Lead Account Services team of six with a focus on development and execution of research-based strategy and integrated marketing plans, traditional and digital media plans, and analysis of key performance indicators. Establish trusted working relationships with clients and proactively grow accounts. Budget management and forecasting. New business development, proposal writing and pitch presentations. Provide best practices training and mentorship.

Managed Virginia Beach CVB AOR account, among other clients. Earned client respect and confidence as a trusted advisor through consistent performance, ideation and solution-oriented marketing. Focused efforts of agency team to lead projects and ensure completion on time and on budget. Researched tourism trends and leveraged findings into compelling marketing strategies. Evaluated effectiveness of digital media through use of innovative performance metrics.

Managed Meetings & Conventions, Group Tour and International divisions of the Virginia Beach CVB account, among other project-based clients. Produced native website content and collateral pieces across eight languages. Coordinated Virginia Beach International marketing efforts with client representatives in Canada, Continental Europe and Brand USA. Established dual marketing strategies around pending convention center, entertainment and hotel development projects.

Solicited new and existing accounts through proactive sales efforts, cold calls, sales missions, direct marketing and tradeshows. Developed proposals and room block agreements. Overcame hesitations of prospective clients to close new business. Established partnerships with Visit Norfolk sales team and proximate hotels to solicit leads and book groups requiring multi-property space. Primary markets included youth and amateur sports, fraternal, social and family reunion.

Communicated impact of tourism on the City of Virginia Beach to garner community support, sustain funding and foster product development. Created press materials. Executed strategic events. Published quarterly newsletter. Facilitated hospitality customer service training. Coordinated activities of the Southeast Virginia Tourism Alliance. Served on VB Green Hospitality Team, Restaurant Week and Resort Advisory Commission Committees. Organized stakeholder advisory committees and focus groups surrounding development projects.

Cultivated relationships with local and national media to promote Norfolk as a destination, creating customized itineraries to precisely target key publications for familiarization tours. Traveled for media tradeshows and deskside briefings. Evaluated effectiveness through use of innovative performance metrics to measure message pull-through. Developed and pitched media on tourism trend stories such as “girls getaways” and “culinary tourism.” Collaborated with team to establish Norfolk’s first Group Tour Planner. Managed the public relations budget. Developed and enhanced the Norfolk CVB website. Wrote presentations, newsletters and email blasts.

Cultivated relationships with local and national media to promote Norfolk as a travel destination, creating customized pitch stories and itineraries to target key publications for familiarization tours. Traveled for media tradeshows and deskside briefings. Directed the redesign of the Norfolk CVB website. Wrote presentations, newsletters and email blasts.