Convention Sales and Servicing Manager /Cedar Rapids Tourism

The Cedar Rapids Tourism Office serves as the exclusive convention and visitor's bureau contracted by the City of Cedar Rapids to promote the city as a premier destination for events and leisure travel. This dedicated organization plays a crucial role in supporting local tourism by attracting conventions, meetings, and personal travel to Cedar Rapids, enhancing the economic vitality of the region. As a central hub for tourism-related coordination and promotion, the office engages with event planners, travel professionals, and the public to showcase the unique attractions and amenities Cedar Rapids offers. The Tourism Office focuses on marketing efforts that highlight the city's venues, accommodations, and cultural experiences, striving to position Cedar Rapids as a top choice for meetings and travel within the Midwest.

This role within the Tourism Office is a key position on the sales team responsible for engaging with meeting planners and event organizers to sell Cedar Rapids as a destination. The role involves active participation at industry trade shows, conventions, and sales meetings where direct promotion and sales efforts take place. Additionally, the position requires meticulous management of sales leads and contacts through CRM systems, ensuring potential business opportunities are tracked and nurtured effectively. Preparing professional and compelling bid materials to support convention and meeting proposals is also a vital responsibility, requiring strong communication and organizational skills.

A significant part of the job involves coordinating successful client servicing for events hosted in Cedar Rapids. This includes arranging transportation, providing financial assistance administration, organizing welcome materials, overseeing activations, and managing overflow hotel arrangements. Collecting essential event data such as testimonials and final room counts further supports the continuous improvement of tourism services. The role also offers the exciting opportunity to develop and execute familiarization and site tours for planner groups and individual visitors, showcasing Cedar Rapids' venues and hospitality to potential clients.

Working collaboratively with the Director and other team members, the position represents the Tourism Office professionally with a genuine passion for the community. It also involves office-based duties including greeting visitors, managing phone inquiries, directing requests, and assisting visitors to ensure a welcoming and informative experience. Flexibility in working hours is essential, given the necessity to attend events, trade shows, and meetings that may occur during evenings, weekends, and holidays. This full-time position is integral to the success of Cedar Rapids' tourism marketing strategy and community engagement efforts, offering a rewarding opportunity to contribute to the city's growth as a sought-after destination.