Creating and Inspiring Experiential Excellence

"Growing up in a rural Pennsylvania town, I often wondered what it would be like to see the sun set over the Pacific Ocean or hear the chime of Big Ben," said Nathan A. Claycomb, Business Development Manager, Sight & Sound Theatres®.

Growing up, he may not have made it to the West Coast or London, but every year, one of his high school clubs would travel to Sight & Sound Theatres to see Noah. After graduating, Claycomb received his Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Communications and Broadcasting from Millersville University and then began working for Sight & Sound.

He worked backstage for 10 years before noticing an open position as a business development manager—a role that, he realized, would perfectly marry his passion for Sight & Sound to his love of connecting with people.

"It absolutely astounded me that people traveled from all over the country to see live productions in the middle of Amish country," he said. "The more guests I met throughout the years, the more excited I became about travel and the group travel industry."

In his position, Claycomb builds and maintains relationships with the tourism and travel industry, both domestically and abroad. He has played an integral role in connecting Sight & Sound to the international tourism market through initiatives, such as language translation services.

His goal every day?

"To create and inspire experiential excellence." 

From seven-minute ABA appointments to greeting groups on Sight & Sound properties, Claycomb notes that each group travel professional is able to create meaningful and memorable experiences for guests. He hopes that suppliers continue to exceed expectations and create lasting memories that inspire travel for future generations.

"In our industry, we are privileged to meet a few thousand people every year, and I absolutely love meeting new people," Claycomb said. "From tour operators to the guests entering the theatre, building relationships is truly my favorite part of my role and group travel."

Nathan A. Claycomb is one of the 2017 Top 10 Next Gens nominated by Groups Today readers for making a difference in the industry. Click here to read more about the Top 10 Next Gens in the January/February issue of the magazine. 

Written by Cassie Westrate, staff writer for Groups Today.