Pictured L-R: Jill Hericks, director of convention sales; Erin Jackson, director of executive meetings sales; and Stephanie Monroe, director of specialty market sales for Explore St. Louis.
Explore St. Louis is adding new personnel and restructuring its sales department to create a dynamic and nimble team approach to representing St. Louis to planners of conventions, executive meetings and specialty markets. With the impressive development taking place throughout the St. Louis region, including the planned $175 million enhancement of the America’s Center Convention Complex, a team approach will provide the Explore St. Louis salesforce with the
platform to engage more potential customers more quickly.
“This new structure will allow our sales teams to focus strategically on business opportunities that best leverage the meeting and convention assets of our community, including the planned expansion of our convention center,” says John Bettag, vice president of sales for Explore St. Louis. “Key to this effort is the appointment of three new directors of sales that have been selected to lead each of our newly formed teams.”
Jill Hericks, director of convention sales, will lead the team responsible for booking citywide events using the America’s Center Convention Complex and multiple hotels. Hericks brings strong leadership experience in convention center and hotel sales having served in senior positions with the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., Century Center in South Bend, Ind., and Hollywood Casino and Hotel in St. Louis.
Erin Jackson, director of executive meetings sales, will lead the team responsible for attracting hotel meetings and events to the St. Louis region. Most recently, Jackson served as the director of sales of the Moonrise Hotel where she led a team of six.
Stephanie Monroe was promoted to director of specialty market sales to lead a team in the areas of sporting events, religious conferences, fraternal organizations and military meetings. Monroe joined Explore St. Louis in 2007 as national convention sales manager and has been responsible for
booking some of St. Louis’ largest events.
“This new structure will simplify and streamline our sales deployment making it easier for both customers and partners to interact with and book St. Louis for meetings and events,” says Kathleen ‘Kitty’ Ratcliffe, president of Explore St. Louis.
Explore St. Louis is the driving force behind St. Louis’ $5.8 billion convention and tourism industry, the official destination marketing organization of St. Louis city and county and operator of the America’s Center Convention Complex. For more info, visit explorestlouis.com.
