Business Development Manager (Arizona or Texas)

Business Development Manager

Start Date/Timeline Expectations: July 1st

The BDM role is to be proactively planning ahead to be in front of the trade agents up to 80% of your time, including but not limited to, on the road in person store visits, conferences & events, Team Leader/Manager meetings, agent product training days, and also where applicable group Teams meetings for more regional top supporting agents if unable to get them in person. The BDM will be responsible for visiting existing key trade partners to nurture relationships and provide training. They will also create marketing materials and promotional campaigns for trade partners.

Outputs & Deliverables:

• A volume of high-quality trade leads coming into the business that hits or exceeds targets.
• An increased number of agents bringing multiple inquiries and bookings each year, ideally for both company brands.
• Help turn one-off bookers into repeat business.
• Overall trade sales volume hitting or exceeding booking targets.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Strong understanding of the American travel industry, especially travel agent relations with wholesalers.
• Previous success in business development capacity, ideally for a high-end or niche product.
• Strong knowledge of Japan and other Asia destination countries, with the ability to quickly increase product knowledge in this area.
• Previous experience in successfully pitching to win new business, as well as presenting engaging storytelling-inspired training to diverse audiences across all formats from face to face to virtual/digital methods.
• Ability to analyze sales figures using Excel, and other supplied dashboard platforms, and present this information in a clear and accessible way.
• Good communicator and collaborator; able to work with other departments and managers both internally and externally in a constructive and honest way in order to get the job done.
• Excellent complaint-handling skills; the ability to find win-win outcomes to preserve key relations.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining regular reporting and alignment with the Director of Trade Sales.
• Highly motivated, well organized individual with the ability to handle a large variety of simultaneous tasks.
• A high level of productivity and accuracy; able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment with appropriate support.
• Ambitious approach to growth and opportunities.

Beneficial Skills and Experience:

• Experience of travel or living in Japan (or other Asia destination countries)
• A natural "story-teller" - comfortable in a presenting role and engaging an audience