At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead regional chain strategy and drive sustainable growth in the hotel industry.
- Company: Join WebBeds, a leader in the travel sector with a dynamic team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and professional development.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for international travel and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by strengthening partnerships and expanding market share.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in hotel contracting and strategic partnerships required.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.
What you will do on your journey with WebBeds. As a Regional Chains Director, you will lead, develop, and execute the regional chain strategy to drive sustainable growth, strengthen strategic partnerships, and increase WebBeds' market share across your assigned regions. In this role, you will own senior-level relationships with key regional hotel chain partners and provide strategic direction to the Regional Chains team to maximize commercial performance, portfolio expansion, and long-term value creation. You will work cross-functionally with Global Chains, Contracting, Partner Success, Supplier Optimization, Connectivity, Sales, and Marketing teams to ensure seamless alignment between regional execution and global chain objectives. This position requires a strong commercial leader with deep industry expertise, strategic vision, and the ability to translate high-level strategy into measurable results.
In this role you will:
- Regional chain strategy definition: Define and own the regional chain strategy, aligned with global chains objectives, to drive incremental revenue growth and market share.
- Team leadership and management: Lead and manage the Regional Chains team (>4FTE), providing direction, coaching, and performance management to ensure delivery of agreed KPIs.
- Senior-level relationship ownership: Own senior-level relationships with priority regional and global hotel chains, acting as executive sponsor and escalation point.
- Chain opportunity identification: Identify, evaluate, and prioritize new chain opportunities within the region in collaboration with Global Chains and Regional Leadership.
- Contract negotiation and compliance: Ensure optimal commercial outcomes by overseeing chain contract negotiations, renewals, and compliance with agreed timelines and standards.
- Portfolio performance driving: Drive regional chain portfolio performance through pricing, availability, inventory, and product optimization in partnership with Partner Success, Supplier Optimization, and Contracting teams.
- Quarterly business reviews: Chair and participate in high-level quarterly business reviews with key chain partners to review performance, align strategy, and identify growth opportunities.
- Cross-functional contracting collaboration: Collaborate with regional and destination contracting teams to ensure alignment on chain strategies, targets, and hotel-level execution.
- Supplier connectivity partnership: Partner with supplier connectivity and loading teams to define preferred connectivity strategies and ensure scalable, high-quality chain onboarding.
- Performance trend monitoring: Monitor regional chain performance trends, risks, and opportunities, using data-driven insights to inform strategic decisions.
- Complex issue escalation: Act as escalation point for complex commercial, service, or operational issues impacting regional chain partners.
- Commercial initiative negotiation: Drive the negotiation and execution of regional exclusives, value adds, overrides, and joint marketing initiatives across WebBeds platforms.
- Industry event representation: Represent WebBeds at key industry events, tradeshows, and executive-level partner meetings to strengthen market presence and relationships.
- Internal alignment and communication: Ensure effective internal communication and alignment between Global Chains, Sales, Marketing, and regional teams to maximize promotion of chain content.
- Health and Safety compliance: Support Health and Safety compliance and ensure required reporting is completed and up to date.
- Corporate communication standards: Communicate internally and externally in a professional manner in line with corporate guidelines and leadership expectations.
The skills we would love to see in your suitcase!
- Extensive contracting and commercial experience within the hotel and/or travel industry.
- Proven ability to build, manage, and grow senior-level strategic partnerships with hotel chains.
- Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification.
- Fluent in English (additional regional languages highly beneficial).
- Willingness to travel frequently within the region and internationally as required.
- Strong strategic leadership and people management skills, with experience leading multi-market or regional teams.
- Excellent commercial acumen with a strong understanding of regional and global distribution models.
- Highly developed negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
- Data-driven decision-maker with strong analytical capabilities and financial awareness.
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills, able to engage effectively at executive level.
- Proactive, resilient, and adaptable, with the ability to manage complexity and competing priorities.
- Collaborative leadership style with a strong focus on cross-functional teamwork and accountability.
