Group Sales Specialist

This is a full time remote, permanent role, paying a salary between £26,000 to £28,500 per year.

40 hours per week - 9am to 6pm

Working any 5 out of 7 days (including two out of 4 weekends per month).

**About Us**:
At Venture Ashore, we offer authentic, local experiences which enable you to make the most of your time at port during your cruise holiday. We combine expert guides, efficient transportation and carefully crafted schedules to allow you to explore the city you’ve docked at with the comfort of knowing you’ll make it back to your ship in time to head off to your next stop. A member of the City Experiences’ group, Venture Ashore is the world’s largest independent shore excursions provider with more than 5,000 experiences on offer across over 500 ports worldwide. If you’re an enthusiastic team player who thrives in an environment where communication, creativity, and cooperation are encouraged, this may just be the opportunity for you.

**About the opportunity**:
A fantastic opportunity to join our growing Groups team at the world’s largest independent shore excursions provider, Venture Ashore.

We are seeking a groups specialist to join our expanding group team and deliver exceptional service to customers and trade partners. You will book and manage groups reservations providing end-to-end customer service throughout our global portfolio of products. You will maintain a detailed knowledge of cruise itineraries, tour products, schedules and port knowledge and assist groups to choose the best experiences to enhance their vacation. You will ensure that all group enquiries are communicated correctly and ensure that the correct margins are applied in order to maximize group sales.

Reporting to the Groups Manager, you will support in delivering the group objectives and targets of the business.

**Responsibilities**:

- Meeting and exceeding sales goals
- Communicate effectively with customers, group leaders, travel agents and suppliers
- Manage reservations to ensure that they are confirmed in a timely fashion
- Amend, cancel and update reservations where required
- Communicate effectively on all Venture Ashore policies
- Educate on cruise and tour itineraries
- Create bespoke and group itineraries and tour proposals and set correct pricing and margins
- Analyse and compare competitor group rates
- Ensure that groups have the appropriate travel vouchers
- Input and manage trip information in both Salesforce and operating system
- Maintain overall excellent customer service standards
- Partner with product team to ensure that tour product details are properly maintained and displayed based on guest/trade feedback
- Assist with marketing groups newsletters and content
- Keep in regular contact with past group leaders and identify future sales opportunities
- Maintain regular communication with suppliers regarding reservation requests and special requests
- Keep up to date with cruise deployment changes, adjust reservations to support itinerary changes and liaise with suppliers and customers accordingly
- Maintain a high knowledge of cruise itineraries, tour schedules and port knowledge
- Ensure group sales targets and performance KPIs are achieved
- Foster and develop good relationships with existing suppliers and travel agents
- Any other tasks requested by the Groups Manager or Senior Management team within the scope and responsibilities of the role

**Required Skills**:

- Demonstrate strong sales skills.
- Self-motivated and able to work remotely
- Highly customer focused, friendly and team oriented
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated negotiating skills
- Travel industry experience (required) - cruise knowledge (desirable)
- Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or related field preferred
- Experience in hotel operations, tour operations or related field (at least 1 year)
- Proactive, demonstrating initiative and ability to problem solve
- Excellent organizational skills
- Proficient in Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
- Must be available at least part of the UK workday

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £26,000.00-£28,500.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Employee discount
- Life insurance
- Work from home

Schedule:

- Weekend availability

Application question(s):

- Do you possess experience within the cruise/travel industries?
- Are you happy to work two out of four weekends per month?

**Experience**:

- Sales: 2 years (required)

Work authorisation:

- United Kingdom (preferred)

Work Location: Remote