Global Travel & Trade Group Tour Coordinator

South Dakota State Government; Pierre (SD); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Vacation leave

Dental and vision insurance

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The Department of Tourism - Global Travel & Trade in Pierre, SD is seeking a Group Tour Coordinator to promote South Dakota in domestic and international markets. You will work with tour operators, agents, and industry partners to create itineraries, opportunities, and partnerships that drive visitation.

The role requires travel domestically and internationally, strong marketing and relationship-building skills, and experience coordinating trade shows and promotional campaigns.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of South Dakota tourism offerings.
• Strong relationship-building and networking skills.
• Experience in marketing, sales, or business development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to develop marketing materials and promotional content.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Experience coordinating trade shows, events, and travel itineraries.
• Ability to research market trends and identify business opportunities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital marketing tools.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement domestic and international group tour marketing strategies with partners and associations.
• Collaborate on market research, product development, and strategies to increase group tour inclusion in itineraries and packages.
• Coordinate participation in domestic and international group tour trade shows and manage events, sponsorships, appointments, and collateral.
• Research travel trade trends and identify market opportunities with operators and industry partners.
• Coordinate travel trade activities, including representation, educational sessions, PR, and shows.
• Develop travel trade newsletters, sales sheets, itineraries, guides, and other marketing materials to promote group tour products.
• Collaborate with industry partners and the Great American West to create content and resources for travel trade audiences.

Skills

Tourism knowledge

Relationship building

Marketing experience

Sales experience

Written and verbal communication

Project management

Trade show coordination

Market research

MS Office / Digital marketing tools

Tools

Microsoft Office

Digital marketing tools

Job description

Job ID: 38461

Agency: Department of Tourism - Global Travel & Trade

Location: Pierre, SD Salary: $60,000/annually

Pay Grade: I

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Global Travel & Trade Group Tour Coordinator collaborates in efforts to promote South Dakota in domestic and international markets. This position works closely with tour operators, travel agents, and South Dakota tourism industry partners to develop individual and group tour itineraries, create cooperative marketing opportunities, and strengthen industry relationships that increase South Dakota's inclusion in travel packages and drive visitation to the state. Domestic and international travel, including to key markets such as Europe and Canada, is required to represent the department and support its overall travel trade efforts.

Key Responsibilities

Group Tour Marketing and Industry Partnerships

• Develop and implement domestic and international group tour marketing strategies, including promotional programs and cooperative marketing opportunities with South Dakota tourism industry partners, tour operators, travel associations, and publications.
• Collaborate with industry partners on group tour market research, product development, and strategies to increase South Dakota's inclusion in group tour itineraries and travel packages.
• Coordinate participation in domestic and international group tour trade shows, including the American Bus Association (ABA) Marketplace, National Tour Association (NTA) Travel Exchange, and other relevant industry events. Responsibilities include event planning, industry partnerships, sponsorships, appointment scheduling, marketing materials, and post‑event follow‑up to strengthen relationships and generate group tour business opportunities.

Domestic and International Market Development

• Research domestic and international travel trade trends, identify market opportunities, and develop cooperative marketing initiatives with tour operators, travel agents, and South Dakota industry partners to increase the state's inclusion in group travel packages.
• Coordinate domestic and international travel trade activities, including representation, industry communications, educational sessions, public relations, and trade and consumer shows.
• Collaborate with tour operators and South Dakota industry partners to develop tour itineraries and coordinate destination immersion tours.
• Manage tour logistics inquiries, travel trade fulfillment requests, and additional inquiries submitted through TravelSouthDakota.com.
• Follow up with tour operators and industry partners to support the development of travel products resulting from destination immersion tours and other trade engagement activities.

Travel Trade Communications and Marketing Materials

• Develop and distribute travel trade newsletters, sales sheets, itineraries, travel guides, and other print and digital marketing materials to promote South Dakota group tour products.
• Collaborate with South Dakota industry partners and the Great American West consortium to develop marketing content and resources for domestic and international travel trade audiences.

This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Tourism. For more information on the Tourism, please visit https://tourism.sd.gov/ .

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• knowledge of South Dakota tourism offerings;
• strong relationship‑building and networking skills;
• experience in marketing, sales, or business development;
• excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• ability to develop marketing materials and promotional content;
• strong project management and organizational skills;
• experience coordinating trade shows, events, and travel itineraries;
• ability to research market trends and identify business opportunities;
• proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital marketing tools;
• willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.

This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration

Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

'An Equal Opportunity Employer'