What you will do on your journey with WebBeds.
The Strategic Account Director, Global Chains is a key ownership role responsible for the end-to-end relationship and commercial management of WebBeds' most strategic, high-value global chain partner(s), specifically those generating over €100M EUR in annual cost.
This role involves defining and executing a collaborative global strategy with these high value partners to drive substantial incremental business opportunities, significantly expand our market share worldwide, and maximize overall growth to secure thereby ensuring WebBeds remains the indispensable partner of choice through consistent value delivery.
This position requires an agile, commercially focused professional with a strong background in strategic account management and/or contracting within the travel industry, who has a proven passion for building meaningful, high-impact global partnerships and delivering ambitious commercial results.
In this role you will:
Strategic Partnership & Commercial Leadership
- Global Strategy Development: Define targeted, data-driven action plans and design a multi-year strategy roadmap for each partner to achieve ambitious Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), drive substantial incremental business, and significantly increase WebBeds’ global market share.
- High-Value Negotiation: Lead complex, strategic contract and commercial (re)negotiations with global chain leadership, ensuring agreements are executed within specified deadlines to secure the best possible commercial terms (including exclusive deals, value-adds, and overrides) that maximize mutual profitability.
- Portfolio Growth: Strategically manage existing top-tier chain partnerships and actively prospect and onboard new chain strategic partners globally to strategically expand WebBeds’ supply portfolio.
- Executive Relationship Management: Organize and lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and monthly engagement sessions with key senior contacts of the Chain Partners, focused on performance analysis, strategy alignment, and maintaining robust, long-term relationships.
- Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and coach assigned direct reports (if applicable) and indirect team members, fostering a high-performance, results-driven culture focused on global account management excellence and continuous professional growth.
Operational Excellence & Inventory Optimization
- Global Product Optimization: Direct the optimization of the chain’s global product, inventory, and pricing strategy, leveraging internal resources such as Partner Success, Supplier Optimization, and local Contract Managers to ensure maximum competitiveness and relevance in the market.
- Performance Monitoring & Competitiveness: Proactively monitor the chain supplier’s performance on a regular basis, including production, pricing, and availability, to ensure best-in-market competitiveness across all regions and platforms.
- Connectivity & Onboarding: Collaborate closely with the Supplier Connectivity and IT Teams to successfully onboard new chains via preferred integration methods and ensure the ongoing, robust maintenance of connections for optimal supply delivery.
- Escalation & Solution Design: Act as the primary liaison and internal escalation point for assigned chain partners, deconstructing complex availability, service, and technical challenges to develop comprehensive, platform-adaptable solutions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Market Engagement
- Inter-Regional Coordination: Partner with Contracting Teams, Supplier Optimization, and Product teams in all regions, promoting cohesive teamwork and aligning efforts for specific hotel contracting needs and regional performance goals.
- Revenue Generation & Promotion: Consult with the leadership team regarding new chain opportunities. Actively negotiate and communicate special deals, flash sales, and additional supply to the WebBeds Sales Team globally to ensure maximum promotional visibility and revenue generation across all platforms.
- Market Representation: Represent WebBeds at relevant global tradeshows and networking opportunities to engage existing Chain Partners, prospect new high-value opportunities, and maintain strong industry visibility.
- Compliance & Professionalism: Cooperate with the Health and Safety team to ensure compliance requirements are met. Maintain professional and consistent communication both internally and externally in line with corporate
The skills we would love to see in your suitcase!
- Educational Foundation: Hospitality Management, Tourism, or a related field is required.
- Industry Expertise: Deep commercial understanding of the dynamics of global hotel distribution, B2B travel, connectivity standards (e.g., XML/API), and large-scale inventory management.
- Language Proficiency: Fluency in English (written and verbal) is essential. Proficiency in a second major European language (e.g., German, French, Spanish) is a significant advantage due to the global nature of the role.
- Regulatory Knowledge: Foundational understanding of relevant global commercial laws and contractual compliance standards.
