Planning & Destination Experiences Manager

Tui Care Foundation; Luton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Travel benefits

Health & wellbeing

Flexible working

Learning hub access

Job summary

Senior Planning & Destination Experiences Manager (12-month Fixed Term) based in Luton will shape the future of our destination strategy for TUI River Cruises. You will define seasonal deployments across a 10-ship fleet, craft itineraries and optimise commercial performance while enhancing guest experiences.

You will lead destination development with multi-centre opportunities, manage a £2m Shore Experiences portfolio, and drive supplier negotiations to secure commercial benefits.

Qualifications

• Proven cruise product planning or delivery experience with a strong commercial focus.
• A business qualification or equivalent with analytical thinking.
• Excellent relationship-building to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience negotiating with third-party suppliers for commercial benefits.
• Collaborative leader, able to inspire a team and drive process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Define the seasonal deployment plan across the 10-ship fleet, crafting itineraries for commercial performance and guest outcomes.
• Plan detailed itineraries with third-party nautical suppliers, balancing destination mix, duration, and competitive context.
• Lead broader destination development by researching multi-centre opportunities with tours and hotel stays.
• Own the £2m Shore Experiences portfolio, expanding excursions to lift uptake and revenue in line with the three-year plan.
• Manage key supplier relationships, negotiate seasonal terms, and ensure service levels for transfers and excursions.
• Play a central role in the TUI Musement integration, delivering improvements to the customer proposition and shore offerings.

Skills

Commercial mindset

Cruise product planning

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Education

Business qualification or equivalent

Job description

Senior Planning & Destination Experiences Manager (12-month Fixed Term)

• Luton
• Contract
• Full-time

We're looking for a commercially focused leader to shape the future of our TUI River Cruises destination strategy. You'll play a key role in defining where our fleet sails and how we deliver unforgettable shore experiences for our guests. The role will be published until 10 August 2026.

ABOUT OUR OFFER

• Personal benefits: Attractive remuneration, discretionary bonus schemes, generous travel benefits, extensive health & well-being support, and more.
• Flexible working: Work is something you do, not somewhere you go. We encourage a healthy work-life balance with a dynamic working environment.
• A career to shape: Access the TUI Learning Hub to level-up and reach your ambitions.
• Broaden your network: We champion intercultural collaboration and provide opportunities to work on global projects and teams.
• Community: Get involved with incredible local charity and sustainability initiatives like the TUI Care Foundation.

ABOUT THE JOB

• You'll define our seasonal deployment plan across our 10-ship fleet, crafting itineraries that optimise commercial performance whilst delivering improved customer outcomes.
• Working with third-party nautical suppliers, you'll plan detailed itineraries for each river, taking a commercial view on destination mix and duration whilst keeping competitor propositions and customer sentiment front of mind.
• We're looking for someone to lead broader destination development by researching multi-centre opportunities through complementary tours and hotel stays, bringing exciting new product to market.
• You'll own our £2m Shore Experiences portfolio, developing our excursion programme to stretch uptake and grow revenue aligned to our three-year plan.
• Managing key supplier relationships is crucial - you'll negotiate seasonal commercial terms and ensure service levels meet our high standards for transfers, excursions and ship services.
• Taking a central role in our TUI Musement integration project, you'll work across workstreams to deliver improvements to our customer proposition and Shore Experience offering.

ABOUT YOU

• You bring proven experience in cruise product planning or delivery, with a strong commercial mindset and the ability to make quick decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• A relevant business qualification or equivalent experience is preferred, demonstrating your commercial acumen and analytical thinking.
• Your relationship-building skills are strong, allowing you to influence and partner effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• You have demonstrable success working with third-party suppliers and securing commercial benefits through negotiation.
• As a collaborative team player, you'll lead and inspire a team of direct reports whilst championing process efficiencies and talent development.

From a workplace to a place to belong. At TUI we embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging everyone to come as you are, because together, our potential is limitless. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities and impairments so if you require any support, please do let us know.