About the RoleThe Business Development Manager is responsible for driving commercial growth for a leading global hotel company by engaging targeted travel bookers across leisure agencies, corporate transient accounts, unmanaged business travel agencies, and government-focused travel partners within Southwest region. The primary focus of this role is to influence partner sales behavior, increase room night production, and position company's brands as the preferred choice for their clients. This position blends strategic business development, account management, partner engagement, and commercial analysis - delivered through a mix of virtual and in-person sales activities. It is ideal for a proactive, relationship-driven sales professional with strong commercial acumen and experience in the travel or hospitality sector.
This is a remote position; however, the candidate must be based in Texas and located within easy access to a major airport to support frequent travel requirements.Key ResponsibilitiesBusiness Development & Agency Engagement- Manage and grow relationships with assigned leisure, corporate transient, unmanaged, and government travel agencies within the designated region.
- Build strong partnerships with agency leaders and partner BDMs through joint sales calls, trainings, webinars, and regional events.
- Engage front-line travel advisors through virtual and in-person sales calls, webinars, and agency visits to strengthen awareness of hotel company's portfolio.
- Deliver relevant and compelling sales presentations promoting hotel company's full brand portfolio and segment-specific offerings.
- Attend and host advisor engagement events across leisure, corporate, government, and transient travel segments.
Strategic Planning, Commercial Insights & Performance Management- Analyze account metrics, room night performance, market indicators, and production data to prioritize focus agencies and maximize ROI.
- Develop tailored sales strategies for each agency using data-driven insights and performance trends.
- Customize content and presentations for each interaction based on agency needs and commercial opportunity.
- Conduct regular reviews with agency contacts to identify reasons behind performance shifts and uncover new opportunities.
- Strategically manage call frequency and agency engagement plans using call files and performance tracking.
Sales Execution, Collaboration & Territory Support- Collaborate with hotel company's team to plan and execute events, activations, and partner initiatives within the designated region.
- Engage with the maximum number of travel advisors during each activity to broaden commercial impact.
- Maintain a positive and professional presence during meetings, conference calls, and internal collaborations.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal company stakeholders across sales, marketing, operations, and revenue functions.
Administration, Reporting & Operational Standards- Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all sales activities and interactions in Salesforce.
- Keep Outlook calendar updated with planned travel, appointments, and agency engagement schedules.
- Use Salesforce and MicroStrategy to track performance, analyze trends, and monitor progress toward objectives.
- Demonstrate strong attention to detail in documenting activities and following through on commitments.
- Manage expenses and submit reports weekly.
- Maintain professional appearance and adherence to company brand standards in all customer interactions.
- Store collateral and equipment securely and ensure proper care of company materials.
- Maintain a clean and presentable vehicle when conducting joint visits with colleagues.
- Flexibility to support occasional additional hours or ad-hoc duties depending on business needs.
Skills & Qualifications- 3-5 years of related experience in the hospitality or travel industry, particularly in sales or marketing roles.
- Experience working with host agencies is a plus.
- Event planning experience is an advantage.
- Professional appearance and strong business presence.
- Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and committed to achieving results.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to build and maintain business relationships across various channels: face-to-face, email, video conferencing, and phone.
- Strong selling and presentation skills with the ability to influence decision-makers.
- Effective analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and apply insights.
- Strong administrative and organizational abilities.
- Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, WebEx, and Zoom.
- Experience using Salesforce.
- Flexibility to support occasional additional hours or ad-hoc responsibilities based on business needs.
- Ability to travel 30-50% within the designated region, with occasional international trips.
- Must hold a valid driver's license and be able to drive to nearby agency visits when practical (alternative transportation should be used for longer-distance travel).
- Must be based within the specified location with easy access to a major airport to accommodate frequent travel requirements.
Benefits We Offer- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Retirement Plan (401k) with Company Match after completion of the probationary period
- Private Health Insurance (medical, dental, and vision coverage)
