The travel industry is home to intense competition, especially in high target destination.
To bring a company to the next level, travel firms have to put their trust in a competent director of sales and marketing. This executive acts as the captain of the ship, steering the organization in the right direction. The ideal sales and marketing director in the travel space should possess some of the following characteristics.
The best traits for a director of sales and marketing
An ability to attract customers
Every customer values money spent on travel. That’s why the travel process begins with a robust search of available options. And there are plenty of options to pick from. That’s way a good director must be able to calibrate prices and promotions to catch a customer’s attention in a crowded marketplace.
The ability to lead a team
As a director of sales and marketing in travel, it’s necessary to lead a team of sales executives and constantly motivate them to achieve their set targets. He or she must be a role model to all other employees and guide them through their projects and tasks. Accountability for the performance of the company falls on the director.
Creativity
Creative efforts and campaigns attract attention, so sales directors have to be constantly creating to increase market share and value. Ideally, this leads to more satisfied customers. Customers want new and exciting deals and will generally reward good promotions with business, loyalty, and word-of-the-mouth referrals. Creating deals that are attractive with customers but also safe for revenue is a key part of the job.
The ability to connect with people
Sales directors in travel industry must know their target customers and be aware of what exactly they expect from them. Campaigns that take into consideration customer’s preferences are the most successful at bringing in new customers and retaining the old ones. That’s why a sales director should have a natural ability to connect with people. They should be able to intuit their customer base and understand the impact a and promotions will have on their target demographic.
A zeal for knowledge
Because the job requires so much information processing and reading, a sales director should have a natural hunger for knowledge. This knowledge helps the company keep up on the industry trends and stay one step ahead of the competition.
Decision making
The ability to make decisions intelligently and confidently is important for all managers. Every decision has a consequence, and a director should be able to weigh pros and cons to make decisions that help grow his/her company.
The talent to plan and execute
A company’s project manager is the captain of the ship, strategizing their way based on current market conditions. Planning ahead will simplify and clarify goals and be helpful for creating new campaigns and opportunities.
Bottom line
Directors of sales and marketing in travel industry should be highly competent in more than just their sector. Marketing is about people- and successful marketing is to know how people think, what people want, and having the ability to deliver it to them, while growing value for their business. A sales director who can achieve this consistently is the gold standard to follow.
