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Different Snow & Different Japan - Business Owner
We are a small, busy tour operator currently specialising in luxury tailor-made ski & snowboard holidays to Japan through our brand Different Snow. We also own the ‘Different Japan’ brand which is already generating revenue, aimed at the high-end luxury tailor-made market, predominantly directly to UK and US clients.
Role Objective
Thanks to the success of Different Snow, returning clients want to experience Japan outside of the ski season, and recommend us to friends and family. The Different Japan website is also generating significant numbers of enquiries without any marketing support. We are looking to recruit an experienced, ambitious, and knowledgeable Sales & Product Manager to capitalise on this existing demand, and to drive Different Japan to realise its potential as a luxury tour operator alongside Different Snow. This will involve building a team of Travel Consultants and support staff (who may be shared with Different Snow), although initially it will rely on the sales performance of the successful candidate for this role.
We want to fill this role with someone who is currently an experienced Japan Travel Consultant working for an established UK tour operator, and is excited by the potential of this role.
Initially this will be a direct sales-focussed role, and you will also have direct responsibility for product decisions, supplier relationships, and operations. You will report to the company Managing Director (and owner) who has many years’ experience in both managing teams selling luxury travel to Japan, and many partnerships and contacts with luxury suppliers in Japan; he will provide consistent support.
Your job will be to create itinerary proposals, and then actively ‘selling’ these holidays whilst retaining an appropriate profit margin. You then must ensure the successful operation of the holiday in Japan, where client expectations are exceeded. Support will be provided by our small and growing Operations Team.
As this is a small company you will be expected to wear a number of hats; there will be ad hoc tasks and projects to undertake, the product to oversee and run, and the marketing output to produce. You should be excited by the prospect of getting involved in all aspects of the business, and growing the product and team: this will only be possible if you personally achieve and exceed sales targets.
Minimum Requirements
To be considered for this role candidates must tick all the three below requirements. If you are not able to tick all three boxes, then you will not be considered for the role so please refrain from applying.
1. An affinity with Japan, including considerable on-the-ground travel experience.
2. Substantial experience and knowledge of the travel industry, ideally in a sales role and also ideally having worked in a reputable luxury tour operator.
3. An ability to work in our Cheltenham office for a minimum of three days per week – Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday.
Additionally, the Ideal Candidate will be…
* Sales driven. This is a travel sales job – at least at the outset. You need to be self-motivated to achieve bookings, revenue and margin targets and therefore earn as much as possible via the sales incentive scheme.
* Ambitious. This is an exciting role for an experienced Travel Consultant wishing to take the ‘next step’ and the sky is the limit – opportunities are plentiful to the right candidate.
* Highly organised, with good time management skills and attention to detail.
* Be able to demonstrate a good standard of written English and presentation.
* Comfortable with multiple technology platforms. As well as our in-house reservations systems and processes, you will need to work with the booking engines and platforms of our suppliers, notably booking engines, accountancy software, bed banks and flight consolidators.
Pay & Conditions
Working Hours: Full time, 09:00 - 17:00 (inc. 1 hour for lunch). Weekend work not required.
Part time (minimum three days per week) may be considered for the right candidate.
Salary: Competitive, largely based on the specific candidate's level of relevant work experience. The salary will be made up of basic pay (circa 80%) and an incentivised apportionment (circa 20%), which may be commission, bonuses or profit share.
Holiday Entitlement: 23 days per year (plus bank holidays).
Place of work: We work together in our office in Cheltenham every Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. This is non-negotiable and we will not consider applications from those unable to commit to full working days in Cheltenham for these three days per week.
Remote working will be permitted on Thursdays & Fridays, if preferred.
Routine (annual minimum) travel to Japan will also be a requirement.
Seniority level
* Mid-Senior level
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Product Management and Marketing
* Industries: Travel Arrangements
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