Independent six-month consultant to assess and optimize travel trade and group sales. Deliver a 10-day assessment, 30/60/90-day action plans, sales operations recommendations, account segmentation, partner engagement strategies, tech and reporting improvements, coaching, SWOT analysis versus competitors, and a final transition document enabling ESBO leadership to implement lasting sales process and structure changes.
COMPANY SUMMARY
The Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience created an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and is ranked the #1 Top Attraction in New York City for the fourth consecutive year in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do, "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, and the #1 New York City attraction in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List.
Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.
The ESBO has recently undergone a top-to-bottom renovation that includes a dedicated Guest entrance, an immersive, tactile, and digital museum that celebrates our icon from the moment it was conceived to its place today in pop-culture, and a completely re-imagined 102nd floor viewing experience (www.esbnyc.com). Within the museum’s more than one dozen memorable moments, we could not resist but sprinkle a little extra fun with the inclusion of our Kong exhibit where visitors walk through an office from the 1930’s complete with the famous, giant ape's fingers pierce the walls as he dangles from the building and dodges vintage fighter planes. Those brave enough can even step into Kong's hands – but beware, you might feel the power of this fearsome ape firsthand!
The renovations also include industry-leading Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) improvements such as bi-polar ionization, MERV 13 filters, and increased ventilation that led to the building’s achievement as the first building in the Americas to receive the WELL Health-Safety Rating.
Overall, the Guest feedback has been stellar! New York Times’ quote: “…exhilarating and intimate.”
Are you a driven, self-motivated and results oriented professional who thrives on building a winning team? Do you define success as the ability to drive revenue, EBIDTA, and deliver an exceptional experience? Then join our team and experience the rewards of hard work, teamwork, learning, and dedication to create a “best-in-class” attraction that requires excellence in all that we undertake.
ABOUT EMPIRE STATE REALTY TRUST
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) is a NYC-focused REIT that owns and operates a portfolio of well-leased, top of tier, modernized, amenitized, and well-located office, retail, and multifamily assets. ESRT’s flagship Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building,” features its iconic Observation Deck, ranked the #1 Top Attraction in New York City for the fifth consecutive year in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do. The Company is a recognized leader in energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. As of March 31, 2026, ESRT’s portfolio is comprised of approximately 8.0 million rentable square feet of office space, 0.8 million rentable square feet of retail space and 743 residential units. More information about Empire State Realty Trust can be found at esrtreit.com and by following ESRT on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and LinkedIn.
The dedicated team at ESRT is a collection of diverse individuals with a shared passion for excellence and a keen eye toward future growth. Headquartered in New York City, we harness the energy of the city in everything we do. We care for one another, work hard, and have a lot of fun doing it! We are Certified™ as a Great Place to Work® by the global authority, Great Place to Work®, on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors. We prioritize and invest in the health and wellness of employees to attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent. ESRT values continuous employee development and encourages colleagues to excel in their roles and adapt to emerging business needs. From our crown jewel, The Empire State Building, to incredible buildings modernized for the 21st century, to outstanding customer service, and our decade-long leadership position in sustainability and energy efficient portfolio that is 100% fully powered by renewable wind electricity, we take pride in our work. ESRT seeks an equally passionate colleague to join the team, understand the vision and help achieve that vision.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The Travel Trade Sales Consultant will report to the SVP, General Manager and provide advisory, coaching, and project-based support to the existing ESBO Sales team. This engagement is intended to optimize the travel trade sales function over a defined six-month period, with a focus on measurable deliverables, actionable recommendations, and a clear transition plan.
The consultant will assess current sales performance, team structure, account coverage, systems, reporting practices, and partner relationships; recommend improvements to sales process, account management, sales operations, and technology adoption; and support the team in implementing practical improvements during the engagement.
The ideal consultant will bring strong travel trade, group sales, tourism, hospitality, or attraction sales experience; existing industry relationships; comfort with sales technology and reporting; and the ability to work collaboratively with internal stakeholders while maintaining the independence appropriate to a contractor engagement.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
- Conduct a 10-day assessment of current travel trade sales performance, account coverage, team structure, sales process, systems, reporting, and partner relationships
- Develop an action plan for 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days actions focused on source markets, account prioritization, partner engagement, admissions, revenue, per-cap growth, and operational efficiency
- Advise on sales actions accountability, including key metrics, cadence, templates, trend analysis, and leadership-ready updates that clearly communicate performance, actions taken, next steps, and recommendations
- Assess existing travel trade and group sales accounts and recommend account segmentation, prioritization, outreach strategy, and growth opportunities
- Support business development efforts through targeted outreach recommendations, partner engagement strategies, and identification of new sales opportunities
- Review reseller, group sales, and travel trade content to identify opportunities for improved accuracy, visibility, premium placement, and brand consistency across partner platforms
- Recommend improvements to sales operations, including technology, contract management, rate distribution, pricing coordination, group reservations, reseller content delivery, and internal workflows
- Collaborate with Operations, Accounting, Revenue, Ticketing, and Marketing teams as needed to streamline processes, including automated APIs, and align sales activity with broader business goals
- Provide coaching, guidance, and sales best-practice support to the existing team without serving as the formal employer or direct manager of ESBO employees
- Support improved adoption and use of Salesforce, Ventrata, Monday.com, Satisfi Labs chatbot, and other relevant platforms to enhance reporting, follow-up, accountability, and workflow efficiency
- Identify process bottlenecks, market trends, competitive considerations, and technology opportunities, including appropriate uses of AI, to improve departmental effectiveness
- Perform a SWOT analysis from a travel trade perspective of ESBO vs. direct competitors
- Prepare a final transition document summarizing completed work, progress against deliverables, outstanding opportunities, recommended next steps, and considerations for the permanent structure of the function
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
- A completed initial assessment with clear findings on sales performance, account coverage, team workflow, systems, reporting, and partner opportunities
- A focused action plan that identifies priority accounts, revenue opportunities, process improvements, and implementation steps for the six-month engagement
- Improved reporting discipline, including leadership-ready updates that make performance trends, risks, actions, and next steps easier to understand
- Stronger account management practices, partner engagement, content accuracy, and visibility across reseller, OTA, group sales, and travel trade channels
- Updated or recommended SOPs, workflows, tools, and training guidance that support consistency, accountability, and operational efficiency
- A final transition document that enables ESBO leadership to determine next steps, including permanent staffing, structure, priorities, and ongoing sales process improvements
REQUIRED SKILLS / ABILITIES
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
- Knowledge of sales techniques and customer service best practices
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Strong proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Proficient in Salesforce (or other CRM system), Ventrata ticketing (or other ticketing system) and Monday.com (or other work management platform)
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred, or equivalent professional experience
- Minimum of seven years of relevant sales experience, including travel trade, group sales, tourism, hospitality, attractions, OTA, reseller, or related experience
- Demonstrated experience advising, coaching, or supporting sales teams and cross-functional stakeholders
- New York City tourism market experience and established travel trade relationships are strongly preferred
ENGAGEMENT TERMS
This is a temporary six-month independent contractor engagement. The consultant will provide services under the terms of a separate consulting agreement and will not be considered an employee of ESBO or ESRT.
Compensation for this six-month independent contractor engagement will be commensurate with experience and determined based on the agreed scope of services.
The consultant will be responsible for their own taxes, insurance, equipment, and business expenses unless otherwise agreed in writing.
ESRT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We celebrate the unique differences of our employees because they drive curiosity, innovation, and the success of our business. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, reproductive choices, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, caregiver status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue hardship for the Company are available for applicants and employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs.
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