Sales Executive - Immediate Start (Permanent)

ABOUT ORIGINAL TRAVEL

We are excited to be recruiting a specialist to join our Americas Sales team—a role that offers outstanding career prospects within our award-winning tour operator. We are looking for someone with exceptional knowledge of, and a genuine passion for, North America and its key destinations.

THE POSITION

Our Americas team covers North, Central and South America as well as Antarctica and the Caribbean and we are seeking candidates with passion for, and knowledge in North America specifically. We will consider people with solid general knowledge of the region or people with specialised knowledge in sub-regions. This position is a very hands-on role and the successful candidate will be passionate about the Americas, be highly organised, driven, be an excellent communicator, and clearly understand our customers’ needs. We are inviting applications both externally and internally.

As a company, our goal is to offer detailed itineraries, organised by true specialists, and delivered with a service that is above and beyond that being offered by any competitor. We seek candidates who feel they can support this vision.

KEY INFORMATION

• Please note that we are only able to consider applications from candidates who are currently based in the UK and able to work in-office as required.
• Reporting to: Americas Region Manager
• Employment type: Full-time, with full office attendance during the probation period (moving to a hybrid model of three days in the office per week thereafter)
• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: 40 hours
• Location: London, SW15 2TL
• Closing date: Monday 11th May 12pm

MAIN ROLES

Providing high standard of sales and service levels for clients interested in holidays to your region; looking to develop as quickly as possible; selling holidays and managing key accounts for clients in the most effective combination of conversion, service, knowledge, and margin production and ultimately playing your part in ensuring that your team surpasses its targets.

SPECIFICS

• Delivering the best possible service to clients for both new and existing accounts ensuring that you convert new accounts and retain existing accounts as effectively as possible. This will involve dealing with clients primarily via phone and email but also in person.
• Ensuring you and your team are always up-to-date on your specialist product. This will involve competitor and client research, data analysis, research trips etc. as well as solid information sharing.
• Working closely with other departments in the business to ensure the success of both your specialist team, and the wider company. This will involve, but is not limited to, working closely with the Service team to ensure that post-booking organisation is flawless; and interaction with senior staff in Product and Marketing to ensure that what we offer, and how we offer it, is constantly reviewed and updated to ensure our product is the best it can be.
• Assisting the Region Manager and other senior members of your team in the day-to-day running of the team including assisting in the recruitment and training of new and existing team members.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

• Passion for, and demonstrable knowledge of North America destinations with the key destination list, as above, the priority (knowledge of Latin American destinations would be advantageous).
• A minimum of 2 to 5 years’ work experience. Experience of working in a North America travel role at the bespoke end of travel is a benefit but not required. The key for us is passion and knowledge of the region.
• Experience of having lived and worked in the region would be a benefit.
• Proven ability to deliver high quality results in a timely fashion.
• Strong communication skills.
• A personable manner.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• The receipt of satisfactory references prior to the start date.
• The completion of an initial three-month probationary period.
• Contractual freedom to commence employment.
• All applicants should be able to accept legal employment in the UK.

BENEFITS

• Competitive salary and a comprehensive and industry-leading benefits package including: ~23 days annual leave, increasing one day per full year of service up to 30 days.
• ~ Comprehensive bonus and incentive schemes.
• ~ Private medical insurance.
• ~ Enhanced contributory pension scheme.
• ~ Travel insurance.
• ~ Enhanced maternity policy.
• ~ Enhanced paternity policy.
• ~ Cycle to Work scheme.
• ~ Flexible working policy, including annual ‘workation’ (work from abroad) allowance.
• ~ Sabbatical option after five years of continuous service.
• ~ Regular social events and employee development initiatives.

Interview details:

• First stage: Online (via Microsoft Teams) – Date to be confirmed.
• Second stage: In person – Date to be confirmed.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants should send their CV, covering letter and travel profile (detailing all relevant travel experience and countries visited, when and for how long) to Applicants will then hear from Original Travel as to whether they have been invited for an interview. There will be two interview rounds, with an appointment announced as soon as possible thereafter.