Coaching Corner - Tami LeBlanc

Mentoring Through Connection in Destination Sales

If you ask Tami LeBlanc, CMP what the secret is to building a long and meaningful career in destination sales, she’ll tell you without missing a beat: “It’s all about people.”

With decades of experience in both hotel sales and destination marketing, LeBlanc brings a calm, down-to-earth energy to her role at Discover Halifax. She’s passionate about building real relationships and helping others grow and that’s been her guiding principle from the very beginning.

Tami’s career started with a leap of faith. After a job in airline marketing fell through, she picked up the phone and called the director of public relations at the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau. “I told him I had a PR degree and wanted to work with them,” she says. “He invited me to come in and volunteer a few days a week and eventually, I got offered a job.” That one phone call opened the door to a career rooted in connection, curiosity, and courage.

Those early days shaped how she thinks about mentorship now. “It’s still about relationships,” she says. “Mentorship hasn’t changed much. It’s about having real conversations and getting to know people.” Whether it’s a casual coffee chat or a quick virtual check-in, Tami believes that meaningful mentorship comes from being open, honest, and willing to listen.

Over the years, she’s worked on both sides of the industry, first in hotel sales, and now at a destination marketing organization (DMO). That experience helps her see the big picture. “You’re often working with the same clients, just in a different way,” she explains. “My time in hotels gave me insight into what properties care about, things like contract details, profit margins and how they evaluate business. Now, at a DMO, I can better support those relationships because I’ve been in their shoes.”

One of the things that brings her the most joy is seeing people she’s mentored succeed. “I’ve had sales coordinators who went on to do amazing things,” she says. One name that comes to mind is Christine Bruce, now with the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. “She had that drive. She asked questions and stayed curious. That makes all the difference. Don’t be afraid to ask why. That’s how you grow.”

Tami believes curiosity is key for anyone looking to move forward in their career. “Ask questions. Listen. Don’t rely on everything being online,” she advises. “Volunteer, go to events, shadow someone if you can. Pick up the phone. That’s how you make real connections.”

To her, building relationships isn’t just a professional skill, it’s personal. That’s especially true in her role representing Halifax. “Halifax is just such a warm, welcoming city,” she smiles. “People will literally stop their cars to let you cross the street. It’s laid-back and authentic, but also sophisticated when you want it to be. You can go from a boardroom to a picnic table by the water eating fresh lobster and feel completely at home.”

That genuine vibe makes it easy for her to bring Halifax into her sales pitch. “It’s not something I have to sell. People feel it when they’re here. Everything is walkable, you run into delegates everywhere. It makes for such a connected, memorable experience.”

When asked what advice she has for people just starting out in the industry, she doesn’t hesitate. “Put yourself out there,” she says. “If you’re not sure what you want to do yet, that’s okay. Talk to people who are in roles you’re curious about. Volunteer. Say ‘YES’ to things. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

At the heart of it all, Tami believes that success in this industry and in life, isn’t about the perfect pitch or the biggest deal. It’s about the relationships you build along the way and the people you lift up as you go.

If you’d like to connect with Tami LeBlanc to learn more about destination sales or mentorship in the meetings industry, you can reach her at tleblanc@discoverhalifaxns.com or find her on LinkedIn.

Article written by: Sophyra Pum, MPI Ottawa Student Member