the Eastern US market and converting to definite business for Vancouver.

~ Leadership role on behalf of, not only Destination Vancouver, but the entire Metro Vancouver meeting and convention tourism community active in the Eastern US market.
This position is to be well known and recognized as the industry expert M&C leader for this market.

~ Understanding and highly efficient use of Destination Vancouver's CRM - account database management software - Simpleview .
For account/lead generation and management as well as a communication and information system for all groups requiring follow-up or action (i.e.
trace for a decision on Vancouver as a meeting site).
Manages lead system policies and procedures in referring business to Destination Vancouver members in a fair and equitable manner.

~ Strong working relationship with the sales team at the Vancouver Convention Centre including a base level of understanding of convention centre operations.

~ Strong working relationship with Destination Vancouver DMC members, including a base level of understanding of DMC sales and operations.

~ Strong working relationship with the sales team at Destination Vancouver member hotels, including a base level of understanding of hotel operations.

~ Keeps informed with members' personnel changes, product renovations, changes in management, regular hotel site inspections, visits with sales personnel and property tours, regular contact/meetings with key members and industry partners active in the market.

~ Develops and maintains good working relationships with all local members and partners active in the Eastern US market as well in-market industry partners and representatives such as Destination Canada Business Events, hotel global, national, and regional sellers, competitive DMO's.

~ Initiates, plans, executes and leads qualified individual client site inspections as well as familiarization group visits in destination.

~ Initiates, plans, executes, and leads all sales activities in-market including trade shows, conferences, sales missions, special promotions and client events.

~ Maintains active membership in the appropriate industry associations such as MPI, PCMA, SITE, CEMA and more, this also includes potential volunteer leadership roles.

~ Keeps informed on competitive intelligence regarding business practices, convention centre and major hotel development, competitive DMO activities and budgets.

~ Assists the VP in preparation of annual sales and marketing operational plan, including budget preparation.

~ Provides information and/or guidance to Destination Vancouver local members and partners requesting market intelligence, convention statistics and sale and marketing activity information.

Destination Vancouver is one of the world's most dynamic Destination Organizations, delivering on a mandate for destination development and promotion that makes Vancouver a must visit global destination.
private, not for profit business association, continued relevancy equals success by supporting the industry and building a competitive global destination brand.

Destination Vancouver has a fabulous product and a powerful brand.
Its brand promise, Vancouver is a place that connects people and inspires them to live with passion, underpins how it communicates with potential customers, engages with stakeholders, and services its 800+ members.

This is an annual and renewable contractor agreement.

You are an independent contractor with a minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar sales leadership capacity.
Th orough knowledge of and experience in the Eastern US, Corporate markets as well as destination marketing, hotel or convention industry sales with market segment knowledge related to business, corporate meetings and the incentive market.
Strong market segment knowledge, corporate and incentive, also a strong asset.
Experience in with leading industry organizations and their events such as Association Forum, IMEX America, MPI, PCMA, SITE, CEMA is an asset.

With a proven track record of attaining measurable results in sales and marketing, you possess a high level of professionalism, maturity, diplomacy and judgment regarding decision-making and fostering positive interpersonal relationships.

Excellent organization, coordinating, planning and time management skills, detail-oriented with strong multi-tasking abilities are required along with strong communication skills, written and verbal, strong presentations skills (in-person and digital/virtual).

Technology skills requirements include social media for business, good working knowledge of database management, Microsoft Office applications, CRM technology, AI, and a strong willingness to learn and adapt to new software applications.

If this sounds like you because you are a sales leader and have the knowledge, ambition and drive and describe yourself as enthusiastic and fun, collaborative and focused on building relationships and achieving results, we invite you to apply for this exciting position.