General Manager, Travel (Corporate Travel & SaaS)

at  LodgeLink

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field;
• Proven experience in the corporate travel industry with a minimum of 8 years, including managerial experience.
• Proven business development track record of driving revenue growth within the travel industry.
• Proven track record of improving operational efficiency within the travel industry.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• In-depth knowledge of travel trends, destinations, and industry best practices.
• Exceptional customer service and problem-solving skills.
• In-depth knowledge of various GDS systems. Sabre strongly preferred.
• Ability to analyze data and make strategic decisions.
• Demonstrated financial management and budgeting skills.

ABOUT LODGELINK

LodgeLink, a Black Diamond Group company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada is more than just a digital marketplace and ecosystem for crew travel; we’re a caring tech company on a mission to transform workforce travel. Our digital platform is the key to unlocking seamless solutions for finding, booking, and managing crew travel and accommodation needs. Powered by a growing network of hotel and lodge partners, we address the unique challenges of crew travel, applying technology to streamline the entire process from booking to management, payments, and cost reporting. At LodgeLink, we’re not just saving our customers time and money; we’re changing the future of workforce (crew) travel – for the better.
United by our vision to be THE ecosystem for workforce travel, our values reflect our commitment to collaboration, agility, dependability, inventiveness, and audacity. As a diverse and inclusive team, we come together, sharing ideas, building disruptive technology, and tackling complex problems. Our relentless pursuit to deliver value and superior customer experiences is inspired by a collective passion to ‘Create A Better Way’ for all.
At LodgeLink, we’re seeking exceptional team players with an entrepreneurial spirit to contribute to our rapid growth. If you crave a career, not just a job, we could be the perfect fit.

LodgeLink Total Rewards | Caring for our team is a priority, and we’re pleased to provide these benefits:

• Building a diverse and inclusive team, supporting career growth and development.
• Competitive base salaries.
• Share Appreciation Rights program for salaried employees.
• Paid vacation days and sick days.
• An employee charitable donation program.
• Hotel and travel discounts
• Comprehensive benefits package including extended health, vision, dental, Health Spending Account, TeleDoc, Employee Assistance Program, Life, Long-term Disability, AD&D, and Critical Illness Insurance
• Located in beautiful Eau Claire in downtown Calgary, within a 5-minute walk to Prince’s Island Park
• Company-hosted events, and a game room.
• Ability to join our Social Club and join colleagues for fun events such as golf, bowling, curling, stampede events and more.
• Free access to the Aspen Properties Fitness Centers.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re hiring for a General Manager, Travel. This role can be either located in Calgary, AB or Pheonix, AZ. This role is hybrid - in-office with 20% flexibility to work from home.
As the GM, Travel, you will play a pivotal role in executing growth initiatives and ensuring the effective implementation of strategic plans set by senior leadership to drive the growth of the Travel department. Leveraging your extensive experience in the travel industry, you will focus on operational efficiency, budget management, and the execution of business plans to drive growth and scalability. You will provide mentorship and support to our dedicated and passionate team of Travel Advisors to ensure exceptional customer experiences. This role requires a hands-on approach to drive tactical operations, streamline processes, and optimize the team’s performance while managing client relationships, staying updated on industry trends, and driving the team to achieve business objectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership:

• Lead, mentor, and motivate the team to execute on business targets and objectives.
• Provide guidance on tactical operations, aligning with senior leadership’s strategic vision
• Conduct regular performance reviews, set goals, and support professional development.
• Foster a collaborative and positive working environment.

Business Development:

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with clients.
• Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Develop growth strategies to acquire new customers and enter new industry verticals.
• Stay informed about the latest travel trends and industry developments.
• Analyze market research to identify opportunities for service improvement and expansion.
• Address and resolve customer concerns or issues promptly.
• Collaborate with other departments, such as marketing and sales, to promote travel services and meet business objectives.
• Attend occasional networking events to bolster business development efforts.

Operational Efficiency:

• Streamline and optimize travel processes for maximum efficiency.
• Implement technology solutions to enhance operational effectiveness.
• Collaborate on evaluating and selecting travel technology solutions to enhance operational efficiencies.
• Develop and implement quality assurance processes to ensure accuracy and consistency in travel planning.
• Collaborate with other departments to improve reporting and dashboards.

Budget Management:

• Lead the annual planning and budgeting process for the Travel team
• Work closely with finance to monitor and manage budgetary constraints.
• Implement strategies to optimize cost-efficiency without compromising service quality.

Vendor Management:

• Manage relationships with the Travel teams’ various third-party vendors
• Negotiate pricing and commission models with external stakeholders and partner travel companies
• Provide support during contract negotiations with various third-party vendors as required.