Kyla Boast

I have worked in the tourism industry for the last 15 years in both the DMO space and for private travel companies. For the last 3 years I have been on the Client Success Team at Bandwango helping our clients increase visitor spend in their destinations by creating unique experiences with our digital passport technology.

Bandwango, Salt Lake City, UT

Sales Director, July 2024 - present

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Strategic Planning

Key Account Management Budgeting & Forecasting Staff Training & Development Internal Communication

Curating tangible and elevated experiences that change the way people engage with places. Empowering DMOs, EDOs, Chambers, BIDs, and more to deliver and prove their value to stakeholders.

Results:

• Responsible for generating over $30k in new business monthly
• Aggressively attack sales territory through trade shows, sales missions, cold calling and prospecting

Client Success Specialist, February 2022 - July 2024

Work directly with Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) clients through strategic planning and maximizing usage of Bandwango’s Destination Experience Engine (DXE) software technology. Responsible for client retention, contract renewals and increased revenue streams.

Results:

- 89% annual logo retention

- Increased client revenues by 28% through strategic product upsell - Grew 3rd party revenue by 22% through product optimization

Visit SLO CAL, San Luis Obispo County, CA

Director of Sales, February 2020 - February 2022

Responsible for selling San Luis Obispo County as a premier travel destination to luxury domestic and international travel buyers. leisure group travel and meeting & conference. Served as a key member of the leadership team to develop and execute all sales strategies.

Results:

• Identified new markets and shifted sales strategy focusing on leisure group and luxury domestic travel buyers to accelerate COVID-19 recovery
• Increased FIT production by 22% through key account management
• Organized and executed online virtual sales training tool, Go Xplorit, for luxury travel buyers, meeting and conference planners and domestic tour operators.

Clipper Vacations, Seattle, WA

Kyla Boast |Tour and Travel Sales Professional

Director of Sales: August 2016 – February 2020

Responsible for successfully identifying and implementing effective data driven sales strategies to increase travel trade, leisure group and corporate incentive sales. Managed a team of three dynamic sales managers, together we drove over 13 million in revenue annually. Served as a key member of the executive leadership team.

Results:

• Established new business to business channel distribution processes to increase sales by 18% for off-peak travel periods
• Cultivated relationships with new prospects and existing customers increasing production of key accounts by 53%.
• Communicated clear, strategic sales vision to company ownership and internal stakeholders leading to improved communications and streamlined operational execution
• Effectively trained and coached all customer facing sales representatives company wide, leading to 17% increase in average order value over prior year
• Regularly analyzed customer base and potential growth markets to exceed annual sales goals
• Increased package profit margins by 11% through contract negotiation with long term vendors
• Improved sales policies and practices, redefined RFP process and implemented Clipper standards for sales follow-up and customer relationship management

Experience Olympia & Beyond, Olympia WA

Director of Sales & Marketing: August 2014 - August 2016

Responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive mix of sales and marketing programs, trade shows, sales missions and FAM tours to influence travel to Thurston County.

Results:

• Achieved company’s annual goals through development and implementation of integrated sales, marketing and communications strategies.
• Developed and managed companies’ group lead generation program
• Organized and led over 20 international and domestic travel trade and media familiarization tours resulting in 26

written articles, three published itineraries and over 41 million online impressions.

• Developed and promoted statewide itineraries increasing visitor spending of 5.4% in 2015
• Formed strategic partnerships county and state wide to maximize exposure and leverage financial resources
• Designed monthly scorecard reporting system to communicate sales performance and activities with key stakeholders for increased accountability
• Led implementation and integration of Simpleview CRM and website to record and report all sales activities

Red Lion Hotels, Olympia WA

Group Sales Manager: August 2012 – August 2014

Responsible for selling meeting space, hotel rooms and maximizing hotel revenue through effective sales efforts to SMERF, Tour + Travel, Entertainment and Group Government market segments.

• Achieved “Circle of Pride” Award for outstanding sales results by booking $876,000 in group revenue, exceeding annual goal by 138%
• Identified sales strategy based on hotel’s assets and targeting ideal customers resulting in 30 additional conventions

Travel Tacoma, Tacoma WA

Sales Manager: February 2010 – August 2012

Responsible for selling Tacoma and Pierce County as a meeting destination to national trade associations.

• Generated 23,000 lead room nights and 2,500 booked room nights in first year
• Solicited and booked local, regional and national association accounts through cold calls, trade shows, and site tours,

written and oral presentations

• Initiated and led aggressive sales campaigns such as “Meet in your City” and “Meet in Washington State”, building incremental room nights in Pierce County

Arizona State University (2006) Tempe, AZ

• Bachelor of Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies, Business + Mass Communications