Full-Time

Private Event Account Executive

Ilitch Companies

Ilitch Companies

51-200 employees

Diversified family of food, sports, entertainment.

No salary listed

Detroit, MI, USA

In Person

Category
Sales & Account Management (1)
Required Skills
Market Research
Sales
Cold Calling
Word/Pages/Docs
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
PowerPoint/Keynote/Slides
Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in business, hospitality, or related field.
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in corporate sales or hospitality environment with evidence of solid business acumen and an understanding of how to manage sales opportunities.
  • Proven track record of sales performance and exemplifying organizational core values.
  • Consistently achieve departmental hustle metrics, with a minimum of 80% to goal each year.
  • High level of integrity with a professional, business-oriented demeanor.
  • Creativity and ingenuity in developing successful sales strategies and have a working knowledge of the industry or community events along with a pulse of industry opportunities.
  • Proven ability to initiate high-level contacts of prospective customer with strong persuasion and negotiation skills to close a sale.
  • Evidence of ability to establish and maintain effective business relationships.
  • Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate with various levels of business units and venues or prospective customers.
  • Detail oriented with exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple, concurrent projects in a high paced environment, and ability to keep accurate and detailed records.
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze, formulate solutions and alternatives; and resolve issues in a timely manner.
  • Ability to work well in a team environment and effectively across business units and venues.
  • Ability to work long or unpredictable hours on weekdays, weekends, and holidays as needed.
  • Proven level of exceptional guest service.
  • Self-motivated with excellent time management skills and business/sales acumen.
  • Demonstrated computer proficiency including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and CRM skills.
Responsibilities
  • Lead by example in all duties and responsibilities.
  • Meet or exceed revenue goals from new clients while maximizing profit margins.
  • Prospect and cold call new business via networking, previous contacts, trade publications, resource guides, data base companies and cold calls. Target local hospitality industry, i.e. event planners, corporate planners, and direct corporate level decision makers to sell non-game day events.
  • Handle all incoming calls from sales prospects.
  • Meet or exceed minimum call requirements on outgoing calls per day to generate new business.
  • Conduct market research on potential new leads and develop tie-in opportunities within Ilitch Holdings business units to enhance value of sales packages.
  • Show available spaces to prospective clients and actively sell all venues.
  • Process event estimates and orders in a timely and efficient manner.
  • Ensure timely collection of payment for contracted events.
  • Manage execution of all contracted event elements inclusive of but not limited to: audiovisual requirements, food and beverage requirements, staffing needs, experiential add-ons, broadcast needs, equipment rentals, etc.
  • Supervise all aspects of event execution from load-in to load-out.
  • Create all relevant event-related communication collateral (event agenda, floorplan, run of show, etc) and communicate information to all applicable internal and external stakeholders.
  • Develop client relationships and enhance existing relationships to maintain renewal business.
  • Work with in-house creative services department to create/develop and generate professional proposals and sales presentations by compiling necessary information such as research, data, photos, etc.
  • Provide written weekly reports on sales activity/expenses and results to track own performance as well as event performance.
  • Manage and cultivate business relationships by attending OEI events and other functions.
  • Monitor all event related expenses as they related to the client’s contract and report all client approved adjustments, add-ons and day of expenses in a timely manner to the Director of Private Events and event activation staff
  • Establish partnership opportunities with the premium sales staff to maximize event and revenue opportunities.
  • Work cooperatively with sponsorship service representatives to provide event opportunities to existing clientele.
  • Assist in the development of internal special event series initiatives.
  • All other duties as assigned by the Director of Private Event Sales.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience working in the sports and entertainment industry.
  • Prior experience with customer relationship management databases.

Ilitch Companies owns and operates a group of brands across food, sports, entertainment, real estate development, and hospitality. Its portfolio includes Little Caesars, Champion Foods, Blue Line Distribution, the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment, and 313 Presents, plus properties like MotorCity Casino Hotel and Ocean Casino Resort. The group generates products and experiences by manufacturing and distributing food, owning teams and venues, and developing real estate, events, and resort properties. Its goal is to grow its ecosystem by expanding existing brands, launching new projects, and coordinating cross-brand experiences to reach broad audiences.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Detroit, Michigan

Founded

1999

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • MLB partnership ensures year-round Tigers and Red Wings broadcast access.
  • Retains cable providers and launches direct-to-consumer streaming app.
  • Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond continue top-rated Red Wings telecasts.

What critics are saying

  • Tigers losing records erode attendance and broadcast revenue now.
  • Red Wings playoff drought since 2016 suppresses ticket sales immediately.
  • Family succession fragments control, triggering Tigers sale in 24-36 months.

What makes Ilitch Companies unique

  • Ilitch Holdings owns Detroit Tigers, Red Wings, and Little Caesars Pizza.
  • Partners with MLB for Tigers broadcasts and Red Wings support starting 2026.
  • Operates Olympia Entertainment and 313 Presents for Michigan live events.

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Benefits

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Company News

Awful Announcing
Feb 10th, 2026
Detroit Tigers, Red Wings partner with MLB for local broadcasts

Detroit Tigers, Red Wings partner with MLB for local broadcasts. MLB will provide "broadcast support" to the NHL's Red Wings. Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports The Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings are teaming up with MLB for their local broadcasts beginning this spring. On Monday, the Tigers announced that Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, the company controlled by the Ilitch family that owns and operates the Tigers and Red Wings, will partner with MLB to produce and distribute local broadcasts for the team this upcoming season. The move comes after the Tigers were one of nine MLB clubs to exit its local broadcast deal with Main Street Sports Group, owner of the FanDuel Sports Networks, as the company faces imminent shutdown and liquidation. However, in a unique twist, the Ilitch family and the Tigers are bringing the NHL's Red Wings along for the ride. The Red Wings currently air on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, and the team intends to finish out the current season with Main Street assuming the company remains operational through April. But for the 2026-27 season, the Red Wings will join the Tigers under MLB's media platform. MLB will produce and distribute Tigers games and provide "broadcast support" for the Red Wings. It's unclear exactly how distribution deals for the Red Wings will be negotiated, though the intention is to keep both teams on the same cable and satellite providers that currently carry FanDuel Sports Network Detroit. "Given recent uncertainty throughout the regional sports broadcasting industry, we recognize the importance of providing fans with a consistent, year-round outlet to watch Tigers baseball and Red Wings hockey," Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment said in a statement. "We have two of the top-rated broadcasts in our respective sports and remain focused on listening to fans about what matters most to them. What we've heard includes making sure our games are available throughout the market, providing a reliable streaming product, and producing a broadcast that's informative and entertaining in all the right ways." With the announcement, the Tigers become the seventh former Main Street team to join MLB's production arm for the 2026 season. Only the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels have not yet made a decision, though reports indicate that both teams are looking to launch their own networks instead of linking up with the league.