Group Sales Manager
The Organization
The MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau is a state-designated Regional Tourism Council and nonprofit organization created to generate economic activity in the 19 municipalities of MetroWest by marketing the many attractions, services, and amenities in our region to potential visitors and groups.
Our marketing efforts also serve to brand the region, build collaborations across sectors and towns, support jobs-producing enterprises, and inspire residents and employees to be excited about where they live and work.
Position Summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated, and experienced Group Sales Manager to help grow MetroWest’s group travel and meetings business. This person will represent the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau as a destination sales professional, building and maintaining relationships with tour operators, meeting and event planners, hotels, attractions, restaurants, and other businesses that serve the group market.
While representing the Visitors Bureau externally, this individual will help raise awareness of MetroWest as a group travel and meetings destination and ensure that planners and tour operators have the knowledge and connections they need to consider and book the region.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Represent the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau at group travel, tour operator, meetings and events industry trade shows, marketplaces, sales missions, networking events, and other appropriate industry functions, including those through the American Bus Association (ABA), Ontario Motor Coach Association (OMCA), Discover New England (DNE), and other group tour operator and meeting planner organizations.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with tour operators, meeting and event planners, travel trade professionals, lodging properties, and MBVB members that serve the group travel and meetings markets.
- Proactively identify and pursue opportunities to bring group travel, meetings, and events business to MetroWest and generate leads and referrals for MBVB members.
- Serve as a knowledgeable resource on MetroWest’s hotels, attractions, restaurants, venues, transportation options, and other tourism-related services, matching planners and tour operators with appropriate members based on their needs.
- Respond to group sales inquiries and follow up on trade show appointments, sales leads, and other prospects to cultivate relationships and encourage future business.
- Organize, coordinate, and host familiarization (FAM) tours, site visits, and other activities designed to showcase MetroWest and its tourism businesses to tour operators, meeting planners, travel writers, and other appropriate industry professionals.
- Create awareness and demand for MBVB advertising products and services within the group market, including selling co-op advertising to hotels and group attractions and securing advertising in MBVB’s Group & Event Planning Guide and other group travel trade products.
- Prepare and deliver relevant presentations, both in person and virtually, regarding MetroWest, group sales opportunities, advertising, and other MBVB products and services.
- Maintain accurate records of contacts, sales activity, leads, referrals, advertising commitments, and follow-up, and provide regular updates to the Executive Director.
- Work collaboratively with the Executive Director, staff, and MBVB members to identify market opportunities, strengthen MetroWest’s group travel and meetings offerings, and ensure efforts are aligned with organizational objectives.
- Maintain awareness of group travel and meetings industry trends, market opportunities, and competitive destinations.
Minimum Qualifications
- Enthusiasm for the MBVB mission and the ability to effectively represent MetroWest as a visitor destination.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant group sales experience with a hotel, attraction, convention and visitors bureau, destination marketing organization, or similar tourism-related organization.
- Demonstrated experience working directly with group tour operators, meeting planners, event planners, travel trade professionals, or other group travel decision-makers.
- Proven ability to build and maintain long-term professional relationships and develop new business opportunities.
- Experience attending and representing an organization at industry trade shows, sales events, appointments, and networking functions strongly preferred.
- Strong sales, relationship-building, networking, and customer service skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including well-developed presentation skills.
- Ability to confidently promote and sell a destination and communicate the value of its hotels, attractions, restaurants, venues, and other visitor services.
- Experience with advertising sales, membership management, or other business-to-business revenue generation preferred.
- Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple relationships and follow-up activities.
- Flexible, creative, and able to work effectively in a non-structured work environment.
- Self-motivated with the ability to multitask and work effectively and independently.
- Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, tourism, business, marketing, communications, or a related field preferred, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license in good standing.
- Must have access to a motor vehicle for travel to client meetings, member meetings, and other work-related activities.
- Ability to travel periodically and attend overnight trade shows and industry events.
- Knowledge and familiarity with the MetroWest region a plus.
Compensation
This is a part-time (20-hours/week), hybrid position. Office space is provided in our Franklin office, should you choose to use it. Otherwise, you may work remotely with at least one standing in-person weekly meeting required. We are flexible regarding the regular work schedule, which may be structured as five shorter days, three longer days, or another mutually agreed-upon schedule based on organizational needs. Some evening, weekend, and overnight travel will be required for trade shows and industry events.
$30–$35 per hour, commensurate with experience and qualifications. PTO, sick days, and 401K are also offered.
To Apply
Send a cover letter and resume via email to Stacey David, Executive Director, at sdavid@metrowestvisitors.org. For more information on the MBVB, visit us online at www.metrowestvisitors.org.
