Detailed Responsibilities:
Grow the International Tour Operator business in the EU/UK region and EU 2nd tier market
- To pro-actively develop new clients over and above the existing tour operator client base.
- To service existing client base and to grow this business.
- To keep tour operators updated with our latest information, special offers, etc.
- Monitoring Occupancies to grow the business during the green and shoulder seasons.
- Assist in overall sales strategy for the group, with consequent implementation.
- Identify trends & opportunities in the market place.
- Attend local, regional and International Trade Shows as and when required as part of the market strategy
- To liaise with other Marketing staff to ensure trade shows are organised in a systematic, timeous manner, to engage as to what is required for these shows and the deadlines thereof.
- Distribution of brochures, rates and any special offers while on sales calls or participating in trade shows.
- Following up with all administration and sales, e.g. by providing detailed sales reports.
Assist with growing the Travel Agents and tour operators product knowledge & facilitating the booking process.
- To do presentations on the WS product when visiting tour operators and travel agents in their offices.
- To liaise with Sales / Reservations on any issues relating to the agents and on certain areas of growing the business.
Prepare marketing strategies for WS specific for the specified market
- To write strategy documents & actions plans on growing the business.
- To prepare marketing budgets for the specific market
- Key liaison to international based reps in the market
Administration
- Liaising with the Head of Sales / South African MD / Head of Reservations / Trade & Media / other sales managers to share best practices, market updates and agent information.
- Assisting in the collection of Tour Operator data and being able to update internal records accordingly (Arm on WW)
- Co-ordinate the Customer Relations Management system / programme once implemented
- Preparing the relevant Tour Operator Sales Figures as required for External Sales Reports
- Preparing Power Point presentations for agent presentations
- Sales meeting feedback in accordance with the sales meetings/updates.
- Preparation of sales reports on return from international trips – feedback to the reservation teams
Generate brand awareness and sales thru media and familiarisation trips
- To follow up on agents’ travel and media bookings for feedback and comments with Marketing Services and CRT and to internal sales.
- Dedicated assistance for images and information to relevant agents as received directly
- Lead/host key educational trips throughout the regions working with the respective OPS teams to ensure maximum service and engagement to the agents whilst travelling
Meet business units sales, GP% and cost forecast
- Build sound relationships with customers and agents and participate in company CRM systems to record and manage customers’ relationships.
- Liaise with customers, Wilderness operating companies, Wilderness staff in regions and Partner Product suppliers on an ongoing basis.
- Review product analysis and drive sales.
- Review and manage yield on own and Partner Product.
Planning and budgetary control
- Prepare a quarterly forecast on parameters set. This is to be done with the Head of Sales and market reservation manager’s participation and must be subject to ongoing review.
- Measure sales & GP results against the budget and obtain explanations for any variances from budget.
- Review reports.
- Review unit report including cost per desk and headcount information.
- Will be responsible for setting educational rates and ensure group procedure is followed.
Implement strategy of using scale to the benefit of our agents – combined systems development, Wilderness Window/itrvl usage, business methodology
- Understand the internal systems to assist agents growing their support for us/with us.
- Obtain a better understanding of their business and where we can improve their business by adding further value.
- Strategize on how this can be implemented within the parameters of our systems.
- Implement and control.
Business development – own product
- Liaise with agents – build relationships proactively to better understand their business and how we can develop together.
- Maintain correspondence with agents.
- Solve problems & customer complaints expediently working with the Customer Care team/Travel Analysts, the consultant and respective reservation manager accordingly.
- Itinerary / Programme building, offering suggestions to consultants
- New product awareness
Business Development – Associated Product
- With reference to our Associated Product strategy, analyse the agents AP base.
- Formulate AP strategies in going forward, working with the respective reservations manager and AP team.
- Associated Product to share info on price structure/flexibility/negotiations.
- Being able to leverage off the AP team to further develop and grow the respective agents AP buying, hence increase our DMC offering
Contribute to strategic business planning
- Contributing towards the market strategy to develop & grow our agents from a sales and relationship point of view.
- Contributing to Product development from grassroots to mature product including:
- Communicate new product development with staff.
- Contributing towards newsletter articles with ideas.
- Contributing at strategic, review and other meetings.
- Bringing new ideas and concepts to team’s attention.
- Reading and staying abreast of industry development.
- Promoting the development of the Wilderness brand through product offering and service delivery.
Candidate Profile:
Qualification/Experience
- Matric with Mathematics
- Tertiary qualification in Marketing, specific reference to Travel & Tourism (an advantage)
- 3- 5 years in similar position from a sales or service-related industry environment.
- Previous management/development of a Brand will be an advantage.
- Accountability for financial results
- Experience in handling trade relationships
- Experience in assessing international source markets
- Computer Literacy (Microsoft Office with Advanced Excel)
- Working knowledge of TourPlan, Wilderness Window operation system will be an advantage
Gmail
Yahoomail