ABOUT DISCOVER NEWPORT

As the region’s official destination marketing organization (DMO), Discover Newport is committed to the promotion of Newport and its eight adjacent coastal municipalities across Newport and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island. Our reach encompasses Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Warren. By partnering with hospitality stakeholders, Discover Newport positions the region as a world-class choice for both professional and recreational travel. In 2025, tourism activity drove $339.7 million in lodging revenue, $163.1 million in dining expenditures, and $52.3 million in retail commerce. For more information visit https://www.discovernewport.org/.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Sales Officer (CSO) serves as the executive sales authority for Discover Newport, driving the strategic vision and execution to position the region as a premier coastal destination for meetings, conventions, sporting events, and group travel. Reporting to the President & CEO, the CSO leads and mentors the sales team, manages priority accounts, fosters executive-level relationships with regional hospitality partners, and maintains full accountability for sales performance and departmental operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Leadership & Strategic Direction

Lead, mentor, and inspire the sales team, cultivating a high-performance culture grounded in accountability, innovation, and continuous professional development.
Develop and execute comprehensive short and long-term sales strategies aligned with Discover Newport’s overarching strategic plan sales targets.
Serve as the sales advisor to the President & CEO, providing regular operational updates and strategic insights regarding market conditions and growth opportunities.

Destination Sales & Business Development

Oversee all sales initiatives across markets to maximize venue booking pace and regional room nights.
Cultivate executive-level relationships with meeting planners, association leaders, corporate executives, hotel partners, and regional hospitality stakeholders.
Directly manage key priority accounts and oversee the strategic assignment of incoming business leads to account executives.
Direct the design, execution, and evaluation of sales incentives, cooperative partner programs, sales missions, and promotional sales collateral in close coordination with marketing teams.

Industry Engagement & Stakeholder Relations

Build and maintain strong working relationships with area hotels and venues, hosting periodic strategic alignment meetings with regional sales professionals.
Represent Discover Newport at national, international, and statewide trade shows, industry conferences, and professional organizations.
Manage organizational memberships and foster active involvement in key convention, meeting, and exhibition trade associations.

Financial and Departmental Operations

Submit and manage the annual sales budget, evaluating return on investment across all trade shows, client events, and promotional initiatives.
Drive operational efficiency by researching and implementing software, CRM enhancements, and technology upgrades aligned with industry trends.
Direct all market analysis and audience segmentation to identify emerging travel trends, competitive dynamics, and high-value target markets.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

10+ years of progressive sales leadership experience within a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO,) Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB,) or luxury hospitality brand.
Demonstrated success leading sales teams.
Strong presence and reputation in the meetings industry.
Bachelor’s degree Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Marketing, or a related field.
Advanced working knowledge of core Office 365 applications, Google Suite, and Simpleview CRM.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS

Must possess a valid driver’s license.

KEY SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

Expertise in strategic sales planning, forecasting, and market segmentation strategies.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
Articulate communicator capable of representing Discover Newport across local, national, and international trade shows.
Track record of building trust with regional hotel general managers, sales leaders, community stakeholders, and national meeting planners.
Ability to foster a collaborative, goal- oriented team environment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & EXPECTATIONS

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has supervisory responsibility of the Sales Team (National Account Directors, Sales Assistant, and Destination Experience Manager).
Work Environment: This job operates in a professional office environment.
Physical Demands: Standard desk environment. Requires prolonged periods of screen time, sitting, and computer usage.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time position and the employee must work at least 35 hours each week to maintain full-time status. Normal operating hours are Monday-Friday, 9AM- 5PM. In-office presence is required.
Travel: Requires travel including regional, national, and occasional international trips to represent the destination at trade shows and industry events. Frequent local travel for client site visits and community engagement is required. Weekend, evening, and holiday availability may be necessary to accommodate site visits and client entertainment.

Discover Newport is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Benefits:

Dental insurance
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Retirement plan
Vision insurance

Experience:

Sales: 10 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Discover Newport

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Chief Sales Officer