Sales Account Executive

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS 

At Meet Minneapolis, our mission is to positively impact the economic and social prosperity of our Minneapolis community by attracting visitors, meetings and events that directly support jobs and local businesses, generating critical revenues. 

We believe in our shared passion to support the diverse community of Minneapolis through our values of Service, Collaboration, Inclusion, Passion and Integrity. We recognize it's the unique contributions of all of us at Meet Minneapolis that drives our success, and we're committed to building a culture where everyone can thrive and find meaning in their work.

Position/Title: Sales Account Executive

Department: Destination Sales & Services

Reports to:  Director of Convention Sales

Status: Full-time; Salaried, Exempt 

JOB SUMMARY

The Sales Account Executive (SAE) will promote and sell the City of Minneapolis as the destination of choice for meetings, conventions, and events with 200-400 on-peak room nights, with flexibility for lower room night peak when the group is sourced directly. The sales account executive will be actively involved in prospecting and cultivating sales relationship with hotels and planners to maximize their deployed planners interested in doing business in Minneapolis. 

This is a terrific opportunity for someone with a passion for building sales acumen and leveraging strong communication skills and technology to build relationships quickly. You will partner with National Account Executives across the nation to drive new opportunities. Hands-on training provided. 

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Achieve annual definite room night potential and other job-related goals as assigned.
• Actively prospect to develop business and generate new leads.
• Professionally conduct phone conversations, electronic correspondence and personal visits with meeting planners, hotel sales personnel, and other hospitality industry suppliers.
• Attend Meet Minneapolis Sales Strategy Meetings, local industry meetings, and other meetings as required.
• Communicate account activity through leads, updates, cancellations, definites, etc.
• Manage progress of tentative accounts.
• Coordinate all aspects of bid proposals.
• Attend bi-weekly sales meetings and other sales-related meetings as necessary.
• Update and effectively utilize all databases provided by iDSS.
• As required, attend business-related trade shows or travel for sales calls and presentations.
• Develop and execute sales presentations.
• Strive to improve the effectiveness of the Meet Minneapolis sales organization.
• Coordinate and conduct client site inspections as required.
• Communicate future activities to other Meet Minneapolis departments with adequate lead time if their schedules are potentially impacted.
• Conduct activities in a professional and ethical manner.
• Maintain a current base of knowledge of Meet Minneapolis partners to include hotels, Minneapolis Convention Center and other local businesses or organizations that can assist our efforts.
• Take an active role in industry associations.
• Utilize all Meet Minneapolis technology to its complete capability.
• Effectively carry out duties as assigned by the President / CEO and Senior Vice President Destination Sales.

ESSENTIAL EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

• Two plus years of related sales experience in the hospitality industry preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree in hospitality or related field preferred (not required).
• Past experience developing new business opportunities over need periods preferred.
• Demonstrated contract development and negotiation experience.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS / REQUIREMENTS:

• Strong sales and business development skills including prospecting, presenting, client relationship and closing skills.
• Strong and consistent ability to prioritize activities within specific time guideline and to handle multiple responsibilities within a specific time frame.
• A collaborative and flexible style, strong service mentality and a passion for the organization’s mission.
• Willing and able to work evenings, weekends and holidays based on client and office demands.
• Strong communications and listening abilities and capacity to establish and cultivate strong, enduring professional relationships.
• Enthusiastically embraces new technologies, especially social media marketing resources.
• Self-motivated with excellent account management skills.
• Able to travel in a limited geographical region.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs (Outlook, Word, Excel) and database programs.
• CRM software experience preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and access to automobile required.
• Passionate adherence to the organization’s values of Service, Collaboration, Inclusion, Passion, and Integrity.
• Ability to provide direct and indirect support of the attainment of the Meet Minneapolis Performance Goals as defined in its contract with the City of Minneapolis. Specifically, these goals include the following Key Performance Indicators:

• Future Room Nights Booked
• MCC Revenue Goal Achievement
• Partner Retention
• Lodging Tax Revenue Earned

• Valid private driver’s license

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to:

• Walk, sit, bend and squat.
• Talk and hear.
• Grab, pull or bend items.
• Lift and/or carry up to 25 lbs.
• View items at a close and distant range.
• Sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Use computers for extended periods of time.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Hybrid office environment (60% in-office requirement; 40% remote option if schedule and business needs allow)
• Customer sales calls/meetings
• Conferences/Seminars
• Some Travel

SALARY

• $50,00 - $70,000 base salary plus sales incentive plan.

BENEFITS

• Meet Minneapolis offers a generous benefits package including: medical, dental, vision, STD/LTD, Life Insurance, 401(k), vacation, sick time, parental leave and personal volunteer time for employees who are benefits eligible. 

Note: Job Descriptions are not exhaustive lists of all skills, responsibilities, or efforts associated with a job. They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than as “at will” relationship.

Meet Minneapolis is an equal opportunity employer.