Business Development Manager (Virginia)

** Applicants MUST reside in the state of Virginia to be considered for this role.**

Summary: Looking for an experienced BDM to grow a territory by winning new accounts and expanding longstanding relationships. The BDM will own the sales process from finding and qualifying prospects through securing group business, helping partners fill trips, and earning repeat bookings. This is a hands-on field sales role requiring extensive self-generated prospecting, cold calls, unannounced visits, and persistent follow-up. The ideal candidate must be equally comfortable winning over an organizational decision maker and presenting to dozens or hundreds of potential travelers, many of them older adults. Success requires independent execution, commercial discipline, and warm, patient relationships.

Key Skills in order to be considered:

• Outside sales experience - accustomed to being on the road, with proven experience of having successfully built business through own prospecting.
• Hunger and ownership - highly motivated, with high personal standards and drive to manage territory.
• Persistence, patience, and coachability - comfortable hearing "no" and contiuing to pursue opportunities professionally.
• Organization and discipline - able to manage a large prospect base, field travel, deadlines, and follow-up without losing track of commitments.
• Relationship skills and empathy - Experience winning accounts and maintaining and growing those relationships over several years.
• Strong public speaking - comfortable presenting to large audiences, with the confidence and enthusiasm to engage older travelers, answer questions, address concerns, and encourage bookings.

Additional Required Skills:

• Must have a minimum of 5+ years in the travel industry, working in a Sales role.
• Experience working for a Tour Operator (selling group travel a plus).
• Ability to participate in and speak at trade and consumer shows/events.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Tech savvy (experience with Salesforce or other similar CRM tools).
• Strong Sales conversion skills: Progress from qualified prospects and conversations to Group Requests, booked groups, passenger bookings and revenue..
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as required, and travel extensively throughout the territory.