Manager, Travel Partners

AAA Mountain West Group; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great pay

401k match

Benefits package

Paid holidays

PTO

Team collaboration

AAA Classic Membership

Product discounts

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

AAA Mountain West Group is seeking a Manager, Travel Partners to oversee core travel partnerships (tour, cruise, hotel, airline, destination) and emerging alliances. You will drive business outcomes with cross-functional teams and manage partner investments, campaigns, and promotions.

You will lead the team, ensure operational performance, and nurture senior-level partner relationships in a hybrid role based in Phoenix, AZ.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 5 years in a service environment with PM and operations experience, including travel industry and people management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategic and operational plans for travel partners across tours, cruises, hotels, airlines and destinations.
• Drive revenue by coordinating marketing investments and partner promotions.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align partner needs and opportunities.
• Lead and develop assigned Product Specialists to boost productivity.
• Track partner performance and present status reports to stakeholders.

Skills

Travel partnerships

Relationship management

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM software

Job description

Why Work For Us?

• Great Pay - opportunity to participate in AAA discretionary annual incentive plan or other incentive plans depending upon position
• 401k Matching - $1 for $1 company match up to 6% of eligible earnings per pay period
• Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, wellness program and more!
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off - Team Members accrue paid time off monthly. Depending on position, an additional 24 hours per year are earmarked for volunteer activities.
• Collaborative Environment - AAA will value your contribution to providing exceptional service to our members
• Free AAA Classic Membership
• AAA Product Discounts
• Tuition Reimbursement Program

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At AAA, our Team Members strive to deliver amazing service and help our Members outsmart life's roadblocks. We believe everything you do outside of work adds to who you are at work.

NOTE: This role is hybrid and requires 3 days a week onsite in our Phoenix, AZ office.

J OB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director, Travel Product & Partnerships, our Manager, Travel Partners, holds primary oversight for core travel partnerships (tour, cruise) as well as emerging partnerships across destination, hotel, airline, and new growth-opportunity sectors. The Manager drives annual business outcomes, executes strategic partner initiatives, and maximizes partnership investments in direct alignment with overall organizational performance goals. Working collaboratively with cross-functional teams (Sales, Travel Marketing, Operations) and external creative agencies, this role oversees daily partner relations, campaign execution, and co-op promotional strategies. Additionally, the Manager leads and supervises direct reports, including assigned Product Specialists, ensuring effective operational performance and high team productivity.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Partner Management & Relationship Oversight

• Oversee Strategic & Operational Plans: Manage day-to-day operations and annual strategic plans for assigned priority and emerging travel partner relationships across tour, cruise, hotel, airline, and destination categories.
• Identify positioning opportunities and cooperative investments across product verticals.
• Collaborate closely with the Director of Partnerships on onboarding new destination partners and managing ongoing relations.

Campaign Execution & Revenue Optimization

• Collaborate with the Director of Partnerships to drive results for partner investments, developing opportunities for cooperative marketing, brand awareness, and value-added member benefit promotions.
• Work closely with Travel Marketing on campaigns to communicate partner needs, upcoming offers, marketing agreements, and override opportunities.
• Formulate solutions-driven promotional offers ideas for internal and external application.
• Partner with the fellow Product Managers to identify multi-category promotional fulfillment opportunities within larger campaigns (e.g., combining destination, hotel, or airline partners with tour/cruise offers).

Communication & Cross-Functional Alignment

• Conduct quarterly business reviews and monthly meetings with key preferred and emerging partners to discuss marketing execution, sales figures, campaign opportunities, agent incentives, and pain points.
• Maintain regular communication with priority partners and internal stakeholders to maximize financial returns, exceed Club goals, and fulfill supplier agreements.
• Participate actively in cross-functional teams (Sales, Travel Marketing, Operations) to deliver on overarching strategic partner objectives.

Team Leadership & Supervisory Responsibilities

• Manage and direct the daily responsibilities of assigned Product Specialist , guiding work execution and enhancing overall team productivity.

Reporting & Competitive Intelligence

• Closely track priority partner sales reports and annual override projections to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and deploy upcoming promotions nimble.
• Prepare and present regular project status reports to stakeholders, including senior management.
• Monitor the competitive landscape continuously, recommending new partnerships and growth opportunities that reinforce organizational goals.

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / ABILITIES

• Proven background in managing travel provider partnerships across airlines, hotels, tour operators, and cruise lines, alongside expertise in enhancing end-to-end member travel experiences.
• Strong analytical capabilities to identify market trends, interpret data, and translate insights into effective marketing tactics that support sales goals.
• Outstanding interpersonal, negotiation, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to maintain professional partner relationships and present effectively across all management levels.
• Demonstrated track record in people management, boosting team productivity, and fostering a collaborative working environment.
• Ability to adapt swiftly to industry changes, evolving vendor partnerships, and shifting member demographics.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficient in standard business tools, including the Microsoft Office Suite.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE / COMPETENCIES / CERTIFICATIONS / LICENSES

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent work experience
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a service environment with project management and operations experience, including 2 years of required experience in the travel industry and 2 years of required experience in direct people management.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years of dedicated project management experience.
• Prior experience in the cruise or hospitality sectors.
• 4 to 6 years of experience in the travel sector.

DISCLAIMER

The job functions listed describe the general nature and level of work being performed by team members assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list and may be subject to change based on business needs.