Sales Manager

Position summary

Are you ready to take the next, best step in your career?

Would you like to join a team of excited, dedicated, incredibly talented professionals?

You’ve found your opportunity - Visit Wichita is looking for a new Sales Manager to join our expert team!

A little about us…

Visit Wichita is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing visitors to Wichita. Our mission is to show the world just how great Wichita is, to bring visitors to our city, and ultimately to create jobs and make Wichita an even better place to be. We enjoy collaborating with each other and working as a team, but we are also self-motivated to deliver outstanding results. We have been deliberate in building an outstanding organizational culture. We listen to our team members and implement programs that enhance our employees’ quality of life. We work a 9/80 schedule, allowing half the team to be off every other Friday. We have a dog and child friendly office. We celebrate wellness with numerous programs. We are generous with PTO because we know some of the best ideas happen when you are exploring other destinations or being a visitor in your own city. We love what we do, and we are great at it.

A LITTLE ABOUT YOU...

As one of our Sales Manager, you’ll have the opportunity to sell Wichita to meeting planners around the country. You love prospecting leads and leaving no stone unturned to find an event that would work in Wichita. You enjoy traveling and attending appointment-based trade shows where you have the opportunity to meet with planners and share all the wonderful things about Wichita. You thrive both in working in the office on the computer and making phone calls to discover new leads as well as speaking to organizations and meeting with individuals to uncover potential new business opportunities. You excel in discovering new business opportunities and understand that every ‘no’ is one step closer to a ‘yes.’ You are a team player and have a passion for Wichita. You are goal oriented and have a proven track record of success.

If you enjoy selling, are a creative problem solver, love the city of Wichita and want to play a pivotal role in bringing large conventions to Wichita, you want to work with us.

The Role

The Sales Manager is responsible for actively selling Wichita as a convention and exhibition destination for associations and corporations, thereby enhancing the economic development of the City, County, Region and State.. Must be a goal-orientated, self-starter who is comfortable managing several projects simultaneously. Strong prospecting and closing skills, outstanding communication both written and oral. Capable of exercising initiative, judgment, tact and diplomacy in a wide variety of public contact situations. Ability to work cooperatively within a small office environment. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word. Hospitality industry experience is helpful. Ability to travel. Role reports directly to Director of Sales.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Sales Prospecting: Identify and engage potential clients, including meeting planners and convention organizers, to promote Wichita as an ideal location for their events. Utilize cold calling, networking, CRM database, CVENT database, MINT database and other sales strategies to generate leads and build a robust sales pipeline.

· Site Selection Support: Prospect meeting planner(s) or decision-maker(s) of the organization to better understand the convention/meeting requirements and site selection process. Distribute sales leads to hotels/facilities advising them of meeting requirements and requested dates; gathers hotel and facility proposals to include in bid package.

• Sales Proposal: Prepare a bid package for meeting planners that highlights the destination and includes hotel/facility proposals, letters of support from community leaders, services for meeting planners, incentive offers, etc.
• Sales Presentations: Generate slide/video presentations as required by the site tour and/or bid presentation and presents before the decision-making group to encourage them to select Wichita as a convention destination
• Client Research: Identify key influencers who will impact the decision-making process of the Convention Chair, Executive Director, Board of Directors, or other stakeholders, and engages them through phone, email, or in-person visits to promote Wichita as a convention destination

· Performance Goals: Meet or exceed assigned sales targets, contributing to the team's overall success. Provide regular updates to the Director of Sales on progress and market trends

• Travel: Attend industry trade shows and events to represent and promote Wichita as a convention and meeting destination
• Client Support: Ensures a seamless transition by communicating all commitments, expectations, and event details to relevant departments and/or partners, once a convention is booked. Greet convention/meeting planner upon arrival to ensure event success and secure repeat business by requesting the group consider returning to Wichita. Conduct attendee welcomes to Wichita as requested by group.
• Site Inspections: Conducts a site inspection tour of Wichita with meeting planners and/or other influential members of the site selection committee. With support from convention sales coordinator, prepares itineraries, arranges tours of hotels, convention center, local attractions and secures dining reservations.

· Data Management: Utilize CRM systems to track sales progress and client engagement.

• Event Coordination: Organize sales missions to cities where associations and convention organizations are headquartered. With support from convention sales coordinator, prepares itineraries, determines venues/activities, client gifts, etc.
• Community Development: Calls on community leaders within your markets to use their influence in promoting Wichita as a convention site. Secures letters of support from the organization’s local chapter leaders, leaders in the public and private sectors, and/or leaders from the city, county, state, and federal government.
• Administrative Duties: Attend weekly meetings with Director of Sales to review sales pipeline and to discuss the status of open leads and projects. Participate in weekly sales meeting to review open marketing projects and discuss upcoming event services and tradeshow needs.
• Sales Support: Works directly with the Director of Sales on input for marketing plans, sales budget, and promotional activities
• Collaboration: Maintains strong working relationships with hotel and facility partners, the community at large and fellow staff members
• Market Research: Maintains a well-informed, working knowledge of all facilities, attractions and services, both private and public, available in the area to customers and acts as liaison between these entities and the customer
• Other: At the discretion of the Director of Sales, provides research, general support, sales support, and/or performs other administrative duties as needed

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, hospitality, or related field

· Proven sales experience as a sales coordinator or in a similar role

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of effectively networking and building relationships with a diverse range of clients

· Excellent organizational and multitasking skills

· Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities

· Proficiency in MS Office and CRM software

· Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

· Knowledge of the meetings, conventions, and sports tourism industry preferred

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

· A four-year degree from an accredited college or university preferred

· Proven sales experience as a sales representative or in a similar role

· Success being a team player in a work environment

· Knowledge of the meetings, conventions, and sports tourism industry preferred

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

· Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of effectively networking and building relationships with a diverse range of clients

· Proficiency in MS Office and CRM software

· Excellent organizational and multitasking skills

· Team orientation and ability to work collaboratively in fast-paced environment.

· Planning and organizational skills – ability to establish priorities and follow through on all tasks

· Must be able to work full-time, in-person.

· Must possess a valid Kansas driver’s license and an insured vehicle for periodic business use

Job Type: Full-time

Ability to Relocate:

• Wichita, KS 67202: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person