Groups & Meetings Market Specialist
Position Summary
Destination Gettysburg is seeking an outgoing, polished, sales-minded professional to join our team as Groups & Meetings Market Specialist. This position plays an active role in promoting Gettysburg and Adams County as a premier destination for group travel, meetings, international visitors, weddings, and other targeted markets.
Working closely with the Director of Sales, the Groups & Meetings Market Specialist develops and maintains relationships with tour operators, meeting planners, clients, and Destination Gettysburg Partners; generates and follows up on sales leads; assists with prospecting and business development; and represents Destination Gettysburg at trade shows, sales missions, industry events, meetings, and familiarization tours.
TRAVEL IS A SIGNIFICANT AND ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THIS POSITION.
The Groups & Meetings Market Specialist must be comfortable traveling independently and with colleagues to represent Destination Gettysburg at regional, national, and, when applicable, international industry events. Travel may include multiple overnight stays and occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Because this position frequently serves as a public-facing representative of Destination Gettysburg and the Gettysburg/Adams County tourism community, a consistently professional presence, sound judgment, strong interpersonal skills, and appropriate business attire and conduct are essential.
Key Responsibilities
- Represent and promote Gettysburg and Adams County at travel trade shows, conventions, sales missions, industry meetings, networking functions, and other sales and marketing events.
- Develop professional relationships with tour operators, group leaders, meeting planners, receptive operators, travel industry professionals, and other current and prospective clients.
- Actively prospect for new business within assigned market segments and assist the Director of Sales in identifying new sales opportunities and target markets.
- Conduct timely and professional follow-up with prospects and clients following trade shows, appointments, sales missions, familiarization tours, and other sales activities.
- Serve as a secondary point of contact for group, meeting, wedding, and international sales inquiries, providing knowledgeable and responsive customer service.
- Assist with sales appointments and presentations designed to position Gettysburg/Adams County as a desirable group and meetings destination.
- Maintain accurate and timely sales records, leads, client information, appointment notes, and follow-up activities in Destination Gettysburg's Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
- Distribute qualified sales leads and service requests to Destination Gettysburg Partners and follow up as appropriate.
- Work with the Director of Sales to develop and execute strategies for achieving departmental sales goals and measuring the effectiveness of sales efforts.
- Assist in planning and conducting familiarization tours, site visits, client events, and other opportunities that connect prospective clients with Destination Gettysburg Partners.
- Develop quarterly email communications and other sales and marketing materials directed to tour operators, meeting planners, and other targeted audiences.
- Collaborate with the Director of Sales on the development and implementation of the annual sales plan and budget.
- Maintain regular communication with Destination Gettysburg staff and Partners regarding sales missions, trade shows, leads, programs, events, and other sales-related activities.
- Assist with quarterly sales-related Partner meetings, including meeting preparation, occasional facilitation, and follow-up.
- Assist with client servicing activities, including welcome materials and other destination resources, as needed.
- Support sales department events and initiatives, including planning, organization, registration, and execution.
- Serve as a positive ambassador for Destination Gettysburg and the Gettysburg/Adams County tourism community in all interactions with clients, Partners, industry colleagues, and the public.
- Perform other sales, marketing, and organizational duties as assigned.
Travel & Professional Representation Requirements
This is not primarily desk-based position. The successful candidate must be willing and able to travel regularly as part of the job, up to 25% of time traveling.
- Regional and national travel to trade shows, sales missions, client appointments, and industry events.
- Multiple overnight stays depending on the event or sales mission.
- Occasional evening, weekend, and holiday travel or work.
- Independent travel as well as travel with Destination Gettysburg staff and industry Partners.
- Representing Destination Gettysburg at professional networking events, client functions, meals, receptions, and appointments.
While representing Destination Gettysburg, Groups & Meeting Market Specialist is expected to demonstrate a consistently high level of professionalism. This includes appropriate business attire and grooming for the setting; professional communication and behavior; punctuality and preparedness; sound judgment; respect for clients, Partners, colleagues, and industry professionals; and conduct consistent with Destination Gettysburg's reputation and organizational standards.
Qualifications
Preferred Experience
- Two or more years of experience in sales, marketing, tourism, hospitality, destination marketing, business development, account management, event sales, or a related client-facing professional role is strongly preferred.
- Experience developing professional relationships with clients, prospects, members, or business partners is preferred.
- Experience representing an organization at trade shows, conferences, networking events, sales calls, or other professional functions is a plus.
- Tourism, hospitality, meetings, group travel, or destination marketing experience is a plus but not required.
- College education in sales, marketing, hospitality, tourism, communications, business, or a related field is a plus but not required.
Skills & Attributes
- Strong interest in sales, relationship building, business development, and destination marketing.
- Confident, outgoing, and comfortable initiating conversations and building relationships with new people.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and professional telephone and email etiquette.
- Ability to confidently represent Destination Gettysburg in one-on-one appointments, group settings, trade shows, networking events, and other professional environments.
- Professional presence and the maturity and judgment necessary to represent the organization appropriately while traveling and interacting with clients and Partners.
- Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to identify opportunities and follow through without constant supervision.
- Strong organizational, time-management, and follow-up skills.
- Ability to manage multiple clients, leads, deadlines, projects, and travel commitments simultaneously.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate client and sales records.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, and the ability to learn and effectively use CRM, email marketing, survey, and other business software.
- Familiarity with Constant Contact, SurveyMonkey, CRM platforms, and basic graphic design tools is a plus.
- Ability to lift and transport boxes or materials weighing up to 40 pounds as required for trade shows and events.
- Valid driver's license and ability to meet the travel requirements of the position.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal Groups & Meeting Market Specialist is someone who enjoys meeting people, building relationships, and promoting a destination they are proud to represent. This individual is equally comfortable making a new client connection at a trade show, following up on a sales lead, assisting with a client visit, working with Destination Gettysburg Partners, and maintaining accurate information in the CRM.
We are looking for someone who understands that every client and Partner interaction is an opportunity to represent Destination Gettysburg and Gettysburg/Adams County professionally and positively. The successful candidate will bring energy, initiative, professionalism, reliability, and a genuine sales mindset to the position.
Benefit Package:
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- 100% paid health insurance for employee
- 100% paid life insurance for employee
- Dental and Vision
- Short- and long-term disability
- Simple IRA with company match
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
