Business Development Director – Travel Management Solutions (Minneapolis-St. Paul Market)

Direct Travel is a provider of corporate travel management services and travel technology solutions. The Business Development Director will drive net new revenue across assigned Mid-Market accounts by developing territory sales plans, building executive-level client relationships, negotiating contracts, and selling complex travel management solutions. The role also involves forecasting, meeting sales targets, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and representing the company at industry events.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement territory sales plans to achieve revenue targets and expand market share within assigned Mid-Market accounts
• Identify key decision-makers, influencers and detractors within client organizations and develop strong relationships at multiple levels who will act for purchase
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, providing insights and recommendations to help them achieve their business goals
• Lead contract negotiations internally and with the client
• Regularly update forecasted deals in our customer relationship management system (CRM) on a daily and weekly basis
• Achieve monthly, quarterly, and annual sales targets
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including marketing, product development, value engineering, implementation, customer success and partner alliances to ensure alignment to drive client success
• Represent Direct Travel at industry events, conferences, and client meetings, showcasing our capabilities and thought leadership
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and industry developments to identify opportunities for growth and differentiation
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize sales processes and enhance overall efficiency and effectiveness

Requirements:

• knowledge of the travel industry and all its intricacies
• expertise of cloud technology
• the business acumen to navigate across all departments within an organization
• a seasoned sales professional with a proven track record of success in selling complex solutions to global, enterprise-level organizations
• Bachelor's degree in business-related field OR equivalent experience
• 10 years of experience in sales roles, with a proven track record of exceeding sales targets
• Deep understanding of the Travel Tech Industry and its competitive landscape
• A dynamic person who can embrace the concept of the Perfect Trip and convey that vision to multiple stakeholders within an organization to drive net new revenue targets
• Possesses high level of business acumen to engage C-level executives
• Demonstrated ability to utilize sales methodologies
• Comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations
• A curious mindset coupled with creative problem-solving skills
• Must have excellent customer service, interpersonal and communication skills