Description:
The Business Development Sr. Manager will be responsible for providing account management and business development for Saadiyat Island as a Destination across several key source markets. This role will also be responsible for managing all market activations with the intent to increase Saadiyat Island awareness, visitation, and profitable share from these markets. In addition, this role is responsible for generating and developing new business opportunities for the destination’s stakeholders through wholesale and other prospect accounts.
This position ensures pull-through of overall business strategies to build long-term relationships between Miral Destinations, representing Saadiyat Island, and the identified partners. Specific areas of responsibility include providing key input on the overall strategy for deployed accounts, implementing strategies to position Saadiyat Island as a preferred Destination, executing business development plans and liaising with Miral Destinations international team around the world to ensure effective pull-through of luxury segment strategies to achieve desired goals.
Role Scope:
- Formulate and implement sales strategy for various source markets to ensure visitation growth for the Destination.
- Develop comprehensive understanding of the key markets assigned and contribute market insights, market intelligence and solid sales strategy and tactics to the annual Sales Plan for the Destination.
- Maintain high profile network across the geographical areas assigned, actively prospect new business and promotional opportunities.
- Conduct DMC/TO/Agents Product training & Educational webinars.
- Plan and execute cyclical market activities such as roadshows, annual dinners, sales trips.
- Engage in domestic and international sales missions and tradeshows to raise destination awareness and consideration.
- Conduct monthly stakeholders’ engagement calls/meetings/entertainments and work closely with them to ensure maximum cooperation.
- Plan and execute Destination’s FAM trips.
- Identify and source partners for potential Joint Marketing Partnerships.
- Work with B2B marketing team to negotiate and deploy joint marketing plans aligned with our overall destination objectives.
- Conduct review meetings with partners to monitor market performance and trends, joint marketing activity performance (where applicable) and make recommendations for change based on learnings.
- Effectively use the CRM system for daily reporting, tracking leads and other functions as requested.
- Maintain customer database.
- Track sales expenses in accordance with budget.
- Maintain and update budget tracking templates, business development plans and calendars.
- Comply with all reporting requirements and liaise with international offices to source data in the set timeframe.
Qualifications, Experience and Skills:
Essential:
- Educated to Degree level or equivalent in relevant field.
- Minimum 5 year’s previous experience within UAE in a leisure/MICE sales role
- Fluency in English
- Experience of working in a leisure/ hospitality focused role
- Demonstrable sales and business development experience
- Strong knowledge of the tourism market, travel industry dynamics, and industry distribution
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines.
- Full working knowledge of MS Office including PowerPoint.