Vice President, Destination

**Job Title**: Vice President, Destination & Market Development

**Department**: Executive

**Position Status**: Full Time, Year Round

About Tourism Whistler

If you are passionate about Whistler's unique mountain culture and want to join an innovative and supportive team, we want to hear from you

Position Summary

As a member of the executive team reporting to the President and CEO, the Vice President of Destination & Market Development provides strategic leadership and direction to promote Whistler as the premier destination for leisure and conference (meeting and incentives) business in local, regional, national and international markets. This position also oversees the destination experience through the creation of new experience and product development recommendations - addressing visitor pain points, attracting and retaining events, and investigating and promoting sustainable and responsible tourism best practices.

Key Responsiblities
- Act as a Tourism Whistler ambassador, living our purpose and vision with passion & energy, achievement and respect
- Responsible for the timely and effective planning and execution of the annual business plan and budget
- Utilize current economic, tourism, marketing, sales, business and consumer trends in driving forward-thinking planning and decision-marking, based on an ever-changing environment
- Oversee booking channel strategies to maximize opportunities for meeting planners, travel trade and consumer direct channels
- Listen, engage and work collaboratively with a diverse group of stakeholders, including members, industry partners, clients and employees in organization and resort-wide efforts, through meetings, committees and presentations
- Ensure a well-trained, engaged and productive team that promotes a supportive culture that drives results for the division, and organization, with details as follows:
Conference Sales & Services
- Ensure Conference Sales achieves sales targets for resort-wide room nights, as well as Whistler Conference Centre revenues
- Ensure Conference Services Department supports meeting planners in the successful execution of conferences, meetings and events; maintain relationships with Conference Centre contractors (catering, audio/visual)

Destination Development
- Ensure Destination Development Department creates effective shoulder season and mid-week resort experiences, and engage with the Sea to Sky Destination Development Council on regional responsible tourism initiatives
- Ensure Events Department works in partnership with the Resort Municipality of Whistler to attract successful events in need periods, and manage the relationship with event production company, Watermark, to execute Tourism Whistler owned events

Market Development
- Ensure Travel Trade Department builds strong relationship with airline, tour operator and travel agent partners to effectively promote Whistler in oversees markets through training & education, direct sales and cooperative marking programs

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Five + years of experience in a senior leadership role with a passion and focus on achieving results
- Post secondary degree(s) in business, tourism, or related field
- Effective relationship building, networking and negotiating skills, with a demonstrated ability to build long term relationships and partner with diverse stakeholders
- Strong leadership, team-building and coaching skills, with expertise in leading a team of professionals with diverse and specialized competencies
- Capable strategic thinker and project manager
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and strong presentation skills
- Excellent interpersonal, influencing and decision-making skills
- Solid financial skills including developing, analyzing and managing budgets
- Optimistic, pro-active, solution-oriented contributor
- Passion for Whistler, and its mountain culture