Visit Seattle · 2 months ago
Vice President, Meetings & Conventions
Seattle, Washington, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$190K/yr - $220K/yr
10+ years expVisit Seattle is a private, non-profit destination marketing organization serving Seattle and King County. The Vice President of Meetings & Conventions is responsible for strategic leadership and the implementation of sales strategies to enhance Seattle's position in the meetings and conventions market.
Hospitality
Responsibilities
Develop and execute strategic sales plans in conjunction with marketing, communication and membership divisions to promote, position and elevate Seattle and King County as a premier meetings and conventions destination
Oversee and be actively engaged in daily operations of the Convention Sales, Services & Events team to maximize productivity and ensure industry leading, collaborative and prompt responses for our clients and hospitality community
Manage all administrative areas related to meetings and conventions, including goals and incentives, measurement systems, effective and innovative customer events, CRM, lead distribution, reporting, data integrity, and team compliance
Effectively lead and work closely and in tandem with all department leadership for goal setting, incentive programs, training, budgets, team and community meetings, citywide strategies, market and account strategies, site and planning inspections, industry initiatives, attendance building programs, data collection, and approximately 100 customer events throughout the year
Support industry partnership agreements and all deliverables
Maintain expert-level knowledge of the Seattle Convention Center, hotel inventory, and destination assets
Stay informed on local and industry developments, initiatives, data, and trends
Proactively identify challenges and ambitiously work to address them
Review and approve major bids, proposals, and pricing strategies to ensure competitiveness, creativity and differentiators
Analyze all business reports to drive continuous improvement
Take on additional strategic projects as needed and as assigned by the EVP, Sales & Marketing
Lead, in close partnership with all divisions within the Seattle Convention Center, on citywide strategies, planning, implementation and execution on collaborative goals as well as business evaluation, and competitive, compelling bids, plus success measurements
Partner closely with hotel and venue sales leaders to understand market needs and drive mutually beneficial outcomes
Facilitate regular stakeholder meetings to align on strategy, share insights, and identify opportunities
Build and maintain strong relationships with hotel sales leaders, venues, attractions, and city representatives
Lead, coach, and inspire the sales, services and events team, including four division leaders
Conduct regular strategy sessions, one-on-ones, and team meetings
Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and incentives aligned with organizational priorities
Attract, develop, engage and retain top talent critical to Visit Seattle’s success
Role-model Visit Seattle’s core values: Inclusion, Impact, Commitment, and Excellence
Foster a positive, high-performance culture focused on service, accountability, innovation, and measurable impact
Remove barriers to success, streamline processes, and ensure rapid response to client opportunities
Develop and oversee departmental budgets in collaboration with department leaders, ensuring efficient resource allocation and achievement of revenue and engagement targets
Represent Visit Seattle in professional organizations, partner collaborations, at trade shows, client events, and sales missions as needed
Prepare and deliver reports and updates representing the Visit Seattle meetings and conventions divisions at industry and community programs, as well as organizational and Seattle Convention Center board meetings, as directed by EVP, Sales & Marketing
Maintain and enhance important relationships with customers in all market segments
Conduct and help execute site visits and client meetings to support sales objectives and ensure exceptional experiences
Actively promote Seattle as a leading convention destination through advocacy and engagement
Qualification
Required
10+ years of progressive sales leadership experience in the hospitality industry
Proven track record in securing national association and corporate convention business
Deep knowledge of destination sales strategies
Visionary leadership with the strong ability to inspire, motivate, and develop teams
A curious leader who displays consistent critical, collaborative, and thoughtful thinking
Strong financial and business acumen, including budget management and revenue development
Exceptional communication and presentation skills; ability to engage effectively with diverse audiences
Outstanding leadership, communication, and organizational skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Collaborative and innovative mindset aligned with Visit Seattle's core values of Inclusion, Impact, Commitment, and Excellence
Willingness to travel and work evenings/weekends as required
Preferred
5+ years of sales leadership for a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) partnering with convention centers and large hotels in a major market preferred
Experience leading citywide convention sales or large-scale event planning
Proficiency in CRM systems and data-driven sales analytics
Active participation in organizations such as PCMA, ASAE, or MPI preferred
Benefits
15 days of Paid Time Off to start, with 12 paid office holidays and 1 Personal Holiday.
100% medical, dental, and vision coverage paid for by Visit Seattle. In addition, Visit Seattle will cover 75% of premium for family coverage.
You'll receive an organization-paid ORCA card, and subsidized parking in the building’s garage (restrictions apply).
You'll be reimbursed for monthly cell phone expenses.
You'll receive 401(k) with up to a 5% organization match.
Company
Visit Seattle
Visit Seattle, a private, nonprofit marketing organization, has served as Seattle/King County’s official destination marketing organization (DMO) for more than 50 years.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Ali Daniels
SVP / CMO
Kelly Saling
SVP & Chief Sales Officer
Company data provided by crunchbase