Business Relationship Lead / Area Sales Director – MSC Cruises

Job Description

Explora Journeys is expanding in the USA. This focus of this role is to achieve the Explora Journeys commercial objectives and revenue targets within assigned source market region. Lead specific assigned strategic accounts to grow market share, create bias and brand loyalty, identify new business development opportunities and grow the brands visibility. Collaborate with Head of Sales and peer Business Relationship Leads to leverage sales distribution networks and marketing platforms ensuring brand consistency, policy and pricing integrity. To work with broader cross-functional stakeholders, ensuring business success.
Responsibilities
Lead and manage defined Go-to-Market strategy for assigned region in terms of key accounts and business development initiatives.
Implementation of all sales plans, strategies as defined by leadership.
Develop best in class relationships that shift share and grow partner loyalty to achieve and exceed KPIs through a focused communication plan.
Exceed overall gross and net revenue goals as set by leadership.
Executive business review meetings and leverage performance data to support revenue generation.
Manage with leadership and the Global Trade Marketing Lead all cooperative marketing plans, ROI and regular partner performance reviews, QBRs against targets.
Lead any Pay for Performance plans with partners.
Promote group, incentive and charter business from assigned accounts. Manage assigned budget and Forecast Process with an expert understanding of channel mix and acquisition cost impact.
Effectively utilise all Sales tools, to include Salesforce, Conga Contract Management, EXP360, E-Learning.
Maintains brand and product visibility by participating in the appropriate trade partner events.
Deliver high calibre training using all tools available.
Embrace and professionally execute educational visits, Creates a culture of success, collaboration and ongoing business goal achievement across peers, accounts and brand teams.
Maintain high levels of customer service for both internal and external stakeholders. Acts as a role-model for brand values as an ambassador and broader corporate citizen.
Demonstrates Crisis Management expertise and reliability.
Requirements

5+ years of hospitality sales experience (luxury cruise industry experience a plus) with a desired 2 years working for luxury brand(s)
Proven track record in luxury travel industry related sales and revenue growth
Stellar professional reputation. Highly personable, trusted, with respected and established credibility.
Excellent sales network. known contact base and high knowledge of partners / key accounts in region.
Strong planning, organizational and budgeting skills
Proactive problem solver and opportunity seeker based on fact and results.
Strong negotiator who sells on value not price.
Understands when to say “no” to get to a “yes”.
Effective and persuasive communication skills – excellent at presenting to small and large audiences
Possesses the “Art of Listening and Knowledge Exchange” Fluent command of spoken and written Japanese and English
Technically fluent and capable with reservation and CRM platforms (Versonix Seaware and SalesForce skills an advantage)
Green card or US passport
MSC is an everify employer Part of the MSC Group, MSC Cruises is the market leader in the Mediterranean, South Africa and South America, and sails year-round in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Its seasonal itineraries cover northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, South America, southern Africa, and the Persian/Arabian Gulf. MSC Cruises was born in the Mediterranean, and draws inspiration from this heritage to create a unique experience for holidaymakers worldwide. As a result of a euro 6.5 billions investment programme launched in 2003, MSC Cruises’ fleet comprises 13 state-of-the-art cruise ships belonging to four different classes: Lirica, Musica, Fantasia and Meraviglia. The fleet’s average age is 7 years, the youngest in the industry. In 2014, MSC Cruises launched a euro 9 billion, 10 year investment plan to support the second phase of its growth through the order of up to 11 next generation mega cruise ships. As a result, MSC Cruises’ fleet will double by 2026, while the passenger capacity will triple to reach five million passengers per year. MSC Cruises is the first cruise company to develop an investment plan of this length and magnitude. MSC Cruises feels a deep responsibility for the environments in which it operates, and was the first company ever to earn the Bureau Veritas “7 Golden Pearls” for superior management and environmental stewardship. In 2009, MSC Cruises began an enduring partnership with UNICEF to support various programmes assisting children worldwide.

Job Type: Full-time