Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager

We are seeking a results-oriented Business Development Manager with deep experience and connections in the travel, sports, and event industries. This role combines strategic acquisition of new clients with hands-on account management of existing corporate partners.

This role requires someone confident in navigating both high-level sales conversations and detailed operational follow-through. The successful candidate will be trusted to grow a portfolio of revenue-generating accounts while ensuring service excellence, retention, and client satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Identify, pursue, and convert new business opportunities within the sports travel and event sectors.
• Leverage existing industry relationships to generate leads and grow the sales pipeline.
• Develop compelling proposals, pitches, and presentations tailored to client needs and industry trends.
• Represent the company at industry conferences, networking events, and trade shows to promote brand visibility and business opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal leadership teams on go-to-market strategies and new service offerings.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of high-value clients, ensuring their goals, expectations, and service requirements are consistently met or exceeded.
• Conduct regular client check-ins, quarterly business reviews, and performance debriefs.
• Foster long-term relationships by building trust and maintaining a deep understanding of each client’s business, industry challenges, and future opportunities.
• Act as a strategic advisor, proactively identifying areas for improvement, innovation, or expanded services.
• Work cross-functionally with internal departments (travel consultants, finance, and event operations) to ensure timely and accurate service delivery.
• Monitor booking activity, policy adherence, and service-level agreements to ensure compliance with client requirements.
• Manage and resolve any client concerns, service issues, or escalations quickly and professionally.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs), including revenue growth, client retention, service satisfaction, and travel spend analysis.
• Analyze travel data to uncover trends, inefficiencies, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Collaborate with vendors (e.g., airlines, hotel chains, ground transportation) to negotiate preferred rates or custom packages tailored to client needs.
• Provide clients with actionable insights and recommendations based on data and industry best practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in business development within travel, events, sports, hospitality, or related industries.
• A strong professional network and relationships within the target sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to close new business and manage multiple high-value client relationships.
• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset with a high degree of emotional intelligence and professionalism.
• Strong presentation and negotiation skills, with comfort in engaging with senior-level decision-makers.
• Proficiency in Smartsheet or the ability to quickly learn and navigate similar project management tools.
• GDS experience (e.g. Amadeus, Sabre) with air booking and ticketing knowledge.
• Understanding of airfare structures and fare rules.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Word).
• Experience working with corporate clients on complex travel or event-related programs.
• Familiarity with travel booking platforms and reporting dashboards is a plus.
• Bilingual in English and French is required.

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