At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive trade growth and develop partnerships in the travel industry.
- Company: Serenity Holidays, a respected specialist tour operator.
- Benefits: Shape the future of trade strategy and enjoy a collaborative environment.
- Other info: Exciting opportunities for travel and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a direct impact on business growth in a dynamic travel sector.
- Qualifications: Experience in trade sales or account management, strong relationship skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Serenity Holidays is a long-established independent specialist tour operator with leading brands across The Gambia, Cape Verde, Corsica, Sardinia, and Goa. As we continue to grow our trade partnerships and expand into new markets, we are looking for an ambitious and commercially driven Trade & Distribution Development Manager to help shape and accelerate our B2B strategy. This is a high-impact role with real ownership, offering the opportunity to influence the direction of our trade channel and drive measurable business growth.
The Role
As Trade & Distribution Development Manager, you will lead the development and growth of Serenity Holidays’ B2B and trade distribution channels across the UK travel industry. You’ll be responsible for strengthening relationships with key consortia and agency partners, reactivating dormant accounts, driving new business opportunities, and delivering innovative trade marketing initiatives that generate revenue and passenger growth. This role combines strategic business development with hands-on account management and trade engagement.
Key Responsibilities
- Trade Growth & Business Development
- Drive trade revenue and passenger growth across key agency partnerships
- Develop and execute outbound business development campaigns to reactivate dormant agents
- Build tailored sales and marketing plans for top-performing agents and consortia
- Identify new trade partnerships and other third-party distribution opportunities
- Maintain competitive trade positioning
- Agent Relationships & Engagement
- Manage relationships with major travel consortia and agency groups including Hays, Advantage, Midcounties, Travel Counsellors, AITO, and TTNG
- Deliver webinars, training sessions, and educational events
- Coordinate joint marketing campaigns and co-funded trade activities
- Support agents with product training and sales tools to improve conversion
- Onboarding of new third party distribution partners
- Trade Marketing & Communications
- Oversee trade communications across email, webinars, social media, digital campaigns, and trade press
- Develop incentives, selling guides, educational content, and trade publications
- Use CRM and booking data to create targeted, personalised campaigns
- Commercial & Reporting
- Produce monthly trade performance reports and scorecards
- Monitor booking trends, agent contribution, and commission spend
- Manage commercial agreements and annual contracting with key partners
- Internal Collaboration & Administration
- Oversee the trade inbox and telephone support
- Support trade invoicing, contracting, reconciliations, and database management
- Work closely with Marketing, Product, Finance, and Sales teams to align business objectives
- Champion CRM adoption and improved reporting processes
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for a commercially minded relationship-builder who thrives in a fast-paced travel environment. You will ideally have:
- Experience in trade sales, business development, or account management within travel or a related industry
- Strong commercial awareness and experience managing ROI-driven campaigns
- Excellent relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills
- Confidence delivering presentations, webinars, and training sessions
- Experience using CRM systems and interpreting sales/performance data
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- A proactive, resilient, and target-driven mindset
- Willingness to travel across the UK for trade events, conferences, and partner meetings
Why Join Serenity Holidays?
- Opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of our trade strategy
- Join a growing and highly respected specialist tour operator
- Work within a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment
- Build strong industry relationships and make a direct commercial impact
- Be part of an exciting phase of growth and expansion
Apply Now
If you’re passionate about travel, commercially driven, and ready to take ownership of a high-profile trade role, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your CV and a short cover letter explaining why you are the perfect person for this exciting opportunity to recruitment@serenityholidays.co.uk
Trade & Distribution Development Manager in Southampton employer: Serenity Holidays
Serenity Holidays is an exceptional employer that offers a dynamic and collaborative work environment, perfect for those looking to make a significant impact in the travel industry. As a Trade & Distribution Development Manager, you will have the opportunity to shape our B2B strategy while building strong relationships with key partners, all within a supportive culture that prioritises employee growth and innovation. Join us in this exciting phase of expansion and enjoy the benefits of working with a respected specialist tour operator dedicated to your professional development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Trade & Distribution Development Manager in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals at trade events, conferences, and webinars. Building relationships is key in the travel sector, so don’t be shy – introduce yourself and make those connections!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Prepare to deliver engaging presentations or training sessions that highlight your knowledge of the travel industry. This will not only impress potential employers but also demonstrate your ability to engage and educate partners.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive in reaching out to dormant accounts. Craft tailored messages that reignite interest and showcase new opportunities. Remember, it’s all about driving that trade revenue and showing you can make a real impact!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team at Serenity Holidays.
We think you need these skills to ace Trade & Distribution Development Manager in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Trade & Distribution Development Manager role. Highlight your experience in trade sales and relationship management, as these are key to what we’re looking for.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for Serenity Holidays. Be specific about your achievements in business development and how they relate to our goals.
Showcase Your Commercial Awareness:In your application, demonstrate your understanding of the travel industry and how you’ve successfully driven revenue growth in previous roles. We want to see your strategic thinking in action!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Serenity Holidays
✨Know Your Trade Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re well-versed in the travel industry, especially regarding trade sales and distribution. Familiarise yourself with Serenity Holidays’ key markets and competitors, as well as current trends in B2B travel partnerships. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your commercial awareness and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Relationship-Building Skills
Since this role is all about managing relationships with agents and consortia, prepare examples of how you've successfully built and maintained professional relationships in the past. Think about specific instances where your efforts led to increased sales or improved partnerships, and be ready to discuss these during the interview.
✨Prepare for Practical Scenarios
Expect to be asked about how you would approach certain challenges, like reactivating dormant accounts or developing a new trade marketing initiative. Think through potential strategies and be ready to share your thought process. This will showcase your problem-solving skills and strategic mindset.
✨Demonstrate Your Presentation Skills
Given that the role involves delivering webinars and training sessions, practice your presentation skills ahead of time. You might even want to prepare a short mock presentation on a relevant topic to demonstrate your confidence and ability to engage an audience. This will highlight your communication skills and readiness for the role.
