Regional Sales Manager in Cheltenham

Come and join one of the world’s leading luxury travel brands. A&K Travel Group is a dynamic collection of travel and cruise companies, including Abercrombie & Kent, Crystal, and the world’s oldest travel agency, Cox & Kings. We create unique, immersive travel experiences worldwide. Our people make us a great place to work, fostering a supportive environment with ongoing training and global career opportunities. We also make a difference: Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy has supported communities for 40 years, and we were recognised by Which? for exceptional client care during the pandemic.

Position Details

• Contract: Full Time
• Department: Sales
• Location: Cheltenham
• Reports to: Head of Sales & Service (A&K and C&K)

Purpose

The Regional Sales Manager, in collaboration with the Head of Sales & Service, drives sales growth by empowering a team of Travel Consultants. They achieve this by fostering a culture of excellent customer service and optimising the conversion rate from enquiries to bookings. This role emphasises team leadership through sales coaching, motivation, and leading by example. They cultivate a professional, productive environment that embraces change with a positive attitude.

Responsibilities

• Sales Team Management: Cultivate a collaborative and competitive environment where everyone thrives. Recognise and reward top performers, inspiring excellence across the board. Implement innovative incentives and team-building activities to keep the team motivated and hungry for success. Foster a positive and growth-oriented mindset. Set ambitious yet achievable targets aligned with the business budgets to push each team member to their full potential. Utilise situational leadership to tailor your approach to each team member's needs, maximising their development from new recruits to high performers through regular call listening and structured, weekly one-to-one meetings.
• Enquiry Management & Distribution: Proactively manage team resources, considering holidays, training, and onboarding, to guarantee sufficient staff for handling enquiry volume. Continuously assess team member capacity to distribute enquiries effectively and prevent overloading. Ensure direct reports follow correct CRM processes to maximise conversion and effectively manage the pipeline.
• Team Training & Development: Cultivate a culture where continuous learning and development are valued. Hold weekly one-to-one sessions with direct reports. Use call listening as a development tool to increase conversion and improve guest service.
• Operations & Customer Service: Embed a culture where exceeding client expectations and going the extra mile are standard practice. Work closely with consultants, sales coordinators and operations to ensure timely invoice delivery and a smooth client experience. Take ownership of handling operational and emergency situations within your region, which may involve some out-of-hours work.
• Other: Proactively engage with other managers throughout the company to promote knowledge sharing and best practices. Collaborate with Regional Product Managers/Executives on commercial and marketing initiatives, aligning on team goals.

Unusual Circumstances / Challenges: FAM trips to areas of specialisation and any other part of the world according to business need. The travel industry is dynamic. You may be required to work additional hours during peak seasons to ensure seamless operations. Contribute to the team by participating in the emergency response rota system for some weeks throughout the year (optional).

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Consistent high performer with a history of exceeding sales targets and achieving outstanding customer service.
• Sales team leader/management experience is a strong plus.
• Passionate about the travel industry and a strong appreciation for the specific area of specialisation.
• Confident communicator who thrives under pressure and maintains composure in challenging situations.
• Positive, energetic, and outgoing individual comfortable leading others with inspiration and encouragement.
• Proven track record within travel sales and a strong understanding of commercial aspects.
• Deeply interested in A&K’s strategy and how the role contributes to overall success.
• Motivated by achieving results through your team and comfortable negotiating with suppliers.
• Excellent understanding of customer service and the needs of our clients.
• Committed to exceeding expectations.
• Communication skills and confidence: confident communication with diverse audiences, adapting style to each interaction.
• Organisation/time-management skills: exceptional organisation and time-management skills, empowering yourself and your team to meet deadlines.
• Sales skills: keen understanding of A&K/C&K sales strategy, adeptly coaching and reinforcing those skills within your team to maximise sales performance.
• Client champion: exceptional customer service skills, proven track record in complaint handling, understanding and implementing our approach to resolving customer concerns.
• Tech-savvy: confident navigation of IT systems and ability to assist others. Experience with Travel Studio, OneIS and Amadeus a plus.
• Regional & industry expertise: passion for the region you’ll manage, comprehensive understanding of its culture, products, and industry trends.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary plus commission bonus plan
• Company pension plan from start of employment, with employer contributions increasing after 5 and 10 years of service
• 25 days annual leave – in addition to bank holidays, plus the ability to buy an additional 5 days or sell 5 days
• Discounted trips through A&K Travel Group Travel Benefit Program (includes friends and family)
• Discounted gym membership – up to £35 a month at Virgin Active Gym (London) or other gyms via GymFlex
• Private healthcare through BUPA paid via a salary sacrifice deduction using our corporate rates – covers individual and family cover
• Life assurance (4× base salary paid out as a tax-free sum)
• Hybrid working – we value collaboration and ask employees to come to the office for a minimum of 4 days per week
• Enhanced paid parental leave – 18 weeks full pay regardless of gender
• Employee assistance program – access to wellbeing resources and counselling
• £1,000 recruitment referral bonus
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Season ticket loans
• Regular social events

EEO Statement

Abercrombie & Kent is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.