Group Sales Manager; Business Development

Overview

COMPANY SUMMARY

At Holiday Vacations, our mission is to enrich lives with valued travel experiences. We offer inclusive guided tours led by professional Tour Directors to more than 70 destinations on six continents. We travel by air, motor coach, trains, and cruises on itineraries that bring the destination alive for our guests. We are headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and are a subsidiary of Xanterra Travel Collection, the largest national park concessionaire in the U.S. Xanterra also owns other tour operator and cruise line brands including VBT Bicycling Vacations, Country Walkers, and Windstar Cruises.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Group Sales Manager is responsible for building and scaling Holiday Vacations’ external group sales program. This role focuses on identifying, developing, and managing strategic relationships with Holiday Vacations’ guests, travel advisors, affinity groups, clubs, content creators, and corporate clients. The Group Sales Manager serves as both a relationship builder and business developer, driving group travel revenue through guided tour offerings and collaborative cross‑functional coordination.

This position is responsible for all administrative duties related to the management of accounts.

This role is ideal for a self‑starter who thrives in a collaborative, innovative, and supportive company culture. Success in this position will be measured by revenue growth, guest satisfaction, and the ability to scale a sustainable group sales program.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Design and execute a growth‑oriented group sales strategy aligned with annual revenue and passenger goals.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Holiday Vacations’ guests, travel advisors, group organizers, and institutional partners to cultivate long‑term partnerships.
• Proactively identify and pursue new group business opportunities through outreach, referrals, trade events, and digital channels.
• Create and deliver customized group proposals and agreements tailored to client interests and tour availability.
• Collaborate closely with Product Development, Marketing, Guest Services, and Operations teams to ensure alignment across the group sales lifecycle.
• Maintain accurate records of client interactions, proposals, and sales pipeline activity.
• Track, analyze, and report group sales performance metrics and monitor industry trends to inform strategy adjustments.
• Watch competitor activity and market trends to inform strategic adjustments and identify new opportunities.
• Represent Holiday Vacations at trade shows, conferences, webinars, and other promotional events.
• Provide exceptional service and support to clients throughout the entire sales and travel process, ensuring timely and professional communication with clients from proposal to post‑trip follow‑up.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Sales / Business Development: Identifying, pursuing, and securing new opportunities to drive growth. Build strategic relationships, recognize market potential, and create solutions that align with organizational goals.
• Strategic Thinking: Taking a big‑picture view to anticipate future trends, identify risks and opportunities, and make informed decisions. Strategic thinkers use data, insights, and long‑term planning to guide actions and prioritize effectively.
• Relationship Management: Establishing and nurturing productive, long‑term partnerships. Relationship‑oriented professionals build trust, communicate effectively, and deliver consistent value to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Communication and Presentation: Clearly conveying ideas and information in both written and verbal formats. Skilled communicators tailor their message to the audience, facilitate understanding, and confidently present proposals, updates, or insights.
• Cross‑Functional
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Working effectively across teams and departments to achieve shared goals. Collaborative professionals value diverse perspectives, coordinate efforts, and foster alignment to drive results across functions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in business, hospitality,, or related field, or equivalent…