Business Development Manager (AWDO-P15027) in Newcastle upon Tyne)

An excellent opportunity for a proactive, confident and commercially minded sales professional to join a hospitality consultancy, supporting a varied portfolio of hospitality clients with prebooked sales growth, corporate bookings, agency relationships and new business opportunities.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Business Development Manager who enjoys proactive sales, relationship building and working with hospitality clients to generate enquiries, bookings and revenue growth. As the Business Development Manager, you will be deployed to hospitality clients to identify new streams of business, grow corporate and consumer sales, and develop opportunities through direct, agency, third-party and booking platform channels. The Business Development Manager will work closely with venue operations and marketing teams, ensuring sales activity is aligned with logistical capability, brand positioning, client needs and agreed KPIs.

DUTIES

• Generate New Business: Identify, approach and develop new corporate, consumer and agency sales opportunities for hospitality clients.
• Build Local Sales Plans: Research the local area, identify key businesses, event bookers, social committees, personal assistants and office managers, and create targeted sales activity.
• Develop Client Relationships: Contact prospective clients, nurture relationships and generate first enquiries for events, functions and venue bookings.
• Use Sales Data: Engage suitable target clients using existing data sources, previous bookers and sourced prospect lists.
• Drive Channel Sales: Promote venues through agency, third-party, listing sites and booking platforms.
• Manage Booking Platforms: Set up and engage relevant booking platforms such as Tag, Venuescanner, Hirespace and Togather.
• Use LinkedIn Proactively: Promote client venues, network, research prospects and reach out to local businesses.
• Convert Enquiries: Respond quickly to incoming enquiries by phone, email and website, converting opportunities efficiently.
• Attend Showrounds: Meet customers face to face, present venues professionally and support the sales process through to booking.
• Prepare Sales Administration: Complete invoicing, contracts, function sheets, reporting, pre-orders and CRM updates accurately.
• Report on Activity: Provide weekly updates on sales activity, enquiries, bookings and opportunities against agreed targets.
• Communicate Effectively: Work closely with line management, client teams, venue operations and marketing colleagues.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

• Enthusiastic, positive, energetic and self-motivated approach.
• Passion for selling, achieving targets and maximising bonus opportunities.
• Good understanding of the hospitality industry, including bars, restaurants, pubs and newer hospitality sectors.
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Confident building, nurturing and managing external relationships.
• Able to work independently, take ownership and manage proactive sales activity.
• Excellent planning, organisation and time management skills.
• Adaptable, commercially aware and comfortable managing change.
• Confident using the phone, closing deals and communicating with clients.
• Familiarity using booking and CRM systems such as Collins, Tripleseat or HubSpot.
• Organised and efficient when using calendars, emails and CRM systems.
• Presentable, creative and resourceful when working virtually and in person.