Director, Sales & Business Development

Churchill Downs•Louisville, KY

35d

About The Position

The Director of Sales & Business Development is a strategic leader responsible for creating and driving sales initiatives, partnerships, and business development opportunities that maximize revenue for both Derby City Gaming Downtown and Derby City Gaming & Hotel. This individual will work to establish strong relationships with groups, conventions, local businesses, and tourism organizations, converting these partnerships into profitable ventures. Additionally, this role will focus on attracting and converting downtown foot traffic into loyal Derby City Gaming Downtown customers while enhancing group hotel bookings at Derby City Gaming & Hotel.

Requirements

Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for business development and innovation.
Strong leadership skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple departments.
Results-oriented, with the ability to meet and exceed ambitious sales goals.
Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
Valid Racing License
Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Hospitality, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
5+ years of experience in sales, business development, or hospitality, preferably in the gaming or entertainment industry.
Proven track record of creating partnerships and driving revenue through group and tourism sales.
Strong understanding of regional and national tourism markets, with existing industry relationships preferred, particularly within the Louisville market.
Exceptional negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to think strategically while executing tactically, ensuring alignment with broader company objectives.
Proficiency in lead tracking, sales reporting, and data-driven decision-making.

Responsibilities

Build and nurture strategic partnerships with local businesses, conventions, and tourism organizationsto drive brand visibility and sales opportunities.
Collaborate with regional tourism boards, travel agencies, and corporate partners to position theproperties as premier destinations for events, group travel, and entertainment.
Track leads, customer interactions, and opportunities, ensuring a personalized experience and follow-through on all prospects
Create and implement strategies to retain and build loyalty with key clients, groups, and corporatepartners
Explore and secure sponsorship opportunities for events and activations, adding new revenue streamsto support the properties' business development goals
Develop and execute cross-property sales strategies that attract group and tourism business,leveraging the unique offerings of both properties.
Identify and pursue incremental revenue opportunities through group sales, meetings, and events.
Design and implement targeted outbound marketing initiatives in collaboration with group andtourism partners, with a focus on promoting the properties to out-of-town guests.
Create strategies and promotions aimed at converting downtown Louisville foot traffic into DerbyCity Gaming Downtown patrons.
Develop creative campaigns and packages that attract downtown visitors, ensuring a seamless andengaging experience.
Build partnerships with local attractions, restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues to create jointpromotions and incentives
Partner with the Marketing team to create impactful promotional packages tailored for group andtourism markets.
Oversee the development of marketing campaigns that promote both properties to conventions, touroperators, and corporate clients.
Collaborate with internal teams to design and execute events and promotions that appeal to targetaudiences.
Establish pricing and packaging strategies to monetize partnerships and group bookings effectively.
Develop accurate sales forecasts and manage the budget for group and business developmentinitiatives, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to meet revenue targets
Perform other duties as assigned, adapting to the dynamic needs of both Derby City Gaming & Hoteland Derby City Gaming Downtown.