Travel/ Hospitality Contracting Manager

Company - Travel Trade Provider/Supplier
Job Title - Contracting Manager - Graduate/Trainee - Travel
Location - Gravesend
Salary – £23k - £26k
On behalf of our client, we are currently recruiting for a Trainee/Graduate Contract Manager to join an expanding company who specialise in providing solutions for Global Travel trade.
This role would suit a Travel Industry Graduate or someone who has worked for a couple of years within the Travel Industry.
The succesful candidate will have the opportunity to develop their commercial & negotiation skills working within the UK Inbound travel industry. The position will offer an introduction to the contracting of attractions & restaurants. This role would suit an individual with strong negotiation skills who are comfortable in developing and maintaining supplier relationships.
Full time/Hybrid
Key Duties & Responsibilities
* Negotiate competitive rates and conditions for all land services notably restaurants & attractions
* Secure contracts with suppliers in line with the purchasing strategy and remit advised from The Commercial Director
* Product development – source new venues and be proactive in proposing new products appropriate to the various sales channels
* Provide product updates and presentations of new products or packages to B2B clients
* To propose, plan and attend business trips and meetings in order to negotiate and renegotiate contracts
* Ensure existing and new supplier relationships are built and maintained to maximize all commercial opportunities.
* Organise and attend FAM trips. Attend key industry events, workshops and networking opportunities where required
* Ability to travel, to key destinations in the UK and Northern Europe when required.
* Prepare and analyse statistics via software products to benefit effective negotiations and product analysis for re contracting
* To develop and maintain commercially advantageous business relationships with our suppliers
* Provide the Operations team with product updates and respond to day to day queries
* Ensure all contracts are completed accurately and in full with all information being set up in a timely fashion
* To liaise with all internal departments to ensure all departments are fully up to date these include, finance, systems, sales & marketing.
* Negotiate added-value deals, overrides and special offers
* Constantly challenging yourself to increase product knowledge and identifying potential suppliers to support our product offering.
* Investigate and resolve service complaints
* Ensure high service quality standards are met year on year and to promptly deal with queries from colleagues and suppliers
* Entering contracts into the in house HLG database
Key Skills
* Graduate in tourism related subject or at least 12 months experience in the travel industry
* Confident and passionate about learning and succeeding in the role
* The applicant needs to have strong commercial acumen, be adaptable, reliable and flexible, with a responsible attitude and possess the ability to respond to tight deadlines.
* Excellent negotiation skills
* Excellent organisational and planning skills.
* The ability to deal with competing priorities effectively
* Self-motivated and good working under pressure.
* An good knowledge of Word, Excel and PowerPoint
* Strong written and verbal communication skills (English)
* Additional languages desirable particularly German or French as is a knowledge of UK and Northern European cities
* Desirable - Previous experience in a UK travel industry
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed