City Cruises UK is part of the City Experiences division of the Hornblower Group, a global leader in world-class experiences and transportation services. The company operates public dining and sightseeing cruises as well as private charters for corporate events, birthday parties, weddings, or other special occasions across London, Poole, and York.
The company is currently seeking a Travel Trade Sales Manager, who will play a crucial role in managing and growing sales from national and international trade partners, including OTA’s, DMC’s, education, coach, and group operators. This position is ideal for someone with a passion for developing and nurturing relationships aligned with the commercial needs of the business.
Key responsibilities:
- Identify and solicit business from new trade partners while nurturing existing relationships.
- Represent the company at national and international events, serving as an ambassador.
- Manage relationships with key industry partners such as VisitBritain, UKinbound, and ETOA.
- Negotiate 3rd party commissions/discounts within agreed parameters.
- Negotiate and agree on non-monetary facets of the contract such as merchandising/positioning agreements.
- Provide weekly and monthly reporting of trade partners with insights.
- Troubleshoot performance shortfalls of trade partners and identify tactical opportunities for improvement.
- Create and maintain training guides on company products and selling tools.
- Conduct regular training sessions for sales teams and host product familiarization events.
- Manage trade budgets and expenditure effectively.
- Lead, coach, and develop team members to achieve their full potential.
- Manage the distribution of bulk tickets/barcodes and track usage and invoicing status.
- Define and develop CRM dashboards to provide insight to other areas of the business.
- Work with the marketing team to create adverts and content for trade publications and events.
Key skills & experience:
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in the Travel & Tourism industry (ideal).
- Experience in account management with global trade partners.
- Knowledge of OTAs and API integration.
- Previous management experience is an advantage.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience in contracting and negotiation.
- Proficient in MS Office; experience with CRM systems (Salesforce preferred).
- Fluency in a second language is desirable.
How to apply: Click here to apply for this position.
About City Cruises: City Cruises operates a range of award-winning cruise products in London, Poole, and York. In London, sightseeing cruises on the River Thames operate daily, and there is a full schedule of dining cruises including Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner plus special event cruises like Elvis and Murder Mystery. And for thrill-seekers, there’s the Thames Jet speed boat! In Poole, customers can enjoy a boat trip around Poole Harbour or take a cruise along the Jurassic Coast to Swanage. In York, there is a range of both sightseeing and dining cruises, and for budding captains, there’s also a fleet of self-drive boats.
