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Job Description
Summary
Minimum Starting Salary is $57,000.00 Annually
The City of Waco Seeks
The ideal candidate is a skilled communicator with experience in sales or event planning who builds strong partnerships to attract group travel and events to Waco. They are organized and customer-focused and use their knowledge of the city to drive tourism and support local businesses.
Minimum Qualifications
Required:- Valid Texas Driver's License
- Associate's degree in hospitality, business administration, event management, or a related field
- 4 years of experience in customer service, sales, or event coordination, preferably in tourism or hospitality, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Bachelor's Degree in a related field
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
- Experience in convention sales, group travel, or tourism-related sales in a competitive destination market
Position Overview
Under general supervision, the Destination Travel and Sales Representative supports the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) by cultivating professional relationships to solicit and manage group travel, conventions, meetings, and sporting events in the City of Waco. Responsible for marketing, selling, and coordinating events and services to drive hotel room nights and visitor spending, while collaborating with local businesses and hospitality partners. Leverages destination knowledge and industry tools to enhance sales efforts, contributing to Waco's reputation as a premier tourism hub. Maintains a customer-focused approach, embodying the City of Waco's commitment to service, inclusivity, and excellence.
Essential Functions- Solicits convention, meeting, and sporting event business through direct outreach, including presentations, personal calls, telemarketing, trade show contacts, and bid book preparation, targeting assigned markets to generate leads.
- Manages the full lifecycle of DMO group travel, conventions, meetings, and sporting events, from initial client inquiries to post-event follow-up, ensuring high-quality service delivery and client satisfaction.
- Coordinates event logistics with local businesses, venues, hotels, and service providers, ensuring seamless execution and alignment with client expectations.
- Attends supplier/buyer trade shows and industry events to promote the destination and generate new sales leads, representing the DMO professionally.
- Participates in or coordinates familiarization (FAM) tours for meeting planners, event organizers, and travel professionals to showcase Waco’s venues, attractions, and hospitality infrastructure.
- Publicizes event needs and group requirements by sending clear, concise leads to hospitality partners, facilitating effective collaboration within the tourism community.
- Maintains active memberships in industry organizations, representing the DMO at monthly networking events, association meetings, and community engagements to build relationships and attract business.
- Fosters relationships with local attractions, hotels, and tourism partners to promote Waco’s offerings and enhance visitor experiences.
- Supports venue scheduling, bookings, catering arrangements, and contract preparation; resolves event-related issues and ensures compliance with DMO standards and city policies.
- Assists in coordinating with outside vendors, prioritizing local businesses when possible, to support event execution and community engagement.
- Tracks sales activities, leads, and bookings using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, providing data for reports and performance evaluations as directed.
- Analyzes sales data to identify trends and opportunities, contributing to reports on hotel room nights, visitor spending, and economic impact for the DMO.
- Prepares event evaluations and basic reports to assess outcomes and identify opportunities for improvement, submitting findings to the Assistant Director of Destination Travel & Sales.
- Collaborates with DMO marketing teams to align sales pitches with promotional campaigns, ensuring consistent messaging and maximizing appeal to target audiences.
- Engages in proactive client follow-up to secure repeat business and maintain long-term relationships with meeting planners and event organizers.
- Participates in industry training, webinars, or workshops to stay current with tourism sales trends and best practices, enhancing sales effectiveness.
- Maintains confidentiality of work-related issues, client information, and City of Waco data, adhering to all policies and standards.
- Performs other related duties as assigned to support the DMO’s mission and the City of Waco.
- Adapts to a flexible work schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends, to meet event and client needs.
The City of Waco offers a complete benefits package for eligible employees including; health, dental, vision, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Accounts, life insurance, long term and short term disability, retirement, deferred compensation plans, holidays, vacation, sick leave, credit union and savings bonds.
To learn more about the benefits offered, visit our Benefits page.
Why Work For Waco:- Meaningful and challenging work
- Make a difference and improve communities
- Competitive Salary and Benefits
- Full Range of Benefits, including Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
- Mandatory TMRS Retirement Plan with a 2:1 City Match
- Education Assistance Program
- Paid Parental Leave
- Employee Assistance
- Longevity Pay
- And More!
- Chance to do work you are passionate about
- Desire to give back
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ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Waco
Show moreWaco is centrally located in the heart of Texas on the I-35 corridor midway between Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin. This progressive and diverse city with a vibrant community spirit offers major attractions, museums, recreation, and abundant shopping to more than 140,000 residents. Waco is the 25th largest city in Texas and the county seat of McLennan County.
Waco is not only briming with Texas history, economic opportunity, and a rich variety of cultural experiences, it is also a major seat of high learning within three major colleges in its city limits including Baylor University, Texas State Technical College and McLennan Community College.
The city is also the birthplace of Dr. Pepper, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Museum and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Waco boasts one of the biggest and best municipal parks in Texas, Cameron Park. While the park is located in the middle of downtown situated on the Brazos and Bosque River it hosts numerous races, triathlons, boat races and much, much more.
Governance and Organization
Waco is a home rule city with a council-manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of a Mayor, elected at-large, and five City Council members representing single-member districts, all serving two-year terms. The City Council sets the tax rate, approves the budget, appoints members to City boards and commissions, enacts City ordinances, and appoints the City Manager, City Attorney, City Secretary, and the Municipal Court Judge.
The City has a strong Financial Management Policy that guides the operation and delivery of quality City services, contributes to excellent AA+ and Aa1 bond ratings, and maintains an unassigned fund balance reserve in the General Fund equal to 28% of current year budgeted expenditures. The City of Waco has more than 1,600 employees and a total operating budget of over $400 million.
The City provides a full range of municipal services including a regional airport, animal services, building inspections, code enforcement, convention and visitors bureau, emergency management, housing and community development, economic development, fire, public health, library, municipal court, parks and recreation, planning, police, public works, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Museum, utilities and zoo operations.
The City Council and City Manager are committed to the mission of providing exemplary municipal services for citizens and visitors in a collaborative and transparent manner while honoring the public’s trust. Waco values include providing excellent and innovative services, promoting equality and inclusion, focusing on teamwork, investing in people and always doing the right thing.
With the City of Waco, you will find our home; where everyone belongs and thrives as move forward together.
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