ABOUT FINE TOURS GROUP (FTG):

Fine Tours Group (FTG) is a leading New Zealand Inbound Tour Operator with 20+ years of experience, specializing in tailor-made travel experiences in New Zealand and Australia. FTG is private equity-backed, growth-focused, and committed to redefining travel with quality, care, and creativity. Powered by our proprietary tech platform TREV, FTG empowers global travel agents to create complex itineraries. Our dedicated B2B channels enable travel agents around the world to build, save and quote complex touring itineraries in both New Zealand and Australia, with the peace of mind that our team of experts on the ground are there to make their clients’ dreams come true, through personalised service, exceptional care and local insights.
We’re on a mission to redefine how travellers explore New Zealand and Australia – with quality, care, and creativity.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Proven experience in business development or sales, preferably within the travel and tourism industry, with a focus on the UK market.
• Strong understanding of the UK travel trade landscape, including established relationships with key travel agents and tour operators.
• Exceptional product knowledge of New Zealand & Australia as tourism destinations and the ability to effectively communicate their unique selling points.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication (both written and verbal), presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic business plans and achieve sales targets.
• Experience in managing budgets and providing performance reports.
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity, with the ability to work effectively with international partners.
• Self-motivated, results-oriented, and proactive approach to identifying and pursuing new business opportunities.

ROLE OVERVIEW:

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Business Development Manager to join our team and lead our in-market representation efforts in the United Kingdom. This role is crucial in expanding our presence within the UK travel trade, fostering strong relationships with key partners, and driving increased bookings and revenue from the UK market. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of the UK travel industry, a passion for New Zealand and Australia as destinations, and a proven track record in achieving sales targets and building successful partnerships.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key travel agents, tour operators, and other relevant stakeholders within the UK travel trade.
• Conduct regular sales presentations, training sessions, and organize familiarization trips to educate the UK travel trade about New Zealand & Australia’s tourism offerings.
• Represent Fine Tours Group and New Zealand & Australia tourism at various industry events, trade shows, and networking opportunities within the UK.
• Develop and implement targeted sales and marketing strategies specifically for the UK market, aligned with overall business objectives.
• Achieve agreed-upon sales targets and contribute to the growth of FTG’s market share within the UK.
• Provide regular market intelligence and feedback to the New Zealand-based leadership team, including market trends, competitor activities, and the needs of the UK travel trade.
• Manage budgets allocated for UK market activities and provide regular reports on progress and results.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop effective promotional materials and campaigns for the UK-based B2B partners.
• Act as a key point of contact and advocate for Fine Tours Group (trading as nzsidekick and ozsidekick) within the UK travel industry.