Business Development Specialist – Trade Partnerships

V&C; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury travel brand is seeking a Business Development Specialist to grow and nurture trade partnerships across the UK and EMEA. You will engage with travel agency partners, manage a dynamic portfolio, and design events that enhance selling experiences. Ideal candidates should have a strong network, proven sales achievements, and excellent communication skills. This position requires flexibility to travel and a collaborative mindset, emphasizing both analytics and creative problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Proven background in travel industry sales, ideally within the luxury or premium sector.
• Strong network across UK & EMEA travel agencies.
• History of exceeding sales targets through innovation and personal connection.

Responsibilities

• Manage a dynamic portfolio of travel agency partners to drive growth.
• Identify and onboard new trade partners with bespoke action plans.
• Design and deliver engaging events that enhance partner experience.

Skills

Relationship building

Sales

Communication

Market analysis

Problem-solving

Job description

V&C Associates have been retained to identify exceptional talent for one of the world’s leading luxury Tour brands.

In this position as Business Development Specialist - Trade partnerships, you’ll be at the forefront of growing and nurturing the brand’s trade partnerships across the UK and EMEA. Reporting jointly to the Vice President, Trade Sales UK & EMEA and the Sales Development Director, The Americas, you’ll bridge global collaboration with local expertise — driving engagement, building lasting relationships, and creating fresh ways for travel advisors to bring the brand’s journeys to life.

Responsibilities

• Ignite Partner Growth – Manage a dynamic portfolio of travel agency partners, transforming small and emerging accounts into high-performing, loyal collaborators.
• Expand Our Reach – Identify and onboard new trade partners, crafting bespoke action plans that make integration seamless and successful.
• Collaborate Globally – Partner closely with teams in Miami, supporting inside sales functions such as brochure distribution, account setup, and trade agreements — ensuring every detail enhances the partner experience.
• Bring Learning to Life – Design and deliver engaging events — from immersive educational trips to inspiring webinars and training days — that spark enthusiasm and drive confidence in selling luxury cruise experiences.
• Reactivate and Reimagine – Reconnect with dormant accounts, creating tailored initiatives that reignite partnerships and unlock new revenue potential.
• Spot New Opportunities – Use your market insight to identify growth areas, capture competitive advantages, and shape strategies that elevate the brand in the region.
• Stay Insight-Driven – Track and forecast performance, sharing valuable insights that support smarter, data-informed decisions.
• Be a True Collaborator – Work hand-in-hand with sales, marketing, and product teams to create a cohesive, engaging, and results-driven approach to trade success.

Requirements

• A proven background in travel industry sales, ideally within the luxury or premium sector.
• A strong network across UK & EMEA travel agencies and a natural flair for relationship-building.
• A history of exceeding sales targets through innovation, persistence, and personal connection.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with confidence to inspire others.
• A proactive, self-motivated mindset coupled with a collaborative, team-first attitude.
• Analytical acumen and creative problem-solving abilities.
• Flexibility to travel across the region as needed.