Careers

Department: Destination Sales
Reports To: Director of Destination Sales
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $40,000-$50,000

Position Summary
The Sports Tourism Manager is responsible for growing sports tourism in Ruston and Lincoln Parish through proactive sales, business development, strategic partnerships, and exceptional client service. This position serves as the primary point of contact for sports-related business from initial prospecting and lead generation through event execution, post-event evaluation, and rebooking.

The Sports Tourism Manager works closely with sports facilities, universities, hotels, event organizers, rights holders, and hospitality partners to recruit and successfully host sporting events that generate overnight stays, visitor spending, and economic impact for Ruston and Lincoln Parish.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Sports Sales & Business Development

• Proactively identify, prospect, and recruit youth, amateur, collegiate, recreational, and other sporting events to Ruston and Lincoln Parish.
• Manage sports business through the full sales pipeline, including prospecting, lead qualification, bid development, site visits, booking, event servicing, post-event follow-up, and rebooking.
• Build relationships with sports rights holders, tournament directors, event organizers, associations, and other decision-makers.
• Research prospective events and emerging sports markets to identify new development opportunities.
• Represent Experience Ruston at sports-focused trade shows, conferences, sales missions, and industry events.
• Collaborate with local facilities and sports organizations to identify opportunities for new or expanded sporting events that generate overnight visitation.
• Assist in developing and implementing annual sports tourism sales strategies, target markets, account plans, and business development initiatives to grow sports tourism in Ruston and Lincoln Parish.

Event Services & Partner Relations

• Serve as the primary Experience Ruston contact for booked sports business throughout the planning and event process.
• Coordinate hotel room blocks, facility needs, site visits, visitor services, volunteer needs, and other event logistics as appropriate.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the Ruston Sports Complex, Louisiana Tech University Athletics, Grambling State University Athletics, Team Louisiana, hotels, restaurants, and other sports and hospitality partners.
• Provide hospitality partners with timely information regarding upcoming sporting events and major group business to assist with visitor preparedness.
• Conduct post-event follow-up to evaluate performance, strengthen client relationships, and pursue repeat business.

Sales Performance & Administration

• Maintain accurate sports sales activity, leads, bookings, room nights, and client information within the organization's CRM.
• Track performance against established sales goals and key performance indicators, including qualified leads, booked events, room nights, conversion rates, repeat business, visitor spending, and economic impact.
• Prepare regular sports sales activity, pipeline, and performance reports for the Director of Destination Sales.
• Recommend event incentives, room rebates, sponsorships, or other financial assistance based on established organizational policies and funding criteria.
• Manage the sports sales, travel, and trade show budget in coordination with the Director of Destination Sales.
• Supervise and provide direction to sales interns supporting sports tourism initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications Department on sales collateral, promotional materials, and other resources supporting sports tourism.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the organization's mission.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Tourism, Hospitality, Sports Management, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field preferred. Relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Professional experience in sales, business development, hospitality, tourism, sports, event management, account management, or a related field preferred.
• Experience in destination sales, sports tourism, hospitality sales, or event recruitment is preferred but not required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong sales aptitude with the confidence and professionalism to prospect for new business and represent Experience Ruston at a high level.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and results-oriented with a strong desire to achieve measurable goals.
• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple prospects, clients, and events simultaneously.
• Exceptional follow-through and attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with staff, clients, and community partners.
• Ability and willingness to learn CRM systems, tourism research tools, sales platforms, and industry best practices.
• Knowledge of sports tourism, hospitality, or destination marketing preferred.

Additional Requirements

• This is an in-person position based in Ruston, Louisiana. The Sports Tourism Manager must be able to maintain a regular presence in Ruston and Lincoln Parish and respond to local event and partner needs as required.
• Ability and willingness to travel moderately for trade shows, conferences, sales missions, and industry events.
• Ability to attend sporting events, meetings, and activities outside normal business hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel locally and regionally as required.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Jennifer Mamon at jmamon@rustonlincoln.com no later than Tuesday, September 15.