Group Sales & New Business Manager

Hf Holiday; Borehamwood; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading travel company in the United Kingdom is looking for a Group Sales New Business Development & Team Manager. The successful candidate will lead the sales team, manage recruitment, and drive new business opportunities across various group travel segments. The role requires strong leadership skills and a customer-focused mindset, with a passion for travel being a significant advantage. This position offers the opportunity to work in a supportive environment committed to community values.

Qualifications

• Previous experience managing a sales or customer service team, ideally in travel, leisure, or hospitality.
• Proven success in a business development or key account management role.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills, with experience of appraisals and performance management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the Group Sales team to achieve targets.
• Oversee daily operations and guide team decision-making.
• Identify and convert new business opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Time-management

Analytical skills

Customer service

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

HF Holidays is on an exciting journey of growth, expanding group sales across both UK and overseas markets. We’re seeking an experienced and driven Group Sales New Business Development & Team Manager to lead our group sales team and spearhead business development efforts across B2B and direct customer channels. This is a key role that combines business development and team management delivering positive business growth. You’ll be responsible for inspiring and managing our Group Travel Consultants to be their best selves while also identifying and nurturing new group sales opportunities delivering increased business from Groups partners across our range of holidays including our unique UK country houses and international walking holiday portfolio. With a focus on exceeding sales targets, building strong relationships, and driving continuous improvement, you’ll play a crucial role in delivering both customer satisfaction and commercial success.

• Lead, motivate, and support the Group Sales team to achieve sales, conversion, and repeat business targets.
• Oversee daily operations, guiding the team on workload prioritisation and commercial decision-making.
• Deliver regular one-to-ones, team meetings, performance reviews, and appraisals.
• Manage recruitment, onboarding, training, and development of new team members.
• Ensure the team maintains excellent service standards and a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Work alongside the Call Centre Sales Manager to provide effective cover during busy periods.
• Identify, pursue, and convert new business opportunities across group travel segments.
• Conduct market research and competitor analysis to inform strategic sales initiatives.
• Represent HF Holidays at consumer and trade events, exhibitions, and networking forums.
• Drive increased conversion and repeat business by strengthening client relationships.
• Manage a portfolio of key group accounts, ensuring consistent, high-quality service and account growth.
• Provide support and commercial insight during the sales process and throughout the customer journey.
• Ensure new group clients experience a seamless onboarding and booking process.
• Align group sales activities with HF Holidays’ wider commercial and operational strategy.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including Product and Marketing, to influence campaigns, brochures, and offers.
• Monitor trends in enquiries, bookings, and repeat business to inform decision-making and identify opportunities for growth.
• Use data and commercial analysis to shape and optimise group sales performance.
  You're a confident and engaging leader who thrives in a fast-paced, customer-focused sales environment. With a passion for people development and a strong commercial mindset, you’re comfortable balancing performance targets with exceptional service delivery., Previous experience managing a sales or customer service team, ideally in travel, leisure, or hospitality.
• Proven success in a business development or key account management role.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills, with experience of appraisals and performance management.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building abilities.
• Organised and adaptable, with strong time-management and planning skills.
• Commercially astute with an analytical approach to sales performance and trends.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• A genuine passion for travel, especially walking or activity holidays, would be a strong advantage.
  HF Holidays are a B Corp Certified British heritage brand with over 110 years of experience organising walking holidays in the UK, Europe, and beyond. We’ve been leading the way since 1913 and offer over 260 carefully curated guided and self-guided walking tours on six continents and in 40 destinations worldwide. Run as a co-operative, we put people at the heart of everything we do and are proud to be part of a community with a shared passion for the great outdoors. Friendship, fun, fresh air, and the feelgood factor have always been our guiding principles. Our 500-strong team are based remotely, at our Head Office in Hertfordshire and across our 15 country houses located in some of the UK’s best-loved national parks and National Landscapes.