Overview

The Sales Manager is responsible for generating new business and maximizing revenue by soliciting, developing, and securing corporate meetings, conventions, tradeshows, trainings, and conferences for the St. Charles Convention Center. This position is responsible for prospecting new accounts, maintaining existing client relationships, negotiating contracts, and achieving established sales goals while representing the Convention Center with professionalism and exceptional customer service.

This role pays an annual salary of $65,000-$75,000

Benefits for Full-Time roles: Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, 401(k) matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays).

This position will remain open until October 16, 2026.

Responsibilities

• Prospect and solicit new corporate event business through telephone solicitation, email campaigns, networking, industry events, and outside sales calls.
• Prioritize opportunities that align with the Convention Center's booking guidelines by maximizing facility revenue, hotel room night generation, and overall economic impact for the City of St. Charles while balancing availability and long-term booking objectives.
• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified leads and opportunities.
• Achieve individual booking, revenue, and room night goals established by the Director of Sales & Marketing.
• Conduct facility tours, client presentations, site visits, and virtual meetings.
• Prepare proposals, contracts, and cost estimates utilizing established pricing guidelines and booking policies.
• Negotiate contracts while maximizing facility revenue and maintaining profitability.
• Research prospective organizations and develop strategic sales plans for assigned markets.
• Attend local, regional, and national trade shows, networking events, client functions, and industry conferences.
• Build long-term relationships that generate repeat business.
• Maintain accurate sales activity, opportunities, forecasts, notes, contracts, and correspondence within the property management/CRM system.
• Collaborate with the Events, Catering, Operations, Audio Visual, Finance, and Administration teams to ensure a seamless transition from booking through event execution.
• Maintain current knowledge of competitor pricing, market trends, industry developments, and customer needs.
• Promote the St. Charles Convention Center, Oak View Group, and destination partners in a positive and professional manner.
• Participate in weekly sales meetings, forecasting sessions, and strategic planning discussions.
• Meet established activity goals, including prospecting calls, appointments, site tours, proposals, and sales appointments.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of successful sales experience in a convention center, hotel, destination marketing organization, hospitality venue, or related industry.
• Demonstrated success in new business development and outside sales.
• Strong negotiation and closing skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Exceptional organizational and time management abilities.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience using Ungerboeck, EBMS, Delphi, Salesforce, or comparable CRM/event management software preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to travel locally and occasionally nationally to attend local, regional, and national trade shows, networking events, client functions, and industry conferences.