Tourism Director

CITY OF MANCHESTER•Manchester, TN

About The Position

This position plans, promotes, and manages the City of Manchester’s tourism, blending marketing, economic development, and stakeholder relations to attract visitors and boost the local economy. Key duties include developing marketing campaigns, preparing and managing budgets, building partnerships with businesses and government, overseeing the Manchester Event and Visitor Center (MEVC). This position will analyze trends, manage staff, and report to board while working to enhance the destination’s appeal and economic impact. This position also manages, supervises, coordinates use of the MEVC, and is responsible for managing all operational aspects of the MEVC, a 13,000-sq. ft. event center. Oversight includes facilities maintenance, coordination of events, and marketing of the facility. This position is responsible for the execution and oversight of the financial management, general operation, marketing and sales initiatives and client development/stewardship of the MEVC. It is required that the Tourism Director supervises and participates in the planning and daily execution of all MEVC functions. Outstanding customer service will be provided while maintaining an accommodating relationship with organizations, businesses, and individuals in the community to ensure successful functions, repeat business, and financial profitability. Specifically, the Tourism Director is responsible for directing the staff in servicing all banquet activities, conference meetings, and privately booked functions. This is a “hands on” management position that requires a presence in direction of major facility events. General knowledge of food and beverage preparations, services standards, guest relations, and etiquette is required.

Requirements

Excellent oral and written communication skills
Active listening and questioning skills
Ability to make sales presentations
Ability to research prospects and make event solicitations
Excellent follow-up and organizational skills
Leadership and supervisory skills
Demonstrate understanding of current and advanced audio/visual technologies utilized in conference facilities
Demonstrate understanding of facility maintenance and repair needs and solutions to include utilities and security systems
Four years of full-time work experience in special events, sales, and marketing operation; including supervisory and financial management/budgeting experience or comparable experience.

Responsibilities

Work to stimulate economic growth through tourism, ensuring sustainable practices
Cultivate relationships with local businesses, lodging providers, event organizers, state agencies, and tour operators
Oversee Tourism grants
Keep accurate and detailed records including invoicing and payment receipts
Work with an advisory Tourism Commission on a monthly basis
Prepares and monitors compliance with the MEVC annual operational/facility budget
Administer and prepare an annual budget by tracking revenue and expenditures
Manages sales, marketing, and booking of the MEVC.
Prepares and reviews event programming to confirm all services and necessary preparations are addressed
Supervises, directs and coordinates the activities of event personnel, subcontractors and vendors as required to successfully execute assigned programming
Provides leadership and directions to MEVC staff including day-to-day operations, settings goals and objectives, making employment decisions, coordinates client service deliverables with catering, audio-visual concessionaires, security and other contracted service vendors
Supervises, monitors, and controls event billing per contracts
Develops, recommends and implements technical and operational procedures and systems to achieve improved economy and efficiency
Works to achieve operational efficiencies and reduced operational costs
Manage the maintenance of financial records, including revenue and fees generated by programs, program operational costs, facility revenue and expense schedules, budget projections, and analyses
Manage operational and physical maintenance of the MEVC facility and grounds.
Attends networking events to promote the MEVC.
Consults with clients to define meeting objectives; determines meeting and function space requirements; prepares and reviews contracts with clients for City approval.
Reviews customer satisfaction evaluations and ensures that follow-ups with clients are made after events for feedback with staff and recommends changes to procedures and operations to improve level of customer services
Maintain knowledge of and apply all laws relating to tourism, events, and activities, including labor, alcohol and sanitary conditions
Provides office leadership to include maintaining proficiency in office skills specifically in the use of Microsoft Office, Excel, and other applications
Performs other duties as assigned