International Conference Advisor

Known worldwide as the international city of peace and justice, The Hague is also a beautiful and vibrant city in its own right — one of which we are extremely proud. The Hague & Partners is a publicly funded non-profit organisation, with the core task of attracting visitors, businesses and conferences to The Hague, and then keeping them here. Through our marketing and acquisition activities, we stimulate The Hague’s economy and create employment for its residents. The way we do this is by forging connections. We connect new businesses with The Hague, visitors with the city’s attractions, and event planners with local conference venues. And we don’t do this alone: we work closely with colleagues and with our partners to promote the city that we love.

The Hague & Partners (TH&P) is the official marketing and acquisition organization for promoting leisure, conferences, and business developments in The Hague. As a professional non-profit organization, we aim to strengthen the economy of our city and promote employment by attracting (inter)national visitors, conferences, businesses, and institutions to the city.

 Our business division, the Convention Bureau, is the official organization for promoting The Hague as a business and association event destination. We offer impartial and wide-range support for event organizers who are hosting conferences in The Hague. We represent not only our city but also over more than 100 partners, such as venues, hotels and other service providers who are meaningful to the organization of congresses and meetings. The goal is to strengthen the local economy by expansion of knowledge, trade, investments and delegates expenditures.

• Actively source and generate sales leads on forthcoming international conventions.
• Assist with the generation and qualification of sales leads for future business events.
• Meet sales targets in accordance with the division goals and objectives.
• Plan and conduct sales activities including promotions, tradeshow attendances and presentations.
• Work with Support team to help secure local host for association bids as necessary.
• Develop, implement and manage bid strategies and activities including:
• Set up and liaise with bid committee
• Secure local industry and government support
• Production of bid documents and support materials
• Liaise with industry to secure facility packages and quotations
• Lobbying and promotion to decision makers
• Facilitate & escort site inspections
• Prepare and conduct bid presentations.
• Maintain accurate sales records on CRM database system including client contact details, event profiles, follow up traces and correspondence.  Maintain and keep up to date bid files on CRM system.
• Prepare and deliver handover briefs on events secured for the support team, keeping accurate records of commitments made to clients during the bid and sales process. Introduce clients to servicing team during handover phase.
• Provide assistance and input into the sales and marketing plan.
• Monitor sales performance and prepare regular sales reports as required.
• Maintain close liaison with MICE industry, TH&P representative offices, internal departments and clients during the sales process.
• Gather and record market intelligence and competitive information appropriate to specific bids.
• Keep up to date with The Hague MICE products and services through industry product presentations, sites, research and meetings.
• Respond to international convention sales enquiries relating to RFPs and bids.
• Provide support for other MICE related activities for the division.

Our approach:

• We are guided by our four core values: to inspire, to unburden, to connect and to be committed. These are values that we have determined as a team. They serve as a touchstone in the making of both internal and external decisions.
• We are committed to diversity and inclusiveness. We are open-minded and we accept everyone for who they are. This is reflected in, for example, our holiday policy, which allows staff to take time off for the holidays they celebrate.
• Our core task is our primary focus, and we work to ensure that our activities contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of The Hague’s residents.

Desirable skills and competences:

• Customer Orientation: Ability to understand and meet the needs of customers, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction and fostering long-term relationships.
• Collaboration: Strong teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders to achieve common goals.
• Networking: Ability to develop and maintain relations, alliances and coalitions within and outside the organization and to use them in order to obtain information, support and cooperation.
• Commercial Ability: Proven capability in identifying and capitalizing on business opportunities, understanding market dynamics, and driving sales and marketing efforts.
• Decisiveness: Ability to make active decisions or to commit oneself by speaking one’s mind and taking position.
• Planning and Organizing: Ability to determine goals and priorities and to assess the actions, time and resources needed to achieve those goals.

 Curious about what is expected of you? Then take a look at the TMA competency dictionary: https://www.competencylibrary.com/

Further:

• HBO level of thinking and working (sales and marketing in tourism, events or hospitality or equivalent).
• Knowledge and expertise within the Association industry and preferably of Den Haag’s MICE products and services.
• At least three years of experience in a sales management or business development role, preferably within a convention centre or convention bureau industry.
• Superior communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
• High level organisational and project management skills.
• Computer literacy in all Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, Power Point and CRM database experience.
• Knowledge of languages: English (fluent, excellent presentation skills), 2nd language is an advantage.
• Flexible attitude, as the role requires working outside regular hours and traveling (abroad).

• A varied position with room for an ambitious candidate to bring his or her own interpretation to the role.
• An enthusiastic, diverse group of colleagues who share a love for The Hague.
• Appropriate remuneration and fringe benefits (salary indication between € 3.426 and € 5.555 based on a 40-hour workweek) in accordance with the Employment Conditions Regulation of TH&P.
• For a full-time position: 26 vacation days and 12 ATV days (additional days off).
• We work in an agile environment, meaning we work flexibly (not bound by place and time).
• A The Hague & Partners employee pass to visit various tourist attractions and museums in The Hague for free, and you can also bring a guest.
• Flexible holiday policy (choose holidays that fit your beliefs or cultural background).
• Opportunities for further (internal/external) education and training.