Creative Manager

Access Destination Services; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great Place to Work

Women-owned

Annual all-company retreat

Paid sabbatical after 7 years

Paid day off for community service

Monthly company-wide meetings

Employee recognition awards

Job summary

Access Destination Services is seeking a Creative Manager to shape innovative event concepts and proposals for corporate experiences across the Southeast region. The role focuses on experiential design for live events, balancing creativity with budgets and logistics.

You will translate client objectives into immersive environments, collaborate with Sales and Creative teams, and manage multiple projects with attention to detail while upholding Access values of imagination and collaboration.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in DMC, corporate events, hospitality, or experiential design.
• Experience building event concepts before execution and presenting vision to clients.
• Knowledge of decor, entertainment, activations, and transportation for live events.
• Comfortable discussing budgets, pricing decisions, and creative trade-offs.
• Highly organized, collaborative, and calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Develop creative concepts, themes, and event designs that align with client objectives and destination opportunities.
• Design engaging guest environments, including layouts, lounges, tablescapes, entry experiences, and decor elements.
• Lead ideation and storytelling for proposals and client presentations with mood boards and visuals.
• Partner with Sales to develop strategic proposals that differentiate Access and support business development.
• Source and recommend entertainment, activations, and experiences to enhance guest experiences.
• Develop transportation and guest flow concepts for seamless arrivals and departures.
• Build and maintain relationships with venues, decor providers, and vendors.
• Develop pricing recommendations balancing client expectations, budgets, profitability, and operations.
• Collaborate with Sales, Events, and Creative teams to ensure feasibility from proposal to execution.
• Present concepts and recommendations to clients and internal partners with clarity and enthusiasm.
• Stay informed on emerging event trends and destination offerings.

Skills

DMC/events experience

Creativity

Collaboration

Organization

Job description

Access Your Potential. Join us to create and deliver experiences that inspire people, spark connection, and bring imagination to life—while having a lot of fun doing it.

Creative Manager - Southeast

We're seeking an imaginative, detail-oriented Creative Manager to join our team! This role is ideal for a creative professional who loves transforming ideas into unforgettable experiences, developing compelling event concepts, and collaborating with others to bring bold visions to life.

Location: This position supports our Southeast region and may be based in Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or West Palm Beach, Florida.

About the Job

As a Creative Manager at Access, you'll partner with Sales and Creative teams to develop innovative concepts, proposals, and presentations for corporate events and experiences.

You'll translate client objectives into thoughtful, engaging experiences through creative storytelling, event design, and strategic sourcing. From immersive environments to interactive activations, you'll balance creativity with budgets, logistics, and operational feasibility to deliver exceptional client solutions.

This is an experiential design role focused on live events, rather than traditional graphic design or marketing.

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop creative concepts, themes, and event designs that align with client objectives, audience expectations, and destination opportunities.

• Design engaging guest environments, including event layouts, lounges, tablescapes, entry experiences, and custom décor elements.

• Lead creative ideation and storytelling for proposals and client presentations, using mood boards, imagery, and visual concepts to bring ideas to life.

• Partner with Sales teams to develop compelling, strategic proposals that differentiate Access and support business development.

• Source and recommend entertainment, interactive activations, specialty experiences, and other creative elements that enhance the guest experience.

• Develop thoughtful transportation and guest flow concepts that support seamless arrivals, departures, and overall program experiences.

• Build and maintain relationships with venues, décor providers, entertainment partners, and other creative vendors.

• Develop creative pricing and recommendations that balance client expectations, budgets, profitability, and operational requirements.

• Collaborate closely with Sales, Events, and Creative teams to ensure concepts are achievable and transition smoothly from proposal to execution.

• Present creative concepts and recommendations to clients and internal partners with clarity, confidence, and enthusiasm.

• Stay informed on emerging event trends, experiential design concepts, and destination offerings to bring fresh ideas to clients.

• Manage multiple creative projects and deadlines while maintaining Access's creative standards and attention to detail.

• Consistently embody and reinforce Access Values: Imagine First, Demand Integrity, Embody Excellence, Always Collaborate, Service Obsession.

About You

We know that there’s no one in the world like you. And we know that you have a lot to offer the next company you work with. Below is a list of “nice-to-haves”, but don’t let those deter you from applying. Access believes that an inclusive team and culture is important. We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most creative talent on our team.

Nice-to-haves:

• 3+ years in DMC, corporate events, hospitality, or experiential design

• Experience building event concepts before execution and presenting vision to clients

• Knowledge of decor, entertainment, activations, and transportation for live events

• Comfortable discussing budgets, pricing decisions, and creative trade-offs

• Highly organized, collaborative, and calm under pressure

Why Access?

We’re a women-owned, award-winning destination management company with teams in cities coast to coast. For 50+ years, we’ve been producing high-impact events and experiences for global brands—and we’re just getting started.

CULTURE & EXTRAS

• Certified as a Great Place to Work – 3 years in a row and counting!

• 50+ years in the industry!

• Women-owned and women-led

• Fun, creative, and supportive culture

• Focus on recognition and employee value – including annual and quarterly awards

• Paid day off to serve your local community

• Annual all-company retreat to connect, learn, and have fun together

• Annual qualifier-based incentive trip for top performers (certain departments eligible)

• Regional team outings

• Monthly companywide meetings to connect, learn, and celebrate wins

• Paid Sabbatical leave after 7 years of service!

COMPENSATION

• Highly competitive total compensation, including strong base salary and quarterly bonuses

• Very strong performance-based quarterly commission plans

• 401k with company match (eligible after 1 year – up to 4% of salary matched, vested immediately

• Monthly cell phone stipend

WORK LIFE BALANCE

• Flexible schedule opportunities

• Generous PTO

• Sick days

• 9 full holidays

• 5 half days off prior to holidays to unplug early

• 2 floating holidays off to be used on holidays of your choice

• ½ day Fridays in July & August (based on achievement of goals)

HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND FAMILY

• Extensive menu of health plans to choose from

• Paid parental leave

• Pet insurance program

• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Mentorship program

• “Masterclasses” in industry/department-specific topics

• State-of-the-art technology platforms and tools – including training

• Annual and monthly meeting content that focuses on professional development

Access is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We are a proud Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].