Manager of Tourism Industry Relationships

Destination Cleveland•Cleveland, OH

3d•$65,000 - $81,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Destination Cleveland is seeking an unapologetic promoter of Cleveland to join their team. The organization works to attract visitors, inspire exploration, and connect people to experiences that showcase Cleveland's diversity, creativity, and passion. Their mission is to equitably grow the region's economy through travel and tourism while cultivating a passion for Greater Cleveland. They are the sole organization responsible for marketing Cleveland outside the region and are deeply knowledgeable about the area. The team consists of expectation-exceeding, fun-loving, and innovative professionals dedicated to getting the job done for Cleveland.

Requirements

Strong written and verbal communication skills
Extremely organized and strong attention to detail
Project management skills
Demonstrated research and critical thinking skills
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
Creativity in problem solving and solutions-oriented approach
Ability to work flexible hours when required
Public speaking skills
Prior work experience in community partnerships and/or relevant account or relationship management experience working with small and midsized business (particularly in the hospitality & tourism industry) (3 – 5 years).
Comfort and ability to leverage a human-centered approach to AI (i.e. using it as a tool, not as a replacement for engagement).
General understanding of basic marketing & sales skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with consultative selling and relationship management is preferred.
Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Own and manage a defined portfolio of small and midsize business hospitality & tourism industry relationships.
Serve as the primary point of contact at Destination Cleveland for assigned businesses, ensuring a high-touch, responsive, and relationship-centered experience.
Maintain and build trust through consistent outreach, proactive communication and timely follow-through.
Conduct regular check-ins (in-person, virtual, or on-site) to understand needs, challenges, and opportunities within portfolio of accounts.
Maintain a deep understanding of each partner’s business model, goals, and target audiences.
Actively identify and engage underrepresented hospitality & tourism industry segments to ensure equitable inclusion and participation across Destination Cleveland’s network of relationships.
Partner closely with the Programs Specialist to identify businesses engaging in programs, workshops, and events. Track and manage the progression of these businesses from Awareness to Participation to Partnership to Growth.
Create tailored pathways for small and midsize business partners to scale their involvement and investment with Destination Cleveland over time.
Contribute directly to team private revenue goals through new partner acquisition, retention and renewals, and consultative selling around relevant assets, projects and initiatives.
Balance organizational revenue goals with sensitivity to the needs and capacity of small businesses.
Identify creative, accessible ways for partners to participate in revenue-generating opportunities.
Serve as a connector between Destination Cleveland and neighborhood business ecosystems.
Build relationships with local business districts, chambers, merchant associations and community-based organizations.
Collaborate with community partners to increase awareness of Destination Cleveland offerings, strengthen the local ecosystem of small and midsize business support, and ensure programming reflects diverse voices and perspectives.
Work cross-functionally with Programs, Marketing, Content, PR, and Convention Services teams.
Share insights from partners to inform program development, product offerings, and messaging and outreach strategies.
Ensure small and midsized business perspectives are represented in organizational planning.
Maintain accurate, real-time records of all partner interactions, opportunities, and outcomes in CRM.
Work closely with the Industry Engagement Support Specialist to track key metrics including engagement activity, conversion rates, revenue generated, and partner lifecycle stage.
Use data to prioritize outreach, identify gaps, and improve performance.
Develop and follow standardized workflows for account management.
Identify areas of opportunity to leverage AI to more efficiently manage and scale the number of relationships we can manage.
Identify trends in small and midsize business needs, industry gaps and engagement barriers.
Recommend improvements to programs, outreach strategies, and partner offerings.
Contribute to the evolution of Destination Cleveland’s small and midsize business engagement model.
Take on expanded or evolving responsibilities as initiatives grow over time.