Business Development Manager – Australia Zoo

An exciting opportunity has become available for someone to join our incredible Marketing Team as the ‘Business Development Manager’!

Australia Zoo is an equal opportunity employer, where we recognise the diversity of our workforce and community – be it on the basis of gender, age, race, sexual orientation, or religious belief. We provide specific workplace programs to support diversity and equal employment opportunities for women, people with disabilities and all cultural backgrounds.

This position is responsible for increasing entry ticket sales to Australia Zoo, accommodation to The Crocodile Hunter Lodge and restaurant bookings to Warrior Restaurant & Bar through creating and maintaining relationships with both international and domestic inbound tour operators and travel agents, local accommodation providers and visitor information centres.

This position is also responsible for securing and increasing group sales, liaising with internal Australia Zoo and The Crocodile Hunter Lodge departments including admissions, groups, guest services to facilitate bookings, ensuring that an ultimate experience is enjoyed by all. Initiative and a good understanding of the industry will help you locate and negotiate potential ‘Group’ business opportunities for the zoo.

Duties include:

Business Development Manager Responsibilities:

• Assist with developing and maintaining strong working relationships with travel and tourism ticketing resellers and business partners.
• Represent Australia Zoo, The Crocodile Hunter Lodge and Warrior Restaurant & Bar at local, national and international Industry trade shows both live and virtual as required.
• Assist with activities relating to Australia Zoo’s corporate sponsorship program, including coordinating corporate sponsor staff visits.
• Travel and attend functions after hours, and as requested
• Working with Sales Executive & Head of Global Sales:
  • Develop a Trade Sales Kit
  • Develop monthly e-newsletter to resellers to update on ‘What’s New’, incentives and offers
  • Develop quarterly plan for sales blitzes to Gold Coast/South East QLD accommodation providers with visits shared amongst the team
• Report on growth in sales from accommodation providers to Head of Global Sales.
• Host famils, training days and events for inbound tour operators, travel agents, accommodation providers and visitor information centres.

Groups Sales support and Communication Responsibilities:

• Assist Head of Global Sales with developing, executing and managing annual group sales strategies covering local and national markets.
• Focus activities on group revenue growth from key group visitation segments including community, corporate, sporting and special interest.
• Responsible for identifying new group visitation opportunities which generate new business and revenue opportunities for Australia Zoo.
• Liaise with key partners including Visit Sunshine Coast and Tourism & Events Queensland to actively promote Australia Zoo group visits for pre and post conference/event activities.
• Assist with managing, developing and implementing annual group sales targets & key objectives.
• Develop Group Sales product offerings across leisure, community, business and corporate accounts.
• Coordinate internal communications relating to Group Sales activities so other department including Admissions, Customer Service, Retail, Finance and Crikey Café are aware of all new group products, ticketing processes and / or accounting enquiries.
• Coordinate all Business Events opportunities which increase Australia Zoo’s corporate group visitation and revenue.
• Conduct regular research and market analysis for competitive domestic and international group sales activities.

Sales Support Responsibilities:

• Sales support as required by the Head of Global Sales.
• Assist with facilitation of Virtual Extrav’s (e.g. Google).
• Respond to travel itinerary assistance requests received via Australia Zoo website from future patrons.
• Develop and implement appropriate and regular marketing communications to industry contacts and accounts (in consultation with the PR & Comms team).
• Coordinate all Australia Zoo travel industry contracts and maintain / update CRM.
• Coordinate travel industry discounts, site inspections, and general zoo familiarisation tours.
• Manage all sales email accounts assessing requests and disseminating as required.
• Coordinate Sales & Marketing Team Monthly Report.
• Meet all KPIs as set out by the Head of Global Sales.

Essential Criteria:

• Hold current Driver’s Licence.
• Available to work weekends, public holidays, and school holiday periods when required.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Experience in a similar role in the tourism industry.

Apply for this job below.

Here is a checklist of information you will need to have ready before you start to complete the employment application form:

• Education history
• Employment history
• References
• Any qualifications you may have eg First Aid
• Any achievements you may like to tell us about
• your availability (what hours can you work)
• A resume in .pdf format
• Any other info that may support your application