Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau

Vice President of Marketing Position (Chattanooga, TN)

ABOUT THE CHATTANOOGA CVB The Chattanooga CVB is at the core of driving Hamilton County, Tennessee’s nearly $1 Billion tourism industry. With a budget of nearly $7 Million in 2013, the CVB is funded primarily through a hotel tax in Hamilton County. The CVB spends more than $3 Million in advertising targeting visitors for leisure, meetings and sporting events. As a member organization, some funds come from memberships and advertising. The CVB operates a Visitors Center in the heart of Downtown Chattanooga. It distributes 400,000 Visitors Guides through lead generation and visitors centers and handles the Chattanoogafun.com, Chattanoogameetings.com and Chattanoogasports.com websites which see a combined 1.7 million visitors annually. The CVB also manages nearly 300,000 social media and email subscribers. Centrally located in the Southeast, bordering Georgia and Alabama, Chattanooga is within a two-hour drive of Atlanta, Nashville, Knoxville, Huntsville and Birmingham. Chattanooga is one of the South’s top travel destinations. Chattanooga offers scenic beauty, world-class attractions, outdoor adventure, amazing restaurants, a variety of annual events, world-class attractions and rich history. The city provides a free, electric shuttle that runs throughout downtown as well as a bike share system with 300 bikes available 24/7. The local economy includes a diversified mix of manufacturing and service industries, four colleges, and several preparatory schools known throughout the South. Sustainability is a key concept for industry and government working together for enlightened development. CVB MISSION The Chattanooga Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is a non-profit, Hamilton County funded organization, formed to strengthen the area economy through the marketing and promotion of the Chattanooga area as a year-round destination for meetings, conventions, sporting events and leisure travel. CURRENT KEY GOALS (FIRST 30-90 DAYS)

1. Meet one-on-one with Marketing staff as well as additional CVB and Sports Committee staff 2. Meet one-on-one with strategic partners throughout community and at the state level 3. Review current marketing plan and marketing materials (i.e. Visitors Guide, websites, booklets, etc.) 4. Develop short-term and long-term goals

IMPACT The Chattanooga CVB is at the core of driving Hamilton County’s nearly $1 Billion tourism industry. Tourism is estimated to bring in 3.1 million visitors annually to Chattanooga. FUNDING SOURCES With a budget of nearly $7 Million in 2013, the CVB is 90% funded through a hotel tax in Hamilton County. As a member organization, about 10% of funds come from memberships and advertising. MEETINGS & CONVENTION FACILITIES Chattanooga boasts one of the nation's top ten green convention centers. The Chattanooga Convention Center, located in the heart of downtown, is a state-of-the-art facility that offers 185,000 square feet of meeting space all on

one level, including 100,800 square feet of column-free exhibit space (total of four halls). There are 21 meeting rooms ranging in size from 812 to 1,800 square feet, and they can be configured to space ranging in size from 1,624 to 5,400 square feet. The 19,000 square foot ballroom can be divided into six equal sections. Pre-function space is at 40,000 square feet. There are 11 loading docks. The Chattanooga Marriott Hotel with 342 rooms and 7,712 square feet of meeting space physically adjoins the Chattanooga Convention Center. There are 2,700 hotel rooms closely surrounding the Convention Center in the downtown area. The Convention Center is also serviced by the free electric shuttle

route which includes access to restaurants, attractions, shopping outlets and much more. Located around the city’s perimeter are an additional 7,000 guest rooms. HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATIONS Hamilton County has nearly 10,000 hotel rooms and Downtown Chattanooga has approximately 3,000 of those rooms. Many downtown hotels are conveniently located on or within a few blocks of the free electric shuttle route that connects visitors to restaurants, attractions, parks and the Convention Center. A large number of hotels sit on the Interstates I-75 & I-24 with a concentration of about 3,000 around Tennessee’s largest shopping complex, Hamilton Place Mall. There are five full-service hotels in the downtown area: Chattanooga Marriott at the Convention Center, Chattanooga Choo Choo, The Chattanoogan, Sheraton Read House and the DoubleTree. CHATTANOOGA TOURISM ARTICLE – ABOUT THE CVB

http://www.cityscopemag.com/why-chattanooga/

To learn more about the Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau, please visit: http://www.chattanoogafun.com/

