Director of Tourism bei DeSoto County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Description

Position Summary

The Director of Tourism is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing strategies that promote DeSoto County, Mississippi as a premier destination for leisure travel, business meetings, sports, and special events. This role focuses on enhancing the area’s visibility, increasing visitor spending, and supporting local businesses through tourism marketing, partnerships, and visitor engagement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develop and execute a comprehensive      tourism marketing and development plan aligned with community and economic      development goals.
• Identify opportunities to grow visitor      volume, length of stay, and spending.
• Manage research and data collection to      measure tourism trends, visitor demographics, and marketing effectiveness.

Marketing & Promotion

• Oversee all advertising, branding,      digital marketing, social media, and public relations campaigns that      promote the destination.
• Lead creative strategies that enhance      the destination’s brand identity and storytelling.
• Collaborate with local, regional, and      state tourism partners to amplify marketing efforts.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong relationships with      hotels, restaurants, attractions, event venues, and local governments to      coordinate tourism initiatives.
• Represent the destination at      conferences, trade shows, and tourism industry events.
• Serve as the primary liaison to civic      groups, chambers of commerce, and media outlets on tourism matters.

Event & Product Development

• Support and attract festivals,      sporting events, conventions, and cultural programs that drive visitation.
• Partner with event organizers to      provide destination services, marketing support, and logistical      coordination.
• Encourage tourism product development,      such as trails, heritage attractions, and hospitality services.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing,      Tourism, Hospitality, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s      preferred).
• Minimum 5 years of progressively      responsible experience in tourism, destination marketing, or economic      development.
• Strong leadership, communication, and      relationship-building skills.
• Proven ability to manage budgets,      contracts, and multi-channel marketing campaigns.
• Experience collaborating with public officials,      business leaders, and community partners.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with tourism economic impact analysis and      reporting tools.
• Knowledge of state and regional tourism funding      mechanisms.
• Experience working in a Convention & Visitors      Bureau or Destination Marketing Organization (DMO).
• Ability      to deliver engaging presentations and media interviews.