Product Manager - Travel

Product Manager – Competitive salary

Location: Cheltenham or London

The Product Manager will be responsible for creating, contracting and delivering creative, imaginative and commercially viable product within the travel sector. They will strive to contract a variety of product, ensuring that all Travel Consultants have the right product at their fingertips to achieve their sales targets, they will also work very closely with other departments, notably marketing, sales and operations to ensure detailed feedback and analysis is generated to continue to improve Product.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• They will drive forward year on year growth whilst ensuring profitability is maximised and a culture of excellence in product delivery is maintained and enhanced
• Ensure brands are buying product at a competitive rate and take the Lead all negotiations
• Report on the profitability of performance of product within the region
• Ensure Travel Consultants are product knowledgeable and fully supported,
• Organise and operate PR trips for journalists as and when required
• Source new product to ensure company offering is relevant, creative and marketable
• Keep abreast of product featured in key media
• Communicate effectively - appreciate what the clients are asking for and act upon it
• Maintain positive and collaborative relationships with all DMCs and suppliers
• Write reports on profitability and competitor activity, encouraging transparency of margins
• Responsible for ensuring both air and ground allocations are requested for the brochure programmes, that the allocations are confirmed, and provided to operations to load on the reservations system.
• The PM should manage and monitor GOP for their product and, should areas fall short of company targets, investigate, and report the specific problems and take remedial action
• Responsible for ensuring that group tours operate with profitable numbers
• Ensure booking systems are being used optimally & product is loaded on systems effectively
• Ensure product text is accurate, Health & Safety requirements met and contracts are in place
• To take remedial action with their suppliers in the event of complaints or operational issues.
• Set targets with suppliers, with lucrative over-ride deals in place where possible
• Attend trade events to represent our client in the region and in the UK
• Liaise with suppliers and the Sales Managers to create tactical campaigns to stimulate enquiries
• Provide product, including special offers, to support Marketing and PR function of the company
• Support competitor analysis against other tour operators in the relevant destinations

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Travel industry and management experience
• Experience of contracting and thorough understanding of all areas of tourism
• Experience of contract negotiation with Strong analytical skills
• Strategic thinker with strong leadership skills and the ability to build up a portfolio commercially
• Ability to identify requirements and make recommendations for change
• Process and results driven with clear line of sight from issue to resolution Person Specification
• Knowledgeable of current market prices, product innovations through competitor analysis
• Ability to communicate with and influence key stakeholders

Please note that overseas travel will be required to contract new product and develop new destinations

Please contact Alison at i2i Recruitment for IMMEDIATE consideration!
If you have not heard from us within 5 working days, please assume that you have been unsuccessful in this instance.

i2i Recruitment Ltd is a leading independent employment agency providing staffing solutions across specialist areas.