Job Description

About Destinology

Destinology creates tailor-made luxury holidays, on land and at sea. We combine first-hand destination expertise, outstanding service and strong relationships with a carefully selected group of travel partners. Every customer has their own personal concierge, who looks after every detail from first enquiry to the journey home.

About the Role

As Cruise Product Executive, you will develop and manage our ultra-luxury and luxury cruise product, so that Destinology is the first choice for clients booking a cruise. You will work closely with our cruise line partners to secure the best rates, inclusions and exclusive offers. You will make sure we have the widest and best-presented portfolio in the market, and that what we sell is accurate, competitive and live across our website and systems. This is a fast-paced trading role. You will be comfortable working to tight turnarounds, spotting opportunities early and acting on them. We are offering this role to remote workers and hybrid.

Key responsibilities

Cruise line partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with our ultra-luxury and luxury cruise line partners, at the right level of seniority.
• Negotiate competitive rates, inclusions, onboard credits, allocations and exclusive offers that make Destinology the partner of choice.
• Agree promotions and campaign plans with each partner, and secure favourable terms for our clients.

Product development

• Develop and launch cruise products and packages that combine exclusive cruise rates with pre and post-cruise hotels, flights and transfers.
• Identify new ships, itineraries and experiences that attract new customers and keep our repeat cruise clients coming back.
• Keep the portfolio broad, current and aligned with the Destinology brand.

Pricing, availability and systems

• Obtain pricing and promotional campaigns from partners regularly, and load them accurately into our booking and product systems.
• Keep the website updated with the latest offers, pricing and live availability.
• Work with third-party data suppliers to make sure the pricing and availability we display are correct, and resolve discrepancies quickly.

Campaigns and communication

• Work with the marketing team so that Destinology is first to market with the latest cruise line promotions and campaigns.
• Brief the sales and concierge teams on new products, offers and partner conditions, and support them with product knowledge.
• Work with the Head of Cruise to address pricing discrepancies and keep us competitive.

Market research and performance

• Research cruise market trends and carry out regular competitor analysis, sharing your findings and recommendations with the Cruise Product Manager/Head of Cruise.
• Analyse our own data and our suppliers’ data to improve cruise trading performance, including revenue, margin and conversion.

Essential experience and skills

• Ultra-luxury cruise experience – proven experience working with ultra-luxury cruise lines, such as Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Explora Journeys or similar, in a product, contracting, trading or sales role at a tour operator, agency or cruise line.
• Cruise product knowledge – strong knowledge of the luxury and ultra-luxury cruise market, including ships, itineraries, cabin categories, fare structures and inclusions.
• Commercial and negotiation skills – confident negotiating rates, terms and inclusions with cruise line partners, with a strong grasp of margin, pricing and the financial viability of a product.
• Data skills – able to interpret market, pricing and performance data to make sound recommendations and decisions.
• Accuracy and attention to detail – able to load and check pricing, availability and product content to a high standard, under time pressure.
• Target-driven – proven record of meeting or exceeding targets.
• Collaborative – works well with marketing, sales, concierge and product teams to deliver a joined-up approach to cruise product.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment – adaptable and composed under pressure, and comfortable when priorities change quickly.
• Professional communicator – polite, courteous and credible with partners and colleagues at every level, in a way that protects the Destinology brand.

Desirable

• Proficiency in GAL, flight pricing and availability.
• Knowledge of T-Profile.
• Experience of creating cruise and stay packages.
• Existing relationships with ultra-luxury cruise line contacts.
• Familiarity with the Destinology brand and our partner relationships.

Measures of success

• Year-on-year improvement in cruise performance, including revenue, margin and conversion, by cruise line and product.
• Destinology recognised as the partner of choice by our key ultra-luxury and luxury cruise lines, with strong rates, inclusions and exclusive offers.
• Accurate, current pricing and availability on the website and in our systems.
• Successful planning and launch of new cruise and stay products.
• Clear, open communication between the Product function and the rest of the business, helping to drive growth.