Now Hiring - Association Sales Manager/Lodging - Dollywood Parks & Resorts in Pigeon Forge, TN

Job Summary

At Dollywood Parks & Resorts, we create memories worth repeating. We do this every day across Dollywood Resorts, which includes over 600 rooms and more than 32,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and function facilities. All located in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Our future plans include expanding our resort footprint to over 1200 rooms across five resorts at Dollywood and to add other properties to our overall company resort portfolio.

Ask anyone who has visited Dollywood Parks & Resorts and they will tell you this place is different. It’s not a difference that you can touch or see - it’s a difference you can feel. We are seeking an energetic Association Sales Manager who will embody the heart and soul of our mission of creating memories worth repeating while caring deeply about our brand and our region.

We want to work alongside someone who acts as an extension of our mission, values, and culture. This person is motivated by the art of the perfect sale; marrying the unique attributes, stories and brand experiences of the Dollywood Resorts with client needs and transforming Smoky Mountain moments into memories for our Association group and event guests. This person also brings a spirit of fun, authenticity, collaboration, creativity and genuine hospitality to their life and work. We are seeking an individual who has the ability to bring the vision of the Dollywood Resorts to life. The recipe for the right Association Sales Manager will be equal parts curious learner, innovator, administrator, mentor and motivator.

In this role, you will be accountable for the overall group sales success of the Association market that includes National, Regional and State accounts across the Dollywood Resorts campus, currently DreamMore Resort & Spa and opening this Fall of 2023, HeartSong Lodge & Resort. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of four (4) years of experience selling to the Association market for upscale hotel & resort properties.

Summary of Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Prospect, negotiate and generate definite business working through the appropriate hospitality channels such as phone calls, sales system data base on past business/existing maintenance accounts, daily follow up with RFP requests through CVENT and direct internal channels, referrals, event follow up, and other means to find qualifying business for the resorts
• Attend hospitality related industry events and trade shows specifically to identify new potential business
• Plan and conduct site visits with clients that best represents and showcases our brand
• Actively participate with industry organizations such as ASAE, PCMA, MPI, RCMA, and TNSAE
• Engage with primary third-party representatives in local, regional and national client events to secure ideal business for the hotels
• Daily communication with key accounts, decision makers to identify future business for both resorts. Engage in relationship building with those accounts to ensure proper follow up on an ongoing basis
• Respond to all inquiries in a timely matter and ensure the client receives the best customer care that exceeds their expectations
• Assist with the development on key action plans that align with our overall core values and sales goals
• Prepare and execute proposals, contracts and proper communication internally and externally for clear and concise details that best represents our core values and brand that exceeds expectations
• Attend daily, weekly and monthly department meetings and participate in other resort core culture events
• Prepare weekly report to highlight sales activities and review with the team to ensure set goals are met
• Has a thorough understanding of resort facilities & amenities, Dollywood park offerings and ability to effectively communicate the entire brand experience to potential clients
• Ability to access and understand internal sales system (delphi.fdc), and Salesforce
• Maintain current knowledge of comp set, changes in the market/area to best position our resorts to the clients
• Ability to work in a team environment, share best practices, train, encourage and support our hosts
• Communicate effectively with our conference service, food & beverage, event technology, and operations departments to ensure the success of each group booked

Management reserves the right to change and/or add to these duties at any time.

• Must possess strong communication, listening, facilitation and problem-solving skills, computer skills and financial acumen
• Ability to analyze, forecast data, and makes judgments to ensure proper business is booked
• Must reflect Dollywood’s image by being genuinely friendly and caring and by taking pride in their work
• Must be self-motivated and disciplined
• Must be able to prioritize and complete work assignments on a timely basis
• Must maintain strict confidentiality and judgment regarding privileged information
• Must be committed to continuous improvement.
• Must promote and support a “team” work environment by cooperating and helping other hosts
• Must show appreciation to others
• Must be sensitive to the needs of our Guests and feel empowered to act to meet their needs within company guidelines
• Must be able to utilize effective communication, problem solving, conflict management and interpersonal skills
• Able to adapt to the demands and changes of the work environment
• Must maintain strict confidentiality and judgment regarding privileged information
• Must be detail oriented and maintain a high level of accuracy
• Able to comprehend instructions and retain information
• Able to tolerate various temperatures while working outdoors
• Able to maintain good personal hygiene
• Able to get along with other employees to work out problems and resolve conflicts
• Able to comprehend instructions and retain information
• Able to maintain dependable work attendance and flexibility with assigned work schedules including any required overtime, evenings, weekends and holidays
• Able to be productive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Able to be flexible to handle frequent changes in priorities
• Able to prioritize tasks and complete assignments on time
• Able to operate/drive a company vehicle with valid TN driver’s license
• Able to add, subtract, multiply and divide with accuracy.
• Able to communicate effectively using standard English grammar and punctuation
• Must successfully pass a background check and drug test

• Minimum four (4) years of upscale hotel and resort hospitality sales, association market preferred but not required
• College degree preferred but not required
• Good working knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, and CRM system preferred

The Dollywood Company is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. The Dollywood Company drives a welcoming culture where ideas and decisions from all people support our efforts to be relevant in an ever-changing world.