POSITION DESCRIPTION Title: Vice President of Marketing Reports To: President & CEO I. JOB SUMMARY The Vice President Marketing is responsible for driving Chattanooga hotel stays and growing the reputation of Chattanooga as a leisure, sports and meetings destination. Provides strategic direction and oversees integration of media relations, websites, e-communications and marketing campaigns in order to increase Chattanooga’s visitation. VP will manage Marketing Department, both internal staff as well as third-party vendors that handle advertising, public relations, and promotions. II. RESPONSIBILITIES (INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING):

1. Create and implement comprehensive strategies to advance the CVB's mission 2. Drive overnight stays in Chattanooga area hotels for leisure, business, sports and convention

markets 3. Is the primary Vice President responsible for leisure tourism growth and works in a supportive role

for the VP of Sports and VP of Sales 4. Build Chattanooga’s reputation through media and public relations, comfortable in the role as

“leading authority” for these areas 5. Work with President & CEO to write and implement strategic marketing plans for the CVB 6. Implement “branding” campaigns based on research via current and potential markets 7. Develop and deliver marketing presentations as required to various entities within and outside of

Chattanooga 8. Direct research activities and benchmark industry performance 9. Work with President & CEO to prepare annual marketing budget 10. Work with our industry partners to integrate our marketing efforts and programs 11. Work with our community partners (including by not limited to - Chamber of Commerce, City and

County government, River City partners, Chattanooga Convention Center) to integrate our marketing efforts and programs

12. Foster internal communications by keeping up-to-date on Chattanooga happenings and disseminating appropriate information to staff and third-party vendors

13. Provide strategic direction to the websites, new media, and e-communications staff 14. Oversee marketing partnerships with CVB members and partners 15. Develop partner relations to sell city as a package 16. Integrate press coverage, new media and marketing in order to grow number of Chattanooga

impressions 17. Oversee and provide strategic direction on press coverage of Chattanooga 18. Create opportunities for Chattanooga placement in TV shows and films 19. Monitor news and industry trends and keep CVB leadership up to date on trends in media and

industry 20. Support the recruitment of new and the expansion of established events that drive hotel room nights 21. Oversee development of new audiences through online marketing, social media and traditional

media opportunities 22. Lead marketing team in driving Chattanooga CVB Web site opportunities 23. Assist with development of convention and meeting marketing plan and implementation 24. Assist with development of sports marketing plan and implementation 25. Work with advertising agency and CVB staff to develop marketing collateral materials 26. Perform all other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the President & CEO

III. QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Minimum of ten (10) years of consumer marketing with tourism experience preferred 2. Bachelor’s degree (required) in advertising, marketing, public relations/media relations,

communications or journalism (preferred) 3. Superior problem analysis and resolution skills 4. Above average ability to organize, manage time and set priorities while meeting deadlines 5. Ability to be flexible and shift priorities to meet departmental requirements 6. Ability to maintain a high level of professionalism, integrity and confidentiality 7. Superior verbal and written communication skills, as well as public presentation skills, are essential 8. Knowledge of and experience in the ever changing interactive trends & social media campaigns,

integrating all strategies for success 9. Superior analytical skills 10. Ability to research and analyze various different types of data information 11. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suites and all Apple products 12. Strong interpersonal and management skills with the ability to interact positively at all levels within

the organization, community and with business and political leaders who influence the CVB’s success

13. A style which accommodates a cooperative and facilitator approach in marketing tourism promotion involving close coordination with the area’s attractions, accommodations and other hospitality representatives is essential

14. A willingness and ability to work under pressure and within stringent deadlines 15. Utilizing the resources and considering the expertise and suggestions of others will be required,

together with the need for presenting one’s professional convictions strongly and diplomatically 16. Possesses complete integrity and unquestionable personal demeanor and projects a strong, positive

“professional presence” in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the position IV. COMPENSATION Salary for the position, with appropriate benefits, will be commensurate with experience, qualifications and demonstrated professional performance of the selected candidate. CONTACT If you are interested in this position, please respond via e-mail with cover letter, resume, and compensation information to the following SearchWide™ Executive: Jim Carra Executive Vice President SearchWide carra@searchwide.com 231-995-0567