Director, Sales & Business Development

Title

Director, Sales & Business Development

2338

Louisville, KY, 40213, United States

Derby City Gaming & Hotel

The Director of Sales & Business Development is a strategic leader responsible for creating and driving sales initiatives, partnerships, and business development opportunities that maximize revenue for both Derby City Gaming Downtown and Derby City Gaming & Hotel. This role builds strong relationships with local businesses, conventions, and tourism organizations, converting partnerships into profitable ventures. The director also focuses on attracting downtown foot traffic to the Downtown property while enhancing group hotel bookings at the Hotel.

• Build and nurture strategic partnerships with local businesses, conventions, and tourism organizations to drive brand visibility and sales opportunities.
• Collaborate with regional tourism boards, travel agencies, and corporate partners to position the properties as premier destinations for events, group travel, and entertainment.
• Track leads, customer interactions, and opportunities, ensuring a personalized experience and follow‑through on all prospects.
• Create and implement strategies to retain and build loyalty with key clients, groups, and corporate partners.
• Explore and secure sponsorship opportunities for events and activations, adding new revenue streams to support the properties’ business development goals.

• Develop and execute cross‑property sales strategies that attract group and tourism business.
• Identify and pursue incremental revenue opportunities through group sales, meetings, and events.
• Design and implement targeted outbound marketing initiatives in collaboration with group and tourism partners, focusing on promoting the properties to out‑of‑town guests.

• Create strategies and promotions aimed at converting downtown Louisville foot traffic into Derby City Gaming Downtown patrons.
• Develop creative campaigns and packages that attract downtown visitors, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience.
• Build partnerships with local attractions, restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues for joint promotions and incentives.

• Partner with the marketing team to create impactful promotional packages tailored for group and tourism markets.
• Oversee the development of marketing campaigns that promote both properties to conventions, tour operators, and corporate clients.

• Collaborate with internal teams to design and execute events and promotions that appeal to target audiences.
• Establish pricing and packaging strategies to monetize partnerships and group bookings effectively.
• Develop accurate sales forecasts and manage the budget for group and business development initiatives, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to meet revenue targets.
• Perform other duties as assigned, adapting to the dynamic needs of both properties.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for business development and innovation.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple departments.
• Results‑oriented, with the ability to meet and exceed ambitious sales goals.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
• Valid Racing License.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Hospitality, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in sales, business development, or hospitality, preferably in the gaming or entertainment industry.
• Proven track record of creating partnerships and driving revenue through group and tourism sales.
• Strong understanding of regional and national tourism markets, with existing industry relationships preferred, particularly within the Louisville market.
• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to think strategically while executing tactically, ensuring alignment with broader company objectives.
• Proficiency in lead tracking, sales reporting, and data‑driven decision‑making.

The physical demands described here…