Sales Manager - Sports Tours

Destination Sport; Gloucester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Destination Sport is seeking a Sales Manager for a hybrid role based in Gloucester. The successful candidate will oversee a sales team, develop strategies to drive sales, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in sales, particularly in the sport travel industry, and a passion for sports, especially rugby.

Qualifications

• Extensive sales experience, preferably in sport travel.
• Knowledge of key destinations like Europe and North America.
• Confidence in managing sales pipelines and teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of a sales team and develop sales plans.
• Identify sales prospects and drive profit growth.
• Train, mentor, and motivate sales personnel.

Skills

Sales experience

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Knowledge of sport

CRM systems

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Sales Manager

Mike Burton - Destination Sport Group

This is a hybrid role based in our Gloucester office; you must live within a commutable distance.

As part of Destination Sport Group (“DSG”), Mike Burton creates and delivers major brand, customer, and revenue-focused ticketing and travel programmes worldwide, working in direct partnership with organizations including the British & Irish Lions and England Rugby. https://mikeburton.com/

Reporting to the Director of Commercial for the Mike Burton Group, the Sales Manager oversees the daily operations of a small sales team, develops sales plans, motivates the team, and trains & mentors new and existing team members. The Sales Manager coordinates sales operations and implements techniques to ensure the business meets and exceeds its sales targets.

In this dynamic, sales-driven role, your typical responsibilities will include:

• Identifying sales prospects, developing customer interest, preparing quotes, managing pre-sale processes, and collaborating with the Tours operations team to close sales.
• Driving profit growth with existing and new clients.
• Ensuring internal stakeholders can deliver on promises at the right price and quality.
• Growing your sales pipeline, pitching, and presenting to secure new business, and managing the Sales Coordinators' pipeline.
• Regularly reviewing your sales funnel to maintain prospects for conversion throughout the year.
• Implementing business development plans to attract new clients.

Strategic Direction and Management

• Building and maintaining relationships with schools, clubs, groups, colleges, and universities.
• Collaborating with Marketing and Insight teams to develop data-driven, digital, and traditional sales strategies.
• Fostering a positive culture within the sales and wider Tours teams.

Sales Team Development

• Managing daily sales team operations.
• Setting and exceeding sales targets.
• Creating strategies to expand customer bases of joint ventures.
• Motivating the team through encouragement, recognition, and targeted bonus programs; addressing underperformance when necessary.
• Training, mentoring, and recruiting sales personnel.
• Monitoring team performance and taking corrective actions when needed.
• Building relationships with customers, prospects, suppliers, and key stakeholders outside the immediate team.
• Continuously improving sales processes and implementing best practices.

Group-Wide Development

• Collaborating with product, travel, accommodation, and customer service departments to develop market-leading, customer-focused itineraries.
• Monitoring sales and pipeline metrics regularly.
• Working closely with tours, product, insight, marketing, and customer service teams to incorporate customer feedback and improve offerings.
• Possessing a keen interest in the school travel market and regulations to deliver exceptional experiences.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Extensive sales experience, preferably within the sport travel industry.
• Passion and knowledge of sport, especially rugby.
• Interest in industry updates to identify new opportunities.
• Confidence in managing sales pipelines.
• Previous line management experience.
• Innovative mindset to develop impactful sales strategies.
• Knowledge of key destinations like Europe, South Africa, North America, Australia, New Zealand, and the Caribbean.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills for internal and external stakeholder communication.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint, and CRM systems.
• Strong organizational skills to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects.
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritize effectively.

If you're ready for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you!