Travel Industry Sales Director, North America

Primary Objective

Works collaboratively with the team on overarching goals and ensuring a solid sales effort and management. Directly manages key global accounts for US and Canada markets, training, and partnership opportunities. Develops programs to promote Orlando as a destination to the travel trade.

Major Areas of Accountability

• Oversees North American markets within Orlando and outside agencies/international offices. Advises tour operators, wholesalers, and travel agencies in assigned market territories on how to market and sell Orlando as a leisure destination. Direct management of all key accounts; creates/develops/implements marketing opportunities that drive incremental sales and member value.
• Works with Vice President of Travel Industry Sales in the development of the annual sales plan as it relates to the North American Markets. Monitors market for visitation, competitive environment, airline development and other travel industry trends. Assists members to develop and enhance sales efforts through education, seminars, consultation, and other appropriate techniques.
• Creates member opportunities for booth share participation in conjunction with trade shows and is responsible for optimizing member participation and revenue. Ensures productive collaboration with Events Team and territory managers with regards to tradeshow, FAM, missions, and event participation on an as needed basis.
• Acts as project lead for member sales missions including designing format of overall program, assists marketing team in the creation of presentation materials, directs in-market sales representatives in setting up sales calls/presentations/trainings and sells the program to members.
• Seek opportunities to maximize brand awareness and increase visitation through airline and client partnership and cooperative programs.
• Collaborates with Research Department in determining key client accounts within North American markets utilizing appropriate measurement tools and data. Proactively seeks partnership opportunities with key clients and members. Works with Marketing team to review analytics and creative assets. Ensures ROI, room night targets and training goals align with Travel Industry Sales needs and budget.
• Capitalize on the use of virtual and live training platforms to maximize sales reach throughout North America and to ensure optimal support for Visit Orlando members; evaluate revenue opportunities when applicable.
• Responsible for North America and departmental projects budget; ensures operations are conducted within budget guidelines, reporting monthly variances.
• Ensures complete compliance with Simpleview. Oversees maintenance and ensures growth of tour operator/wholesaler and receptive tour operator database in assigned market territory.
• Meets regularly in conjunction with VP of Travel Industry Sales with the department heads of research, public relations, and consumer marketing to keep up to date on domestic and international visitor data and market trends.
• Ensures protection of the Orlando and Visit Orlando brand. Serves as brand ambassador.

Supervision of Others

International Travel Industry Sales Representatives (non-direct), International Contractors

Qualification Requirements

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university, plus a minimum of seven to ten years sales experience. Proven success in international sales, marketing, and strategic analysis of international markets.  Thorough understanding of US Domestic and Canada markets, agency, and consortium structure as well as established client relationships. 

Computer Skills

Must be computer literate with an intermediate or higher level of proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to draft reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.

Mathematics Skills

Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, column, and distance.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to conduct detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving concrete variables in standardized situations.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to ten pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Travel Requirements

International travel to Canada is required.

Location

Candidates must be located in Orlando. There is no relocation assistance available for this position. 

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements and does not imply a contract.

If you would like to apply, please send your resume to karen.soto@visitorlando.com

About Us

Visit Orlando Mission and Core Values

Our mission is to inspire, promote and grow global travel to Orlando for economic and community benefit. Our Core Values are: (1) WE INNOVATE: We are free to be curious and to create what we imagine. We go beyond delivering what works, we deliver what’s next; (2) WE TRUST: We are stewards of the resources and experiences entrusted to us. We show up for each other and our community. Trust is our currency; (3) WE WELCOME: We are diverse by nature and inclusive by choice. Everyone belongs here; (4) WE SERVE: We are dedicated to serving our community and each other. Service is our superpower; (5) WE “ORLANDO”: We create moments that matter and have a blast doing it! Fun has no height restrictions.