Convention Sales Manager

The National Western Center is a reimagined 250-acre campus in Denver, Colorado with a vision to be the global destination for food and agricultural discovery. It is the new home of the National Western Stock Show and Colorado State University’s Spur campus. However, the future National Western Center (NWC) is not just new buildings. It’s a destination unto itself. It’s a mission-oriented place that will be lively and active all year round — with new events and experiences around every corner.

The opportunity:

The National Western Center (NWC) is in search of an outgoing, motivated, and results-driven sales professional to grow convention, meeting and event business for one of Denver’s newest premier event destinations.

As the Convention Sales Manager, you will be responsible for generating new convention and meeting business and selling public and private events across the National Western Center campus. Events may include industry conferences, meetings, off-site events, tradeshows, private dinners, and other gatherings. From sourcing and qualifying new leads, to developing client relationships, showcasing the property during site visits, and negotiating contracts, the Convention Sales Manager will manage the sales process from prospecting through contracting, with continued responsibility for client retention and rebooking. Success in this role will be measured through established sales, revenue, solicitation and pipeline goals, giving you the opportunity to directly contribute to the continued growth of the National Western Center (NWC).

This is a multifaceted job with a high degree of responsibility and a broad spectrum of opportunities. You’ll join a small, nimble, collaborative, creative, and entrepreneurial team as we accelerate growth of a new events hub and innovative campus in Denver, Colorado. Help us make the reimagined National Western Center campus a place known for exceptional events and innovative business practices while generating social and environmental value. 

What you will be doing:

·         Establish and maintain relationships with meeting and event planners across multiple industries, responsible for sales meetings, off-site events, tradeshows, conferences and other events. 

·         Execute sales strategies that drive the overall revenue goals for the National Western Center, including increasing lead generation, converting leads into sales, and utilizing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure success.

·         Meet or exceed established revenue goals and contribute to overall department revenue objectives.

·         Cultivate new sales opportunities and maintain an active sales pipeline while consistently meeting established solicitation and prospecting goals.

·         Establish and maintain relationships with destination marketing organizations (DMOs), such as Visit Denver and Visit Aurora, and participate in relevant industry associations and networking organizations to build relationships, generate leads, and support sales efforts.

·         Facilitate site visits and walk-throughs for prospective clients to showcase event spaces and support the sales process. 

·         Identify creative solutions to client needs, address objections, and effectively communicate the value of the National Western Center to help convert prospective business.

·         Understand client needs and develop, negotiate, and revise proposals and contract terms within established guidelines to successfully convert prospective business into contracted events.

·         Maintain a working knowledge of established cost models, pricing and rate structures, budget metrics, and sales reporting, and effectively communicate applicable pricing and costs to clients.

·         Maintain accurate and timely client, sales activity, booking, and financial records within the designated CRM system, including forecasted revenue, contracted revenue, and historical event data and accurate management of the event booking calendar.

·         Provide a high level of customer service and respond to client and prospective client inquiries within one business day.

·         Apply fair and equitable sales practices while conducting outreach and pursuing business from a broad and diverse range of clients, organizations, and event types.

·         Providing clear verbal and written communication to Event Operations teams on event details and logistics.

·         Provide clear and timely verbal and written communication to Event Operations teams regarding client expectations, event details, and logistics to ensure a seamless transition from sales to event planning.

·         Collaborate with the Communications and Marketing teams to increase awareness of National Western Center venues and offerings and develop effective sales and promotional tools.

·         Foster positive and collaborative working relationships across departments by communicating professionally, receiving feedback constructively, and contributing to a solutions-oriented team environment.

What you will bring along:

·         Bachelor's degree or the equivalent combination of education, training, or work experience

·         5 years of professional experience in public and/or private event sales; experience with trade shows, corporate events, expos, public sector events a plus. 

·         Experience with negotiating event contracts

·         Familiarity with booking and events management software 

·         Excellent business judgment, as well as the ability to prioritize workflow and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

·         Experience with large and/or multi-stakeholder processes or projects from start to finish

·         A passion for maximizing community benefit, sustainability, and innovation through events

This job may be a great fit for you if:

·         You’re capable of designing/implementing processes (sometimes from scratch)

·         You are creative and can think outside of the box

·         You are a strong communicator (both written and verbal) and are comfortable managing up, down, and sideways

·         You are detail oriented and extremely organized 

·         You are self-motivated 

·         You’re a collaborator by nature and seek to find ways to compromise 

·         You are comfortable with event contracts 

·         You have great time management and prioritization skills 

·         You believe in being part of a team that is open, entrepreneurial, and passionate

·         You can equally thrive when working independently in a fast-paced environment as well as collaboratively with a high-energy and talented team of professionals

·         You are excited about the opportunity to grow with the organization and have a meaningful influence on the launch of operations at the National Western Center

·         You are all-in on the mission of the National Western Center

Work location and hours: 

This position can be performed through a mix of on-site and remote work in Denver, Colorado.  

Compensation range:

The salary range for this position is $70,000 - $80,000 + Incentive Structure

What we can offer you:

We offer family-friendly benefits and flexible work hours to all our employees. 

·       Medical, dental and vision coverage 

·       Paid time off 

·       Paid parental leave 

·       401k plan 

·       Support for community involvement  
 

Get to know us: 
National Western Center is a reimagined 250-acre campus with new indoor and outdoor event venues, and more on the way! The brand-new Stockyards Event Center is a multipurpose space with two arenas, ample parking and views of the Rocky Mountains and the Denver skyline. An outdoor plaza connects it to 20 acres of hardscaped yards for outdoor concerts, festivals, large equipment trade shows, sporting events, drive-in movies and more. The center is just two miles from downtown Denver and adjacent to the RiNo Art District, with easy access from Denver International Airport via I-70. Home to CSU Spur and the National Western Stock Show, the National Western Center is an emerging urban hub for food and agriculture discovery.  
 
In 2018, the campus partners created the National Western Center Authority, a nonprofit organization responsible for operating, maintaining, programming, and promoting the National Western Center. The Authority is the primary entity responsible for ensuring the National Western Center achieves its mission. It is also responsible for developing a community investment fund benefitting the residents of the Globeville, Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods in which the campus is located. The Authority’s work is well underway in preparation for buildings being completed and the larger campus opening to the public. The Authority is guided by a 13-member board of directors. The Authority is doing business as (DBA) the National Western Center.