Marisa Liles, Bryan-College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau
Destination Sales Executive
College Station, Texas
Age: 25
Resume: Marisa Liles grew up in Bryan-College Station, Texas, in a family that valued travel and tourism. From a young age, Liles knew she wanted to help others create experiences and memories like the ones from her childhood. After receiving a degree in Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Management from Texas Tech University, she took a position in sales at the Fairmont Dallas. “While this was a great opportunity and a wonderful experience, I quickly realized it wasn’t the exact ‘dream job’ I had always described to everyone,” Liles says. Wanting to do more with events and tourism, Liles moved back to her hometown in 2010 when a job in sales opened up at the Bryan-College Station CVB. “I’m now able to not only spend each and every day doing a job I love, but I was also able to move home where I can promote the great community I was born and raised in, and be close to my family and life-long friends.”
Career Highlight: Liles played an instrumental role in the creation and implementation of an incentive program for qualified groups that allows them to receive cash for bringing their meeting or event to Bryan-College Station. “The program helped bring in several new groups and pieces of business, but it also gave back to many people. Several clients have been able to put hundreds or even thousands of dollars towards scholarship programs, or use their incentive money as a donation to an organization or a charity.”
Inspiration: “The people I work for and the people I work with. I’m very inspired by my clients; getting to help people each and every day is what I love most about my job. I’m inspired by knowing that I did something to help someone else in some way, whether it be by taking a few tasks off their plate or helping them save money while planning the perfect event.”
Industry Mentors: Shannah Milstead, director of sales and marketing at the Fairmont Dallas. “She is such a powerful leader, but my favorite part about her was the respect she gave back to her employees. She showed me what leadership truly looks like by the way she worked with us and led our team.” Liles also credits her director of sales at the BCSCVB, Kindra Fry. “Kindra is an amazing individual both in and out of the office. She is able to balance it all and still maintain authority while making us feel like we are a team and she is just another member of it.”
Professional Affiliations: MPI Houston Area Chapter, Texas Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Brazos Valley Lodging Association, DMAI
Twitter: @VisitAggieland
Dream Speaker: Oprah Winfrey
Last Places You Vacationed: The Dominican Republic and a cruise to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel
Worst Industry Buzzwords: Putting out fires and pushing the envelope
Professional Pet Peeve: People not taking ownership for their actions or unaccountable co-workers
First Job: Sales for the Fairmont Dallas doing business and leisure sales
The Liles Profile: iPhone | Checked bag | Aisle seat | Tea | Skinny jeans | Facebook
—Mari Shirley
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