VP, Cruise

Virtuoso is the leading global travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,200 travel agency locations with more than 20,000 travel advisors in 54 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with more than 2,300 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Normalized annual sales of (U.S.) $28-$32 billion make Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com. The Vice President, Cruise manages the business activities of the Cruise Department to evolve and elevate the Cruise program, generate additional sources of revenue, create services and benefits for Partners and Members, position the program for marketplace changes and competitive advantage and integrate with company departments & initiatives. The VP, Cruise exemplifies Virtuoso's core values with courage, maturity, diplomacy and tact. They seek to understand, demonstrate excellence in leadership, including the ability to build, inspire and motivate a team and they always strive for a win-win result. Essential duties and responsibilities include the following: Negotiation of agreement terms, member commissions, year-end overrides, annual marketing and performance fees and incentives. Conduct ongoing reviews of Cruise revenue forecasts and service performance ensuring revenue and performance KPI’s are met by the cruise team. Develop annual Key Performance Indicators for the department ensuring the utilization of our CRM allowing for accurate tracking against these KPI’s. Ensures all cruise programs are in alignment with the Cruise Department strategy and focus (Communities, Icon Program, Virtuoso Voyages, Preview, Exclusives). Collaborate with Regional Partner Relations team members & General Managers in the case of the absence of partner relations AMs to strategize global commercials and implement world-wide agreements. Support the development of and direct the implementation of the annual Cruise strategy, as well as special promotions; includes P/L responsibility. This strategy will be created with the assistance of our data & analytics team & marketing CRM team, ensuring strategies are data driven, focused on the clients’ objectives and with measurable outcomes. Collaborate with Virtuoso Voyages Product Managers to ensure program efficiencies and quality. Development and presentation of cruise partner business plan proposals utilizing the skills learned through the FranklinCovey Helping Clients Succeed trainings. Full supervisory responsibility for the Cruise Team to include mentoring and coaching to ensure professional development of each team member. Attend appropriate industry events and marketplaces and connect with local cruise contacts on a regular basis. Liaise with other Virtuoso departments to maximize the Cruise portfolio engagement with Virtuoso members and resources. Serve as a resource for new partners for the Development team with a focus on both regional cruise partners and global cruise partners. Lead and contribute to weekly Cruise team meetings. Implement department procedural systems which improve efficiency. Assist with conflict resolution between Members and Cruise as required. Serve on the Cruise Committee. Conduct face-to-face meetings and phone meetings with Cruise partners as needed. Create and deliver presentations as required for internal and external use. Assist Virtuoso Cruise accounts with day-to-day sales service needs. Educational and Skills Requirements: Bachelor’s degree required; business related degree preferred. 10+ years of marketing and/or sales account management experience, travel industry preferred. Previous experience working with On-Sites and tour operators highly desired. Superior sales negotiation skills and outstanding interpersonal and customer service skills. Experience developing business plans and action plans, managing P/L and timelines. Proven experience effectively managing and motivating staff. Ability to self-motivate and work independently, with limited supervision. Must be a goal-oriented team player, able to excel under pressure. Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and problem solve in a deadline driven environment. Strong organizational, verbal, written and presentation skills; attention to detail; exceptional phone and e-mail etiquette. Proficiency in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook). Ability to travel both domestically and internationally. Travel Requirements: Travel may be required up to 40% based on location of candidate. Travel will be primarily domestic but may include some international. Type/Nature of Contacts: Internal: Daily contact with Virtuoso staff and executives in all departments. External: Daily contact with vendor CEO’s, Presidents, national account managers, marketing teams, and regional sales staff. We offer a competitive salary and full benefits package, including medical/dental/vision/life, 401(k) savings plan, and more. Virtuoso is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to promoting a diverse workforce. Pay ranges are intended to cover roles based across the United States. An individual's base pay depends on various factors including geographical location, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant. #J-18808-Ljbffr