The San Diego Tourism Authority is a private, non-profit, mutual benefit corporation composed of approximately 900 member organizations, businesses, local governments, and individuals seeking a better community through the visitor industry. San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) members include tourism-related entities in such categories as lodging, dining, arts & attractions, shopping, and transportation, among others, as well as other companies indirectly involved in the visitor industry.

As a sales and marketing organization, the main objective of SDTA is to promote and market San Diego County as a vacation destination and meetings and convention site. SDTA also represents and supports the interests of the visitor industry as a whole.

General Responsibilities:

• Meet in person and build relationships with customers to promote and sell San Diego for non-citywide convention and meetings to the Midwest corporate and association market.
• Generate leads, solicitations and meet sales goals through active sales efforts in Chicago to prospect for new customers while working with hotel sales teams to secure business for San Diego.
• Achieve a yearly booking room night goal established by the Chief Sales Officer (CSO). 
• Prepare and execute a sales plan to achieve the desired business outcomes. The plan would include customer retention, new customer acquisition, closing business techniques, sales activities for that year, customer facing events, attend recommended tradeshows, and deploy other tactics to achieve the sales goal. 
• Serve as a strategic collaborator with fellow SDTA team members and the hotel community to achieve the destination’s desired business results 
• Serve as a strategic advisor to clients to understand – in addition to their meeting space needs (room block, space, etc.) - the organization’s structure, goals & objectives with a focus to understand how it can impact San Diego. 
• Be as knowledgeable and up to date on San Diego happenings as would a resident of San Diego.
• Be knowledgeable and up to date on competitive cities across the country. Items relating to their Convention Center, hotel package, new development, airlift, crime & homelessness, advantages & disadvantages compared to San Diego, etc. 
• Be knowledgeable on industry trends facing San Diego and the entire M&C industry, including housing trends, hotel contracting, homeless challenges, pandemic response, etc.
• Participate in site familiarization programs, attend key national and local industry related functions and event, participate in sales trips, conduct in-market client events and attend relevant trade shows as determined by CSO. 

Requirements:

• Proof of Covid-19 vaccination or medical or religious exemption required.
• Based in Chicagoland area. If living in the suburbs, must have reliable transportation for meetings in the city.
• Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S) from a four-year college or university or five years related experience in a sales management role within hotel and/or destination marketing organization. 
• Ability to write and understand business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.
• The employee must be able to travel on commercial airlines, drive a car in a safe manner,  attend meetings and meet with customers in Chicago and the Midwest region. 
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written. Excellent group presentation skills.
• Ability to relate to clients and businesses in a professional manner.
• Knowledge of hospitality industry, marketing principles, national markets preferred. 
• Ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays as needed in addition to standard office hours. The need to be flexible to San Diego headquarters office hour needs, when applicable. 
• Ability to develop relationships with customers in Chicago and the Midwest region. Having strong business contacts in the Illinois, Michigan and Indiana preferred.

SDTA offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.

Offer of employment will be contingent upon satisfactory proof of COVID-19 Vaccination and satisfactorily clearing background and DMV checks.

San Diego Tourism Authority is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, such as race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, medical condition, veteran status or any other basis covered under applicable law.