Group Sales Manager - MICE SMTT Overview Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, Inc. is a non-profit, non-member organization governed by a board of 11 community individuals. SMTT is the official travel and tourism promotion agency for the City of Santa Monica. It is our job to promote Santa Monica and encourage visitors to stay longer and enjoy more of what our destination has to offer. SMTT operates five (5) locations: Visitor Information Kiosk in Palisades Park; Visitor Information Center at the Santa Monica Pier; Visitor Information Cart on the 3rd Street Promenade; Visitor Information Center on Main Street; and, a Mobile Information Vehicle. For more information, please visit www.santamonica.com. Position Overview The Manager – Group & MICE Sales, under the direction of Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) Executive Vice President (EVP), will be responsible for selling, marketing and representing Santa Monica as a premiere beach city destination for targeted domestic and international meetings and incentive group business. The Manager, Group & MICE Sales will focus on business development and relationship building in the corporate, association and incentive markets. The position requires a high energy, positive and self-motivated individual. Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills, an innovative sales approach and team player mindset are also essential. The ability to adapt easily to change and thrive on creating collaborative and productive relationships with tourism partners, the hotel community, customers, and internal team members will support success for this revenue focused role. Responsibilities

• Responsible for all sales and promotional activities related to the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) market segment and to maximize business opportunities in that area.

• Achieve established new business & leads goals generated for the Group & MICE market to SMTT hotels.

• Achieve established group room night production and average daily rate goals for booked business to hotel partners in Santa Monica; business will be reported through the CRM system.

• Establish an annual Group & MICE Sales plan to map the sales activities, programs, industry events, FAMs, sales trips and other business areas on own as well as serving as SMTT lead with partners to support the established goals.

• Represent SMTT and our tourism partners in a professional manner at various events, industry programs, tradeshows and scheduled sales appointments; including but not limited to: IMEX Las Vegas, Incentive Works, SITE, etc.

• Schedule and conduct weekly sales calls to key meetings and event planners to bring awareness to Santa Monica as a key MICE destination. Provide weekly priority report to the EVP detailing the plans and activities.

• Represent SMTT at monthly & quarterly regional industry programs, client mixers and events including, but not limited to, MPISCC and SITE SoCal.

• Manage the SMTT CRM database of Group Sales & MICE client records, sales activities and lead generation; keeping information current for monthly reporting and e-communications.

• Maximize all up-selling opportunities by proposing additional events and activities suitable and complimenting Group Sales & MICE programs.

• Ensure comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of Santa Monica’s hotel product, unique selling points, features, amenities, services and policies.

• Obtain client feedback after each event with an eye towards continual improvement. • Keep abreast of trends and research for national & international MICE travel and make suggestions

to improve sales engagements and strategies.

• Collaborate with Santa Monica hotels and venues to establish Santa Monica as a preferred MICE destination in Southern California. Provide regular feedback to the SMTT team and members as appropriate.

• Work with SMTT marketing team to develop innovative and effective programs designed to create awareness of the destination to the MICE market; inclusive of sales presentations and incentive programs.

• Proactively plans, coordinates and conducts site inspections and FAM(familiarization) tours, in tandem with the Manager, Client Services, to maximize Santa Monica's exposure to our clients.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Group Meetings & MICE travel industry partners within and outside of the local community, and successfully solicit their participation in SMTT programs.

• Meet with management on weekly basis to assess business needs, areas for support, development and potential group/MICE targets for Santa Monica.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, management or related field, and/or equivalent experience.

• Must have a minimum of 5 years’ previous group & MICE sales experience. • Experience supervising others with a proven ability to recruit, train, and develop staff. • Proficient in CRM systems, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Internet, Social Media. • Experience in managing a multitude of diverse projects. • Excellent financial and budget management skills. • Preferred job experience: fast-paced “start-up” environments with an aptitude in the sales and

tourism industry. • Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills. • Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to provide leadership within the organization, as well as

the community at large. • Highly organized with attention to follow-up and follow through, can anticipate future challenges;

ability to initiate and complete multiple work assignments/projects simultaneously. • Ability to work efficiently and cooperatively with others while maintaining a positive “can do” attitude. • High energy, resourceful and solution-oriented; a strong team player. • High tolerance for adversity and uncertainty. • Up to 40% domestic & international travel is required. • Physical demands and the work environment described here represent those that must be met by

an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to engage staff with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk and reach with arms and hands. Must be able to lift 50 lbs. and perform repetitive motions 50% of the time.

How to Apply: To apply please email your cover letter, resume and salary requirements to employment@santamonica.com with the subject line GRPMGR2017. You will not be considered for employment if you fail to follow the application instructions. We do not accept phone calls, walk-ins or emails.