Director, Business Development, Leisure

Company Description

Founded in 2011, Travel Edge is a $750 million privately-held company specializing in Leisure, Corporate & Events, and Tours travel. As North America's largest luxury-focused travel company, Travel Edge has earned its place as a category leader, outpacing the industry with impressive growth and world-class technology. The company's Travel Edge Network division has presence in the US, Canada, and Bermuda, with over 750 expert advisors specializing in air, cruise, vacation, and VIP travel. The Corporate & Events division has four offices and 100 corporate travel and event planners specializing in corporations looking for a tailored and full-service travel management solution. The Tours division, Kensington Tours, has over 160 destination experts and offers custom and private guided tours to over 90 countries worldwide. Our brand promise - to create the experience to Be Well Travelled.

Job Description

We're seeking someone who would thrive in the role of driving travel advisor acquisition in a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment. The role of Director of Business Development with the Travel Edge Network (TEN) will be based in a major North American market and will have the opportunity to significantly impact the performance of the TEN division. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, this travel industry expert will be part of the team responsible for onboarding millions in travel bookings by identifying, qualifying, and recruiting new travel agents into our host agency. The ideal candidate combines outstanding travel industry experience, an assertive sales approach, and a tireless work ethic. You will advance our understanding of the North American advisor landscape and develop the playbook for advisor acquisition by analyzing target markets and identify prospective opportunities. This Director will be a hunter who is entrepreneurial, methodical, and creative with proven ability to go beyond traditional business development approaches.

Your work will positively impact Travel Edge Network's business strategies and plans.

Responsibilities

• New business acquisition from sourcing, approaching, and closing new business opportunities within the travel market.
• Create leads from your own prospecting efforts, leveraging contacts, social media platforms to identify prospects.
• Executing phone/email campaigns to recruit advisors with an existing book of business.
• Conducting sales presentations, both in-person and remote, to new prospects.
• Accurate data entry and effective management of sales pipeline.
• Attending networking events to promote the brand.
• Refine the Travel Edge offer and evolve tactics to conduct analysis to support critical business decisions based on facts.
• Work with the team to develop and create a recruitment strategy and process to acquire new travel advisors.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of progressive work experience in the travel industry in sales or business development or has progressive travel industry experience with a history of proven business success.
• Has a business development mindset with a roll-up your sleeves approach and the flexibility to move quickly and navigate a large and complex marketplace.
• Excellent communication skills and persuasive skills with proven ability to influence external prospects.
• Naturally curious with a strong determination to work around obstacles.
• Takes ownership, initiative and is self-directed.
• Consultative selling and client relationship development experience, with proven success.
• Collaborative and confident with sound judgment.
• Has a straightforward style and can quickly generate trust with a variety of stakeholders.
• Unquestionable integrity, high energy, and a sense of urgency.
• Embraces challenge and has the desire to be a part of a fast-growing company where the only constant is change.
• A results-driven and forward-looking perspective. Holds self and others accountable.
• This role requires approximately 25% travel.

Additional Information

Cultural Fit:

• Thrives working in a technology and KPI-driven organization.
• Able to thrive in an entrepreneurial environment with ambiguity.
• Highly functional in a fast paced, constantly changing workplace - building plans through iterations from learning on what's working and not working.
• Low ego and a team player.
• Ability to build trust and work through conflict both upwards and downward.

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation and commission structure
• FAM Travel Benefit
• In-house training & support
• Benefits
• Paid vacation
• Company paid RSP or 401K contribution

We know that our success is dependent on the people who join our team, which is why we recruit the best. Our team is made up of owners; people who are smart, low ego, and who are accountable for their results. We all play a part in the success of the company and are proud of what we do.

We thank all candidates for their interest however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.