Director of Destination Development and Industry Education

POSITION SUMMARY

The primary responsibilities for this role include coordinating and overseeing the planning and execution of conventions, conferences, and other large events, ensuring a smooth and successful experience for attendees and event organizers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Client Relations & Experience Management

· Works closely with clients to understand their needs, goals, and expectations for their events.

· Develops, prioritizes, and implements service strategies to enhance the client and conference attendee experience.

· Develops visitor information distribution strategies for clients and event attendees, providing essential details and resources to further enhance the visitor experience in Albuquerque.

· Manages relationships with and serves as a liaison between hotels, convention center, and other venues utilized for events to ensure venue readiness and maintain strong partnerships to facilitate smooth event operations.

· Fulfills year-out promotional requests from clients to promote event registration and attendance for upcoming events.

Event Planning & Execution

· Coordinates group welcome signage with venues, hotels, and the Albuquerque International Sunport to enhance event staff and attendee arrival.

· Collaborates with Visit Albuquerque Marketing team to develop marketing and promotional materials.

· Manages on-site event support staff, as needed, including hiring part-time help and/or coordinating volunteers to assist with attendee registration/check-in and additional event assistance.

· Sends out formal requests for proposals (RFPs) to Visit Albuquerque partners to obtain goods/services required for event servicing.

· Assists with transportation logistics and coordinates shuttling for event staff and attendees from various locations, as needed.

· Plans and coordinates logistics for pre-event planning client site visits, including preparing site itineraries and attending all scheduled activities.

· Ensures event follows health and safety regulations, including emergency preparedness and risk management.

· Oversees and documents client account information within CRM database.

· Requests event room night pick up reports from hotels and ensure accurate input and reporting through the CRM database.

Financial & Inventory Management

· Collaborates with VP of Sales, Services, and Sports on annual services budget, estimated cost of services, and management reports.

· Manages event financial responsibilities including submitting purchase orders, payment tracking, rebate collection, billing, and invoicing.

· Tracks and reports Visit Albuquerque partner in-kind contributions.

· Manages departmental inventory to ensure adequate quantities of services items are available to fulfill departmental and client needs.

Manage and oversee the Services department team

· Supervises the Services team, including conducting regular one-on-one meetings, monitoring the team’s work, and conducting annual reviews.

· Provides guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback to team members, fostering a positive and productive work environment.

· Ensures daily operations run smoothly by monitoring workflows, addressing challenges, and optimizing efficiency.

· Enforces company policies to maintain a safe, ethical, and compliant workplace.

· Tracks key performance metrics, analyze trends, and implement improvements to meet departmental goals.

· Provides project status updates to Senior Management.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience

Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university and five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Competencies

· Knowledge and appreciation of Albuquerque.

· Competent knowledge of MS Office software, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

· Ability to learn industry-specific organization software.

· Strong organizational skills, able to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

· Demonstrate excellent customer service, networking, negotiation, and interpersonal communication skills.

· Excellent presentation, verbal, and written communication skills.

· Ability to work weekends and evenings when needed and/or be accessible to clients while off-duty.

· Must be able to travel out-of-state occasionally.

· Must always maintain a professional appearance keeping within industry standards.

· Always demonstrate professional and ethical conduct in accordance with company policy.

· Contributes to a positive workplace environment by demonstrating superior customer service skills in dealing with internal and external customers, speaking positively when referring to the organization, and always acting and speaking in a courteous and professional manner.

· Must have valid registration, appropriate insurance, a safe driving record, and possess a valid NM driver’s license.

· Must have reliable transportation and be able to travel to and visit off-site businesses.

· Must be flexible and able to routinely re-adjust priorities to conditions and circumstances.

· Ability and willingness to make routine decisions independently.

· Ability and willingness to establish and maintain accurate filing systems.

· Knowledge of Hospitality Industry, Convention or Tourism business a plus.

· Skills and ability to operate general office equipment such as computers, copiers, telephones etc.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with or without assistance such as hand carts or dollies. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

May stand for extended periods of time while attending "year-out" promotions, trade shows, or during site visits.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The work is usually performed in an air-conditioned, heated office. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Event locations may have moderate to loud noise levels.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $78,071.00 - $97,589.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $78,071 - $97,589