Description:
The Business Development Executive is responsible for generating new business leads and client enquiries for Peak Retreats to achieve growth targets. This is a part-time role for one day a week. Reporting to the Marketing Director, the Business Development Executive will develop new ways to generate enquiries, which will be serviced by the reservations team, in order to increase sales at Peak Retreats. They will contribute ideas to the development of sales strategy, identify new opportunities for growth and drive these forward.
The role requires a commercially minded, hands-on, ideas-focused individual who is as happy coming up with ideas as executing them, talking to potential new clients and passing on enquiries generated to the reservations team, ensuring the business remains competitive within the travel industry, whilst adhering to Peak Retreats’ core values.
Peak Retreats is an award-winning employee-owned tour operator specialising in the French Alps.
Key responsibilities
Business development & sales strategy
- Proactively identify, develop and implement new ideas and opportunities to boost sales, increase enquiries and drive business growth.
- Generate new enquiries to be serviced by the reservations team.
- Find new customer segments that align with our strategy and pursue these to generate enquiries.
- Experiment with the use of different methods to find new clients (i.e. LinkedIn)
- Use customer personas to reach out to potential new clients
- Develop and take ownership of Peak Retreats' Client Ambassador Scheme, helping to shape its future direction, increase engagement and generate new enquiries through customer advocacy and referrals.
- Suggest ways in which the reservations team could improve their processes to drive growth.
- Ensure that the new business generated aligns with our sales strategy and supports our business objectives and core values.
- Work with the Directors to contribute ideas that can develop the sales strategies
- Liaise with the marketing team regarding opportunities that need marketing support or opportunities they have found that require business development support.
- Attend in-person events when relevant.
- Keep up to date with competitor activity and industry trends as they could relate to growth
- Contribute recommendations to support the ongoing development of the business
Sales performance
- Deliver agreed growth targets.
- Monitor sales performance, conversion rates and key sales metrics from generated enquiries to identify the most successful initiatives
- Report when required to the Directors on activities undertaken and results achieved.
Customer service
- Ensure consistently high standards of customer service are maintained.
- Ensure that Peak Retreats’ brand voice and guidelines are used in all communications
- Deliver quality enquiries to drive high booking conversion.
Relationship management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with the reservations team.
- Liaise closely with the marketing team to ensure sales and marketing activities are aligned and support business objectives.
- Maintain effective working relationships across the business to support growth and operational success.
Reporting and business support
- Provide regular reporting and insights to the Marketing Director on enquiries generated, opportunities and challenges.
- Undertake additional projects and initiatives as required to support the growth and success of the business.
- Helping service reservations enquiries when required.
- Carry out any other duties reasonably required by the Directors.
Skills, knowledge and experience
Essential
- Proven experience in developing new business in a B2C environment.
- Demonstrable track record of achieving and exceeding business development targets.
- Experience in driving enquiries and sales including into new customer segments
- Experience analysing sales data and implementing improvements.
- Strong commercial awareness and profitability focus.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
- Highly proactive, self-motivated and results-driven approach.
Desirable
- Experience within the travel industry
- An enthusiasm for the mountains
- A love of skiing
- Experience working closely with marketing and reservations teams