FIVE MINUTES WITH...
Photo © Dr. Phillips Center for t he Performing A r ts
Greg Dotson
Group Sales Manager Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
A
Edited by Sarah Suydam
A 25 -year industr y veteran, Greg Dotson has always
Than k f u lly, t he love our pat rons have for t he ar ts on ly
had a passion for enter tainment. His career is vas t,
g rows by t he t remendous ex posure found on stage and
ranging from hotel concierge, to touring professional
screen, and now on the internet and beyond.
dancer, to production stage manager with Walt Disney Enter tainment. Dotson also previously worked in the
ON CHALLENGES
student travel realm with Kaleidoscope Adventures, where
Follow ing the pandemic, one of the greatest challenges
he built educational and performance-based itineraries
I’ve ex per ienced is people’s resista nce to leav ing t heir
for student groups traveling to destinations around the
homes or of f ices to do business. Our indust r y is based
U.S. He eventually made his way to Merlin Entertainments
up on bu i ld i n g rel at ion s h ip s, a nd t h at h a s b e c ome
as National Sales Manager, where he promoted over 30
less and less ef fect ive when done so over t he phone or
renowned attractions across the U.S. and Canada.
computer. I’m always happy to work w it h someone who
Today, Dotson proudly serves as Manager of Group Sales
is job searching and prov ide feedback, however, when I
at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts,
learn they’re limiting their hospitalit y industr y search to
where he has the opportunity to promote their vision of
only remote roles, I feel conf licted. There are cer tainly
Arts For Every Life® to groups of all ages. Dotson also
reasons why someone must work f rom home, however
enjoys mentoring industry newcomers and volunteering,
t he indust r y is built on relat ionships t hat ta ke years to
serving on the SY TA Foundation Board of Trustees, the ABA
cultivate. I’d encourage students coming out of college to
Foundation Board of Governors and Marketplace Advisory
look for opportunities to truly develop these sk ills through
Committee, and locally as the Chair of the Foundation for
lived experiences and on-the-job reps, as these tools are
Orange County Public Schools Board of Directors.
necessar y to excel.
Groups Today caught up with Dotson to hear his latest thoughts!
ON WHAT’S NEW AT DR. PHILLIPS We recently opened Judson’s Live, a brand-new music
ON CHANGES
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room inspired by iconic listening venues across the country.
The way we communicate w it h interna l and ex terna l
It of fers an int imate space for music ex plorat ion and
c l ie nt s i s e v ol v i n g at a r a pid r at e a nd t he r e a r e
connection, while offering delicious small plates and an
opportunit ies to integ rate new tact ics to better connect
extensive cocktail and brown spirits menu. We now have four
w it h our g uests. We’ve learned t hat our younger clients
performance venues in our building, in addition to multiple
prefer to communicate v ia text or direct message and their
event spaces and the AdventHealth School of the Arts.
at tent ion span has shr unk to just a few seconds. These
We’ve also announced our upcoming ‘24/’25 Broadway
changes make it challeng ing for us to keep up w it h t he
Season—our biggest lineup since opening in 2014. Nex t
most effective tools for marketing. As soon as we learn one
season, we’ll welcome new shows to Orlando like Shucked,
platform, we’re introduced to anot her. These challenges
Some Like It Hot, and A Beautiful Noise, as well as familiar
also lead to opportunities for grow th and development as
favorites like Mamma Mia, Book of Mormon, and Disney’s
we find new market segments and ways to communicate.
The Lion King. We truly have something for ever yone.
GROUPS TODAY May /June 2 02 4