Sales Manager, Exhibits, Atlanta

Salary:	Base + Commission
Location:	Atlanta
Type:	Full-Time Hybrid On-Site
Position:	Sales Manager

Emerge XP is supporting a growing trade show and live event services organization in hiring a Sales Manager to drive new business across the exhibit, exposition, association, and corporate event markets. This role is built for a relationship driven sales professional who understands that strong event partnerships are earned through trust, clarity, follow through, and operational awareness. The right candidate will know how to open doors, lead meaningful sales conversations, build confidence with decision makers, and position a full service event partner with credibility. The focus is new business growth: identifying opportunities, developing relationships with show organizers and event leaders, responding to RFPs, presenting thoughtful solutions, and staying close enough to the work to understand what clients need before, during, and after the event.

Why This Role

This is a high impact sales opportunity with a company that values personal service, accountability, and hands on partnership in a market that often feels increasingly automated and transactional. For someone who is commercially sharp, relationship driven, and comfortable selling in the trade show and live event environment, this role offers the chance to help shape growth, deepen market presence, and build long term client partnerships across the Southeast and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Identify, pursue, and develop new business opportunities with trade show organizers, association leaders, corporate event planners, and other key decision makers
• Build a qualified pipeline through prospecting, outreach, referrals, industry relationships, local venue connections, CVB engagement, and strategic networking
• Lead consultative sales conversations to understand event goals, operational needs, budget priorities, exhibitor expectations, and decision criteria
• Position a full service event offering that may include show services, logistics, floor plan support, graphics, labor coordination, equipment rentals, production support, and on site execution
• Prepare and present professional proposals, RFP responses, pricing strategies, and service recommendations that align with client needs
• Support revenue growth goals, including contributing to targeted sales growth over a 24 month period
• Serve as a strong connection point between the client relationship and internal execution teams, ensuring sales commitments are clear, realistic, and well supported
• Maintain close client communication from initial opportunity through contract, planning, show site execution, and post event follow up
• Develop and strengthen relationships with venues, facilities, and event partners throughout the Atlanta market and surrounding region
• Attend industry events, client meetings, show site visits, and networking opportunities to build visibility and uncover new opportunities
• Track sales activity, pipeline movement, proposals, forecasts, and revenue opportunities with consistency and discipline
• Monitor market activity, competitive positioning, client needs, and event trends to strengthen sales strategy

Requirements

• 3+ years of B2B sales experience, ideally within trade shows, exhibitions, hospitality, live events, event services, or a closely related industry
• Proven ability to prospect, develop relationships, lead sales conversations, and close new business
• Strong relationship building skills with a track record of maintaining long term client partnerships
• Understanding of trade show and event operations, including logistics, material handling, labor coordination, floor plans, graphics, venue requirements, and show site execution strongly preferred
• Experience preparing proposals, responding to RFPs, presenting solutions, discussing pricing, and negotiating business terms
• Comfortable speaking with decision-makers at multiple levels, including association executives, event managers, corporate stakeholders, venue contacts, and internal operations teams
• Strong presentation, communication, follow up, and negotiation skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and related business tools
• Experience with AI tools or proposal software is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, or a related field preferred; equivalent sales training and proven closing experience will also be considered
• Willingness to travel for client meetings, industry events, show sites, and business development opportunities across the Southeast and North America as needed
• High ownership, sound judgment, and the ability to balance growth goals with client expectations and operational realities