Destination Cleveland

Role Description As a member of the Sales team, the Director, Midwest Regional Sales promotes and sells Cleveland to increase convention and event business, helping Destination Cleveland achieve its mission of driving economic impact. This position is responsible for all bookings that are: - 400+ peak room nights or higher in the defined Midwest Region (Excluding Affinity Groups and HelmsBriscoe). The Director, Midwest Regional Sales applies creative thinking, industry knowledge and an energetic attitude to securing business and is willing and able to work flexible hours on evenings, weekends, and holidays based on client and office demands. Position includes no more than 20% travel, including by air when required. Markets and travel expectations are subject to change. Essential Duties and Responsibilities - Develop and implement ongoing strategic proactive prospecting sales plan that includes managing complex and large-scale bookings from beginning to end. - Meet established goals for monthly, quarterly, and annual quotas. - Provide the Chief Sales Officer with data and slides as needed for presentations to stakeholders. - Adhere to sales standard operating practices (SOPs) as outlined by the Vice President of Sales & Services Operations. - Attend tradeshows, sales missions, networking meetings and local meetings to solicit convention business. - Act as a strategic thought leader managing the sales process for each business opportunity. - Proactively identify elevated potential and current business to partner with Marketing and Destination Management. - Make personal presentations to boards of directors, meeting planners, key decision makers, local contacts, convention delegates and/or site selection committees. - Coordinate all aspects of bid, including proposals and incorporating creativity to give Cleveland the competitive edge. - Maintain a thorough working knowledge of intra-city facilities, attractions and services available in the area. - Coordinate and conduct site inspections in Cleveland. - Assist with the development of and participation in familiarization tours (FAMs). - Maintain existing and past account relationships through proactive outreach. - Document exemplary information into customer relationship management tool (CRM). - Partner with Convention Services to ensure smooth transition of booked business. - Represent Destination Cleveland at events and assigned industry groups. - Maintain high visibility for Destination Cleveland through professional and trade association memberships. - Maintain familiarity with competing areas and issues that impact Destination Cleveland. - Work within the established SOPs related to convention sales. - Adhere to the director title level competency as designated by the organization. - Consistently demonstrate Destination Values. Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years sales account experience OR 10+ years equivalent relevant work experience. - Excellent written and oral presentation skills. - Strong organizational skills. - Expert level relationship building and management skills. - Strong team player with ability to work independently. - Proficient knowledge of computer systems and sales-related software applications, specifically Microsoft Office PowerPoint, Excel and Word. - Maintains a professional image and manner with customers and internal Destination Cleveland team. Requirements - Strong ability to solve complex problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables. - Must be flexible, resourceful and possess a keen ability to find solutions to book business into Cleveland. Physical Demands - Viewing computer monitors. - Sitting. - Standing for community functions, presentations, trade shows, etc. - Traveling to other locations to represent Destination Cleveland. - Ability to lift up to 25 pounds. Work Environment - Individual satellite home/remote office in Chicago Metro Area. - Offsite visits/appointments required.

Title: Manager of Out-of-Market Media Relations Location: Cleveland, OH Job Description: Description Budgeted Annual Salary: $56,000-$70,000 Annual Bonus Potential 4% ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW As unapologetic promoters of Cleveland, Destination Cleveland’s team works every day to attract visitors, inspire visitors and locals alike to explore and connect people to experiences that illustrate Cleveland’s diversity, creativity, and contagious passion. We’re in the business of equitably growing the region’s economy through travel and tourism while also cultivating a passion for Greater Cleveland. As the only organization charged with marketing Cleveland outside of the region, we never stop talking about the city. We know the region inside and out. We roll up our sleeves and get the job done for The Land. We’re a group of expectation-exceeding, fun-loving, innovative professionals. SUMMARY OF POSITION As a member of Destination Cleveland’s PR team, the Manager–Out-of-Market Media Relations must be a solutions- and detail-oriented creative thinker with a deep sense of urgency. Using their significant knowledge of/familiarity with Greater Cleveland, they will work with the Director of Out-of-Market Media Relations and contractor(s) to garner media coverage of Cleveland as a place to visit in drive-market and national consumer media outlets. They will assist as needed with inquiry response for the meetings & conventions and group tour markets. This individual is accountable for meeting or exceeding metric-based goals. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Works with Director of Out-of-Market Media Relations and contractor(s) to create, implement and evaluate strategic media relations efforts that position Cleveland as a leisure destination. • Evaluates leisure hosted media requests for strategy alignment; elevates to Director as needed. • Organizes and hosts all media visits, including itinerary development and coordination of visit logistics/travel arrangements. Works to maximize hosting budget resources. • Establishes and builds relationships with key PR contacts at attractions and experiences; continually identifies and engages with new leisure-related businesses and brand-related subject matter experts for inclusion in leisure pitching and hosting • Continually adds to Cleveland tourism knowledge, including human interest stories. • Fulfills within 24 hours materials/information requests from media. • Works with VP of PR/Communications as needed to execute B2B and B2C media relations for the international leisure market, including itinerary development and hosting. • Maintains log of all media outreach and inquiries in assigned verticals on agreed upon timeline. • Serves as primary author of news releases and fact sheets for leisure PR outreach. • Acts as lead to update media section of ThisisCleveland.com, including news release uploads, In the News and fact sheet updates and other edits as needed. • Anticipates opportunities to promote Cleveland as a destination city and proactively recommends ideas for consideration/implementation, in conjunction with or independent of marketing campaigns. • Maintains PR b-roll and online photo libraries, working with outside resources to update b-roll as needed. • Compiles and sends Daily News round-up. • Serves as lead for compilation, analysis and reporting for all earned out-of-market media metrics. • Acts as PR team expert and lead for CRM, entering expense & in-kind data. • Operates as a member of the crisis communications team, assisting as requested. • Performs other duties as assigned by the Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Communications/PR. QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. REQUIREMENTS EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION • 4 to 6 years’ experience in public relations, which involves extensive media relations work, writing for a variety of audiences and mediums and some media spokesperson duties. • An undergraduate degree in a communications-related field. TECHNICAL SKILLS • AP Style writing and editing; an understanding of basic legal principles of journalism • Proficient technology app skills; Advanced MS 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, CoPilot) • AI proficiency LANGUAGE SKILLS • Must possess excellent written and verbal communications skills • Ability to compose letters, media materials, newsletter articles, presentations and other written materials • Must be able to present information publicly, conduct in-person media interviews, speak professionally with reporters and respond to questions from co-workers, clients, media and the general public REASONING ABILITY • Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists • Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form • Must be flexible and very resourceful OTHER REQUIREMENTS and DESIRED EXPERIENCE • Experience working with PR agency or contractors • Outstanding organizational skills • Strong team player with ability to work independently • Familiarity with the City of Cleveland and Greater Cleveland tourism experiences • Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends • Knowledge of Meltwater is a plus • Experience/relationships with media who cover destinations, a plus PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. • Frequent talking and/or listening • Regular sitting • Occasional standing, walking and lifting of up to 25 pounds • Requires close vision WORK ENVIRONMENT • Hybrid environment including office with moderate noise and ability to work remotely • Offsite visits/appointments required Salary Description $56,000-$70,000