Mesquite - Local Tourism Director

Local Tourism Director

Independent Contractor | 18 month Grant-Funded Position
Mesquite, Nevada

Position Summary

The Local Tourism Director will lead local tourism development efforts for Mesquite, Nevada, with a focus on event recruitment, tourism sales, industry engagement, and continued destination development.

Serving as a key local resource for tourism, the Director will work across the public and private sectors to identify opportunities, connect prospective business with local resources, and strengthen coordination within Mesquite’s tourism industry. Key partners include the City of Mesquite, lodging and casino properties, tourism businesses, event organizers, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), Travel Nevada, and other regional and state tourism organizations.

This position requires a highly experienced tourism professional with the knowledge, leadership experience, and business-development background to independently represent Mesquite and advance tourism opportunities at the local, regional, and national level.

The Local Tourism Director will serve as an independent contractor to the Mesquite Opportunities Regional Fund (MORF) for the two-year term of the grant.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead tourism sales and business-development efforts to attract events, tournaments, meetings, groups, and other business aligned with Mesquite’s facilities, lodging, visitor assets, and market opportunities.
• Develop new business and strengthen existing accounts through direct engagement with event organizers, rights holders, meeting planners, tour operators, and other decision-makers.
• Serve as a local resource for organizations considering Mesquite, connecting prospective business with appropriate facilities, lodging properties, City departments, and community resources.
• Maintain current knowledge of City and Parks & Recreation facility calendars, scheduled events, lodging needs, and periods of opportunity to guide targeted recruitment and strengthen Mesquite’s overall event calendar.
• Represent Mesquite at tourism trade shows, conferences, sales meetings, and industry events, including opportunities coordinated with LVCVA, Travel Nevada, and other tourism organizations.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of Mesquite’s lodging, gaming, sports and event facilities, golf, outdoor recreation, attractions, entertainment, and other visitor assets to effectively position the destination.
• Identify and advocate for tourism priorities and destination-development opportunities related to facilities, recreation, infrastructure, visitor amenities, event capacity, and the overall visitor experience.
• Provide tourism industry insight and perspective on relevant projects, planning efforts, partnerships, and community initiatives that may impact the destination.
• Maintain concise documentation of tourism sales activity, business opportunities, industry engagement, and progress as required for grant reporting.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive professional experience in tourism, hospitality, destination sales, hotel or resort sales, event development, business development, or a closely related field, including demonstrated leadership responsibility.
• Proven record of generating new business through tourism sales, event recruitment, group development, account management, or related business-development activities.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the hospitality and tourism industry, including lodging, events, destination sales, visitor experiences, market demand, and the role of tourism in community and economic development.
• Demonstrated experience working across private industry, government, tourism organizations, and community interests.
• Executive-level communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills, with experience representing an organization, property, or destination with clients, industry leaders, business executives, and public officials.
• Proven ability to work independently, establish priorities, manage multiple initiatives and business opportunities, exercise sound professional judgment, and deliver results with limited supervision.
• Ability and willingness to travel for tourism trade shows, conferences, sales meetings, industry events, and other business-related activities as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Director-level or comparable senior leadership experience in hospitality, tourism sales, destination development, business development, events, or a related field.
• Experience working with or alongside a destination marketing organization, convention and visitors bureau, tourism authority, municipality, or similar tourism organization.
• Demonstrated experience recruiting tournaments, events, meetings, groups, or other business that generates visitation and overnight stays.
• Strong knowledge of Mesquite, Southern Nevada, and the regional tourism landscape, including key visitor markets, destination assets, seasonal demand, and tourism partners.
• Established professional network within the tourism, hospitality, sports, events, meetings, or group travel industries.
• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, tourism, business, marketing, public administration, or a related field preferred. Equivalent senior-level professional experience may be considered.

Contract Information

This is a grant-funded independent contractor opportunity contracted through the Mesquite Opportunities Regional Fund (MORF) that ends June 2028. Contract compensation is $160,000 for the grant time period commencing October 2026 and ending June 30, 2028.

The contractor will work independently while maintaining regular coordination with MORF, the City of Mesquite, and tourism partners. A strong local presence in Mesquite is required, along with travel for sales calls, trade shows, conferences, and other approved industry activities.

Board approved business expenses are separate from the annual contract compensation. Reimbursable expenses may include travel, lodging, meals, mileage, registration fees, professional memberships, promotional materials, and other authorized expenses necessary to perform the contracted services. All expenses must receive prior approval and be documented and submitted in accordance with MORF’s reimbursement procedures.

Pay: $8,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person

Salary : $8,000