[Hiring] Business Development Manager, National and Strategic Accounts @Private Destinations

Role Description

This person must reside in the Northeastern area of the United States. We are looking to hire a Business Development Manager-National Account in Santa Clarita, California to successfully maximize the company’s financial goals, develop a strong business relationship with our national accounts/consortia, key accounts, and host travel partners, while upholding the company’s core values.

• Account Relationship Management
  • Sets goals with top accounts including annual, quarterly, and trade where applicable.
  • Strategizes with accounts to meet company and account goals.
  • Works with each account to maximize the selling of our brand.
  • Develops Sales & Marketing plans, national promotions, incentives, events, and training opportunities.
  • Initiates meetings with the accounts leadership team to discuss strategies for continuing and/or improving the accounts performance based on the analysis of the accounts business portfolio.
  • Advocate on behalf of agency management team and/or owners regarding policies, experience, and opportunities to gain market share.
  • Works with Director, National Accounts in the negotiation of the annual business terms for all account agreements tendered.
  • Defines an annual contact strategy with key accounts to provide consistent, effective engagement and collaboration.
  • Plan and attend import functions, seminars, conferences, top producer events and trade shows.
  • Sets periodic training with top accounts.
• Revenue Generation
  • Oversees the accounts efforts utilizing their allocated cooperative marketing, conferences/events and promotions budget agreed upon to advertise our brand effectively and efficiently to increase sales and profitability.
  • Provides consistent reporting of account performance and tracking to goal to upper management monthly.
  • Analyzes accounts and competitive trends to identify sales growth opportunities.
  • Responsibility to alert the Director, National Accounts of any overage/savings in budgetary allocations as soon as the run rate of expenditures indicates a savings is likely and/or re-allocation of funding for investment funding opportunities.
  • Works with each account to increase YOY revenues through maximum utilization of the company programs and sales tools.
  • Promotes and advocates the use of group program, exclusive promotions/offers to assure maximization of group space and amenities.
  • Analysis of inventory and advises accounts of sales opportunities.
  • Creates “out of the box” exclusive programs to create value-added proposition for accounts and their customers.
  • Organizes and prioritizes various projects that are required on “as need basis”.
• Marketing Management
  • Supports the development of annual marketing plans for accounts where applicable.
  • Manages and tracks all approved co-op marketing including the vetting and proofing of various marketing pieces.
  • Ensures appropriate use of brand imaging, logos, and selection of trade/product to advertise.
  • Collaborates with marketing on the development of brand consistent presentations.
  • Collaborates with marketing for brand position, consumer trends and co-branding opportunities.
  • Develops marketing intelligence of competitive activities and materials.
  • Drives agent participation and completion of Academy training.
• Budget Management
  • Reviews and tracks account marketing plans.
  • Responsible for the submission of commitments and ensures accounts invoices, pre-bills are submitted and processed in a timely manner.
  • Helps ensure that T&E budget targets are met.
  • Submits timely Pcard expenses and iexpense reports.
• Travel
  • Manages air, hotel, and car travel.
  • Attends consortia/national account conferences, imports, account familiarization cruises, sales meeting events, top producer events, and regional training events.
• Internal Communication and Feedback
  • Provides competitive data to commercial/product team for evaluation and pricing strategy.
  • Provides feedback to onboard product group regarding trade partner and customer experiences.
  • Communicates with guest services, customer services, contact center and partner support team to ensure trade partner relationships are meeting and exceeding service level expectations.
  • Advocates to company head office on behalf of Agency owners, managers and agents regarding business opportunities, policies, service delivery experiences.
• Personal Development
  • Attends corporate development workshops and training.
  • Stays abreast of all company communications, policies, product enhancements and itineraries.
  • Stays abreast of all industry developments by reading trade publications, attending industry events and networking.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience.
• 5-7 years in cruise/hotel/hospitality industry required.
• Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Understand travel industry business models, ability to work effectively with remote teams/individuals.
• Excellent analytical skills, proficient in Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Salesforce management tool.
• Ability to lead, coach and motivate travel advisors and to help them develop business and marketing plans.
• Ability to work independently and effectively with agent partners and executives at all levels.
• Ability to negotiate account issues and facilitate resolutions across various departments throughout the company.

Requirements

• Travel: 25-50% with shipboard travel likely.
• Work Conditions: Work beyond normal business hours or on weekends may be required occasionally to support business needs, projects, or operations.
• Physical Demands: Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time.
• This position is classified as “remote.” As a remote role, it allows employees to work full-time from their home. It may also require regular travel to Cunard headquarters.

Benefits

• Cruise and Travel Privileges for You and Your Family.
• Health Benefits.
• 401(k).
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Training & Professional Development.
• Tuition & Professional Certification Reimbursement.