TOURISM PROMOTIONAL EXECUTIVE

Destination Marketing and Sales Turnaround and Start Up Campaigns Business Development Consultant

Successful career highlighted by driving business expansion and exceeding sales expectations across industries including attractions, hotels, retail, travel and recruitment. Unique ability to create and sustain relationships at all levels of organizations and across the tourism industry. Business acumen and vision for large and small organizations.

AREAS OF EXCELLENCE

Direct Sales and Marketing for Domestic and International Markets Market Research and Analysis

Strategic Business Planning with Innovative Solutions Comprehensive Budget Management

Project and Operation Management Public Relations Specialist

Team mentoring and development for High Performance Market Expansion and New Business acquisition

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

TRAVEL CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST SCENIC EXCURSIONS October 2021-June 2022

Provided customer sales and support services for motorcoach travel throughout the USA and Canada. Developed, planned and executed travel itineraries for both private groups and retail excursions. Negotiated rates and secured dates with venders including hotels, attractions, and restaurants. Created proposals for groups and Responsible for daily customer interactions assisting guests in planning and booking tours. Processed payments from customers and processed and tracked payments to suppliers and venders.

PRESIDENT/CEO DODSON DESTINATIONS CONSULTING 2020-10/13/2022

Consulted with tourism industry business (Chamber of Commences, Destination Marketing organizations, Retail businesses, hotels and attractions0 to increase sales and traffic. Focused on management of special projects and designed travel programs for individual incentive and group travel programs.

Provided event planning services to various travel trade businesses that included planning and executing virtual events during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Assisted DMO organization in implementation of Simpleview database. Worked with their membership to introduce Simpleview program, provided training to members while assisting in creation of members accounts and listings in the new system.

Designed sales incentive programs and negotiated rates with accommodations and attractions to create incentive travel programs for B2C businesses

Worked with local production company to create an on-line travel segment for a streamed program that focuses on a 50+ community.

TOURISM SALES MANAGER THE STRONG NATIONAL MUSEUM OF PLAY 2016-2020

Chosen by Western New York’s largest cultural attraction to create the start-up operation of The Strong’s Tourism program. Developed programs, created budgets, designed marketing tools. Conducted direct sales B2B and B2C across the country and internationally, to generate and increase museum admissions.

Established OTA and group tour company relationships that took non-existent travel trade admissions in 2016 to 4,977 in 2019 that generated over $95,000

Achieved increase in both number and range of international visitors (doubled country of origin from 24 countries in 2015 to over 50 countries in 2018)

Responsible for all B2B and B2C tourism domestic and international sales, including building relationships with and participating in IPW and World Travel Mart trade shows. Active membership in associations including American Bus Association (ABA), Student Youth Travel Association (SYTA), National Tour Association (NTA) and Ontario Motor coach Association (OMCA)

Close interaction and collaboration with state tourism officials and local DMO’s to ensure visibility for The Strong

PRESIDENT/CEO DODSON CONSULTING 2013-2016

Consulted with tourism industry business to increase sales and traffic. Focused on inbound and outbound visitors through representation at trade shows, organizing sales missions and event planning. Led sales missions and business development projects calling on domestic and international tour operators and receptive operators.

Comprehensive tour management services for local tour operator included student and adult group tours to NY City, Washington DC, and Boston

Event planning services included planning and executing a tourism symposium for the local DMO in conjunction with

I LOVE NY Officials. Educated attractions and hotels from the region on how to grow, provide services and cater to international markets. Travel Trade Symposium was attended by over 125 hotels and attractions.

Designed sales campaigns for restaurant, attraction, and hotel clients to attract travel trade business and group tours through direct sales, FAM Visits, Media relations and trade shows.

Increased tour operator business by developing Rochester outbound tours, expanding number of markets, creating inbound tours and served as receptive operator to coordinate arriving visitor services.

DIRECTOR OF SALES INNER CIRCLE HOTELS 2013-2014

Successfully managed and motivated a team of six hotel sales, catering and administrative personnel. Responsible for account sales for VIP, Corporate, Education, Entertainment and Group tour travel segments for full-service 247 room hotel.

Turnaround of nonfunctioning sales department into high performance team. Provided training, mentoring and management leading to increased ROI and higher ADR and increased bookings.

Presented with Certificate of Appreciation and medal from the White House communications agency.

Recognized for support of China Ready program initiatives by Visit Rochester and I Love New York.

GENERAL MANAGER WATERLOO OUTLETS 2005-2013

Property management and marketing for daily operations of a 425,000 sq. ft. shopping center (100 tenants). Recruited to utilize destination marketing skills and expertise to maximize center traffic and sales. Supervised in-house personnel and contracted services. Directed all activities for tenant relations, physical plant operations and maintenance.

Turnaround of low performing outlet center to over 3.5 million visitors a year, with increased sales per sq. ft by 43%

Prepared and managed $1.5 million annual CAM budget, annual capital expenditure budget, other income, and marketing budgets annually. Executed monthly reforecast reports and quarterly budget and sales/traffic reports.

Created and implemented effective local and international travel and tourism programs. Became the driving force leading Northeast Premium Outlet centers into Canada. Appointed Northeast regional liaison for Canadian marketing initiatives. Developed a strong motor coach customer base through sales to tour operators, receptive and FIT’s.

Created innovative marketing and partnership opportunities, leveraging relationships from leading positions on various tourism boards and professional organizations in the New York Finger Lakes region

Recognized in 2007 by receiving the Budget Star Award in recognition of excellence in budget management.

REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF SALES ESSEX PARTNERS, INC. 2002-2005 Responsible for sales and marketing efforts of 23 hotels of various brands along the East Coast, with total revenue in excess of $20 MM. Newly created position, first corporate staff member hired to focus on sales. Led direct reports of Sales Managers/Directors and the GMs, focused on sales and marketing objectives.

Developed marketing plans, sales and marketing materials, and managed all sales efforts in all market segments across six states. This included corporate marketing program for cross-selling portfolio of properties

Conducted market analysis, created business marketing plans, and responsible for the startup of new sales departments for new hotel properties and takeover operations.

SALES MANAGER SOPHITEC 1998-2002

Directed Human Resources activities, Recruiting and Sales and Marketing of start-up technical recruiting company. Developed marketing materials and sold technical services to Top 100 businesses. Recruited, vetted and managed contractors and direct-hire candidates to fill openings of technical computer personnel.

Grew company profits from start-up to well over $2MM annually

Obtained and managing key accounts including Xerox, IBM, Oracle, Bausch & Lomb and Nortel

AFFILIATIONS and EDUCATION

Chair of Visitor Industry Council of Visit Rochester (Past) President Newark Chamber of Commerce (Past)

Finger Lakes Association Steering Committee (Past) Vice Chair of VIC of Visit Rochester (Past)

SYTA Membership Committee ABA Marketplace Orientation Committee

Committee Member for Visit Rochester and VIC; Travel Trade, New Member, Convention Sales committees

Community College of the Finger Lakes, Completed 1 1/2 years towards degree

Successfully completed COVID-19 Contact Tracing Corse through Johns Hopkins University

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