Tourism Counselor

Job Title

Under general supervision, performs customer service-related duties for the Tourism Office.

Job Description

Under general supervision, performs customer service-related duties for the Tourism Office. Work involves greeting visitors to the Spotsylvania Visitor Center and County Museum, as well as fostering a positive public image. Work also involves preparing information in response to consumer inquiry and interest and ensuring an adequate supply of promotional materials. Reports to the Assistant Tourism Manager. This position is less than 20 hours per week.

Special Duties & Responsibilities

• Greets visitors to the Spotsylvania Visitors Center and County Museum; provides information to visitors, including distributing maps and brochures; assists in conducting and planning tours for visitors.
• Answers telephone and responds to callers requesting touring and travel-related information; describes attributes of County attractions and activities.
• Prepares tourism packages; sorts and prepares packages for bulk mailing; prepares shipments of brochures.
• Maintains accurate records of daily activities, including number of visitors to the center, their origins, points of interest, sales activities, etc.
• Performs basic computer-based research and analysis on tourism and related topics. Documents findings on fact sheets, spreadsheets and charts.
• Inventories brochures and merchandise on a regular basis; records and informs supervisor of shortages and restocks as necessary.
• Participates in trade shows, special events and activities at the Visitors Center, Museum, as well as various locations as warranted.
• Ensures Visitors Center and County Museum offers a clean and comfortable environment to visitors of Spotsylvania County; maintains smooth and effective operation of Visitors Center and County Museum.
• Sells gift shop merchandise, including maps, event tickets, etc.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Training & Experience

High School Diploma or equivalent with three (3) to five (5) years of experience in customer service or marketing work; or any combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities. Possession of a valid driver's license from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Special Requirements

• Knowledge of the policies and procedures, organization and functions of the Tourism Office.
• Knowledge of the geographic layout of the County, including all tourist attractions.
• Knowledge of the tourist attractions of the surrounding area and state.
• Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, equipment.
• Knowledge of the available resources of the County and the surrounding region.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, discretion and initiative.
• Ability to exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with the general public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to maintain high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all co-workers and the general public.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving assignments and/or directions from supervisor.
• Ability to read maps, brochures, indices, etc.
• Ability to prepare daily log sheets, etc. Must be able to speak with poise, voice control and confidence, and to articulate information to others.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagrammatic form; to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in or from standardized situations.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently, both professionally and respectfully.
• Ability to process electronic and monetary transactions, accurately make change and operate/close out registers and point-of-sale systems.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with persons acting under stress.