Cruise Commercial Manager

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Job description

As the UK's largest independent travel agency, Hays Travel specialises in providing good value, quality holidays alongside excellent customer service. We work with all leading suppliers and can package holidays that include hotels, flights, cruises, tours, attraction tickets, and more. We have over 470 Branches throughout the UK and our Head Office based in Sunderland, is home to tour operator teams, finance, marketing, people/HR and IT, plus many more. We have been operating for over 40 years, and continue to grow each year.

Cruise is a successful and award-winning travel agency specialising in Cruise holidays. Our award-winning brand provide expert service and exceptional cruise holidays to locations around the world.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a Commercial Manager - Cruise with over three years of experience in the travel industry, particularly within the cruise sector. We are looking for someone who not only understands the commercial arena but also brings fresh ideas and solutions to the table. You will be deeply involved in the travel industry, with a strong understanding of the cruise market, and will play a key role in shaping our commercial efforts.
Managing and developing the commercial team - joining our growing team at this exciting time offers a unique chance to make a significant impact within the company.

Key Responsibilities:

• Negotiate commercial terms with suppliers to ensure guaranteed overrides, targeted overrides, marketing funds, tactical offers/exclusives, and staff incentives are negotiated and communicated where appropriate.
• Understand trading performance, opportunities and improvements,
• Agree specific actions to meet customer demand and supplier requirements
• Negotiate the best prices & most exclusive deals
• Be the first to market with campaigns, launches and new products,
• Maximise overall sales throughout the group by identifying product that would be suitable to market, with the support from the suppliers.
• Meet with suppliers to build and maintain supplier relationships.
• Hold weekly market trend discussions with suppliers and effectively communicate market position to line manager.
• Support relationship management with the Sales, Product, and Marketing departments to ensure funding opportunities from suppliers are maximised for personal and department KPIs to be achieved.
• Raise sponsorship funds from suppliers for Hays and Independence Group Conferences.
• Deal with branch queries for suppliers such as commission, price matches, errors, and general queries and use problem-solving skills to bring to resolution.
• Continual review of all internal processes and procedures, ensuring agreed departmental processes and procedure documents are maintained.
• Gain full understanding of the different trading divisions within the group and their working practices.
• Schedule and complete one-to-one sessions and appraisals for direct reports in line with company policy. Provide necessary feedback to manager.
• Support the management of the day-to-day operation of the department.
• Providing exceptional customer service at all times.
• Willingness to participate in and deliver training appropriate to own development.
• Effectively perform administrative duties.
• Participate in ad-hoc duties or prepare ad-hoc information where required.

Technical Skills Required:

• IT software packages including Microsoft Office and Outlook as well as in-house systems & reporting tools.
• File management skills.
• Web navigation skills.
• E-mail management skills.

Qualifications/Experience Required:

• Previous travel industry experience ideally within a commercial role.
• Excellent travel product knowledge.

Competencies Required:

• Excellent communication, persuasive negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Highly motivated, confident, and committed.
• Upbeat, enthusiastic, and positive attitude with a commitment to contribute to the growth of the business.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills.
• Relationship management.
• Exceptional interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• A real passion for delivering consistent, exceptional customer service.
• Results-focused.
• Strong commercial skills and awareness.
• Well-organised and able to manage a range of responsibilities, prioritising tasks as required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to liaise with all levels of staff from branch level to Director.
• Excellent knowledge of the travel industry.
• Ability to work towards individual and team sales targets.
• Good accuracy and numerical skills.

General:

• To undertake any other duties that may fall into the job criteria.
• To conform with all company policies and procedures including Health and Safety.
• To treat all employees, customers, and suppliers with dignity and respect.
• This job description is not intended as an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the post but simply reflects the key areas involved.

About Us

As the UK's largest independent travel agency, Hays Travel specialise in providing good value, quality holidays alongside excellent customer service. We work with all leading suppliers and can package holidays that include hotels, flights, cruises, tours, attraction tickets, and more. We have over 470 Branches throughout the UK and our Head Office based in Sunderland, is home to tour operator teams, finance, marketing, people/HR and IT, plus many more. We have been operating for over 40 years, and continue to grow each year.

Our values

Our SMILE values are embedded in to our Company and ensures our teams work strongly together. You and all of our colleagues will ensure that the Hays Travel values are demonstrated at all times.

• Supportive
• Motivational
• Innovative
• Loyal
• Excellent

What it's like to work for us?

Whichever location or department you work in, our people are always at the heart of everything we do. We offer a range of training programmes to help you progress personally and professionally, as we know the benefits of promoting and rewarding our hardworking colleagues are extremely important.

Of course, it's not all about work, we're very sociable and there are always lots of team nights-out and company parties. Plus, there are opportunities to travel abroad on educational trips, and you can also take advantage of our colleague discount when booking your own holidays.

Hays Travel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all colleagues. As an accredited employer provider of apprenticeships, we undertake basic checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure the safety of our apprentices for relevant roles