What you will do on your journey with WebBeds.

As the Head of Contracting for the UK and Ireland, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing our contracting operations for that region. Utilizing your leadership skills, market analysis and your industry knowledge, you will be key to the successful implementation of our company strategy for the next 5 years.

In this role you will:

As the Regional Head of Contracting, you will oversee a team of Contracts and Product Managers responsible for our commercial relationships in your assigned area. You will ensure these teams achieve their targets in accordance company KPI’s and objectives and will help them develop the key markets outside of London. This role involves monitoring and evaluating your region’s performance against our competitors and identifying trends and opportunities all the while maintaining good commercial relations with our key partners in the region. You may be required to undertake additional projects as required by the European Contracting Department.

 

 

Key Responsibilities.

• Lead and manage the unit, ensuring all team members achieve company KPI’s and objectives through monitoring performance, encouraging feedback, innovation, and proactivity in an effective manner.
• Conduct regular one-to-one meetings with your team – ensuring a consistent flow of two-way communication. Focus on maximising business, undertaking pre- and post-business trip briefings, agreeing on short/medium/long term targets, analyse performance, taking corrective action as required.
• Conduct meetings with Regional Director - Providing feedback on individuals and team target performance as required. Deliver and execute constructive solutions on trading improvement, team issues and challenges.
• Set standards, grow, and develop commercial awareness of the team.
• Develop skills and competencies through training, coaching and mentoring Contracts Managers and Product Managers as required by individuals within the team.
• Accompany Contracts Managers on business trips as appropriate/required. Ensure team/unit is conversant with key procurement requirements in the region (channel managers, connectivity etc.)
• Have team/unit take ownership of commercial relationships with hotels, liaising closely with other departments (broadly “Reservations”, “Sales”, “Revenue”, “Accounts”) as opportunities arise.
• Effective internal communication with other departments, i.e. promote and highlight successful contracting campaigns and highlight potential destination-oriented issues, as and when appropriate/required.
• Deputise in the absence of the Regional Director.
• Take on management of existing key accounts and deliver commercial success with these.
• Analyse production volumes to ensure adequate inventory in line with destination targets
• Identify ‘must-have’ hotels within a destination, and contract/delegate to contract where appropriate
• Schedule and undertake in the year contracting trips for renewals and new hotels in line with personal targets
• Monitor competitor pricing and availability in line with demand
• Maintain overall continuity of product for the team, and self, by ensuring timely contract renewals.
• Provide suggestions/advice to the Pricing and Revenue team to maximise profit margin
• Ensure issues & successes are communicated to relevant departments & Senior Management
• Liaise with Key Accounts team to open lines of communication to push product & maximise sales

The skills we would love to see in your suitcase.

• Minimum 5 years’ hotel account management
• Minimum 2 years’ team management experience
• Strong negotiation skills; pro-active team leader
• Accurate with attention to detail
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills (internal and external) in English
• Able to work well under pressure and motivated to succeed
• Able to develop, and maintain, strong and trusting relationships with hoteliers and colleagues
• A solid working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
• Aptitude for leading and motivating a team
• Ability to delegate competently
• Target driven mentality
• Able to communicate internally and externally in an effective and in a timely manner
• Competent in managing expectations
• Go getter with a positive attitude