- Minimum 8-10 years' experience in hotel contracting, chain management, or strategic commercial roles within OTAs, bedbanks, or tour operators.
- Strong understanding of dynamic and static contracting models across multiple regions.
- Fluency in one or more additional European languages.
- Previous experience in a regional or global leadership role managing chain portfolios.
- Demonstrated success in scaling chain partnerships and driving measurable regional growth.
- Experience working in complex, matrix-driven international organizations.
Regional Chains Director in London employer: Web Travel Group
WebBeds is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and collaborative work culture, empowering employees to drive growth and innovation in the travel industry. With a strong focus on professional development, team members have access to numerous growth opportunities and are encouraged to build meaningful relationships across global markets. Located in a vibrant area, WebBeds offers unique advantages such as participation in industry events and a chance to make a significant impact in a rapidly evolving sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Regional Chains Director in London
✨Get Involved in Local Travel Events
Join local tourism fairs or travel expos in your area. These events are a treasure trove for networking, and you can often meet hiring managers from companies like Web Travel Group who are looking for fresh talent for roles like Regional Chains Director.
✨Showcase Your Travel Know-How
Create a travel blog or use social media to share your experiences and insights about different destinations. This can help you stand out to recruiters in the travel industry, demonstrating your passion for the sector and your ability to engage with an audience.
✨Connect with Alumni from Your School
Check out alumni groups linked to the travel and tourism sectors. Often, these connections can lead to inside info about opportunities at companies like Web Travel Group and give you a leg up for your Regional Chains Director application.
✨Don’t Shy Away from Cold Emails
If there's a dream company you want to join, don’t hesitate to send a friendly email to their HR or recruitment team. Express your interest in their vision and mention that you’re keen on any Regional Chains Director openings they might have. It's a bold move, but it might just pay off!
We think you need these skills to ace Regional Chains Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Travel:In the travel and tourism industry, your love for exploration and different cultures should shine through in your application. Make sure to share personal anecdotes or experiences that highlight your enthusiasm for travel—this can really set you apart when applying for the Regional Chains Director role at Web Travel Group.
Highlight Your Customer Service Skills:Customer service is king in travel and tourism. When detailing your work experience, focus on situations where you provided outstanding service or resolved customer issues, as this demonstrates your ability to ensure client satisfaction. Include specific examples in your CV to show that you're ready to face the challenges of the Regional Chains Director position at Web Travel Group.
Keep Your CV Travel-Themed:When it comes to CV conventions in the travel industry, think of including any relevant certifications or training you've completed, like first aid or tour guiding courses. If you've travelled widely yourself, don't hesitate to mention that—it's all about showing your background fits the globetrotting vibe of Web Travel Group.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not only explain why you're a great fit but also reflect your personality! Use this space to express what excites you about the travel sector and how you can contribute to Web Travel Group's adventures. Share any unique perspectives or ideas you have to enhance the travel experience, especially as a full-time Regional Chains Director.
How to prepare for a job interview at Web Travel Group
✨Show Off Your Travel Knowledge
For a role in travel and tourism, it’s vital to demonstrate your knowledge of different destinations, cultures, and travel trends. Brush up on popular destinations and recent changes in travel restrictions. We suggest bringing some interesting travel stories or experiences to share—this can help you connect personally with the interviewer!
✨Prepare for Customer Scenarios
Expect to be hit with customer service scenarios during the interview. They might ask how you'd handle a challenging traveller or resolve a booking issue. Think of a few real-life examples from your experiences, even if they’re just from customer service roles. This will show that you're ready for the field and have the right mindset to tackle on-the-ground challenges!
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Passion
In a full-time travel position, there are often irregular hours and spontaneous travel opportunities. Be sure to convey your flexibility and willingness to embrace the unpredictable nature of this industry. Let’s showcase that enthusiasm for travel and how it drives your decision-making!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Get familiar with travel booking systems and tools, such as Amadeus or Sabre. If you have experience using any specific software or even social media for travel promotions, bring that up! We want to show that you can hit the ground running and adapt quickly to their processes at Web Travel Group.
