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- Tasks: Lead business development for hotel products across Europe and manage key partnerships.
- Company: Join a fast-growing multinational travel company revolutionizing the industry since 2012.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive compensation, travel opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of travel innovation while leading a high-performing team.
- Qualifications: 8-10 years in travel industry with strong leadership and technical skills required.
- Other info: Fluency in English is a must; additional European languages are a bonus.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Job Description: Director, Hospitality Business Development & Partnerships
Work location: London, UK
Geographic scope of work: covering major areas in Europe, visiting clients in various regions through business trips.
The company is a multinational company founded in 2012, committing to providing global customers with fast and highly flexible high-quality travel product connection solutions, covering hotels, air tickets and destination products, making travel business better. Headquartered in Shenzhen, the company has several branches opened to other regions around the world.
The company is hoping to locate a candidate at the director level, with compensation being mid-to-high level compared to similar positions in the European region; the primary responsibility of this position is to oversee business development in the European region for the hotel product\’s suppliers. The candidate should have excellent team management experience, supplier expansion experience, data analysis skills, etc.
Job Requirements
1. Strategic Leadership
– Develop and execute the direct connectivity strategy to streamline data integration between partners, ensuring scalability and future-proofing.
– Stay ahead of market trends and emerging technologies in the travel industry to maintain competitive advantages.
2. Partnership Development
– Build and maintain relationships with airlines, hotels, OTAs, and other travel-related partners to expand direct connectivity opportunities.
– Negotiate and manage contracts, service level agreements (SLAs), and partnership frameworks to ensure mutual value creation.
3. Operational Management
– Oversee the technical implementation of direct connections, including API integrations, connectivity standards, and testing processes.
– Collaborate with IT and product teams to ensure timely and seamless implementation of direct connectivity solutions.
– Monitor the performance of direct connection channels and drive improvements to meet or exceed KPIs.
4. Team Leadership
– Build and lead a high-performing team to support direct connection initiatives, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
– Provide mentorship and training to the team, ensuring they stay updated on industry trends and technical expertise.
5. Data and Analytics
– Analyze data exchange flows, partner performance metrics, and customer behavior to identify optimization opportunities.
– Present insights and recommendations to leadership to inform business decisions.
6. Compliance and Standards
– Ensure all direct connections comply with industry standards, data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR), and security protocols.
– Advocate for and contribute to the adoption of global industry standards (e.g., NDC, ONE Order) in partnerships.
Position Requirements
1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Travel & Tourism, Information Technology, or related fields. A master’s degree is preferred.
2. Experience:
– Minimum of 8–10 years of experience in the travel industry, focusing on distribution, partnerships, or connectivity roles.
– Proven track record of leading large-scale direct connection initiatives with airlines, GDSs, or other travel ecosystem partners. 3. Technical Expertise:
– Strong understanding of API technologies, NDC (New Distribution Capability), GDS systems, and travel data standards.
– Familiarity with XML, JSON, and other data exchange formats is a plus.
4. Soft Skills:
– Exceptional negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills.
– Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into action.
– Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on delivering innovative solutions.
5. Languages: Fluency in English is required; knowledge of additional European languages is a plus.
Director, Hospitality Business Development & Partnerships employer: Pro5.ai
Contact Detail:
Pro5.ai Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Hospitality Business Development & Partnerships
✨Tip Number 1
Network actively within the travel industry, especially with professionals who have experience in partnerships and business development. Attend industry conferences and events in Europe to meet potential contacts and learn about the latest trends.
✨Tip Number 2
Research the major players in the European travel market, including airlines, hotels, and OTAs. Understanding their business models and current challenges will help you tailor your approach when discussing potential partnerships.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on the latest technologies in the travel industry, particularly those related to API integrations and data standards. Being knowledgeable about NDC and GDS systems will give you a competitive edge during discussions with potential partners.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to showcase your leadership and team management skills by gathering examples of how you've successfully led teams in previous roles. Highlighting your ability to foster innovation and collaboration will resonate well with our expectations for this director position.
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Hospitality Business Development & Partnerships
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in business development, partnerships, and team leadership within the travel industry. Use specific metrics to demonstrate your achievements.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your strategic vision for the role. Discuss how your background aligns with the company's goals and how you can contribute to their success in the European market.
Highlight Technical Expertise: Emphasize your understanding of API technologies, NDC, and GDS systems in your application. Mention any relevant projects or experiences that demonstrate your technical skills.
Showcase Soft Skills: In your application, provide examples of your negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills. Highlight instances where you've successfully led teams or driven innovative solutions.
How to prepare for a job interview at Pro5.ai
✨Showcase Your Strategic Vision
As a candidate for the Director position, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to develop and execute strategic plans. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully implemented strategies in previous roles, particularly in the travel industry.
✨Highlight Partnership Success Stories
Since partnership development is key to this role, share your experiences in building and maintaining relationships with airlines, hotels, and OTAs. Discuss any successful negotiations or contracts you've managed that resulted in mutual value creation.
✨Demonstrate Technical Proficiency
Given the technical aspects of the role, be ready to talk about your understanding of API technologies, NDC, and GDS systems. If you have experience with data exchange formats like XML or JSON, make sure to mention it as well.
✨Emphasize Leadership and Team Development
This position requires strong team leadership skills. Prepare to discuss your approach to building high-performing teams, including how you foster a culture of innovation and accountability. Share examples of mentorship and training initiatives you've led.
