Manager, Travel Partners

AAA Mountain West Group • Phoenix, AZ

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Travel Partners oversees core and emerging travel partnerships, including tour, cruise, destination, hotel, and airline partners. Reporting to the Director, Travel Product & Partnerships, the Manager drives annual business outcomes, executes strategic partner initiatives, and maximizes partnership investments in alignment with organizational performance goals. The role works with Sales, Travel Marketing, Operations, and external creative agencies to manage partner relationships, campaigns, and cooperative promotional strategies. It also supervises assigned Product Specialists to support effective operations and team productivity.

The role is hybrid and requires three days per week onsite in the Phoenix, Arizona office.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent work experience.
• At least 5 years of experience in a service environment with project management and operations experience.
• At least 2 years of experience in the travel industry.
• At least 2 years of direct people-management experience.
• Experience managing travel-provider partnerships across airlines, hotels, tour operators, and cruise lines, and enhancing end-to-end member travel experiences.
• Strong analytical skills, including identifying market trends, interpreting data, and translating insights into marketing tactics that support sales goals.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to maintain partner relationships and present across management levels.
• Demonstrated people-management experience, including improving team productivity and fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Ability to adapt to industry changes, evolving vendor partnerships, and changing member demographics.
• Proficiency in standard business tools, including Microsoft Office Suite.

Nice To Haves

• 8 or more years of dedicated project management experience.
• Prior experience in the cruise or hospitality sectors.
• 4 to 6 years of experience in the travel sector.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations and annual strategic plans for assigned priority and emerging travel partners across tour, cruise, hotel, airline, and destination categories.
• Identify positioning opportunities and cooperative investments across product verticals.
• Collaborate with the Director of Partnerships on onboarding destination partners and managing ongoing partner relationships.
• Develop cooperative marketing, brand-awareness, and member-benefit promotion opportunities to maximize partner investment results.
• Work with Travel Marketing on campaigns, partner needs, upcoming offers, marketing agreements, and override opportunities.
• Develop promotional offer ideas for internal and external use.
• Coordinate with fellow Product Managers to identify multi-category promotional opportunities within larger campaigns.
• Conduct quarterly business reviews and monthly meetings with key preferred and emerging partners to discuss marketing execution, sales, campaign opportunities, agent incentives, and challenges.
• Maintain regular communication with priority partners and internal stakeholders to maximize financial returns, meet Club goals, and fulfill supplier agreements.
• Participate in cross-functional teams with Sales, Travel Marketing, and Operations to advance strategic partner objectives.
• Direct the daily responsibilities of assigned Product Specialists and improve team productivity.
• Track priority-partner sales reports and annual override projections, monitor KPIs, and deploy upcoming promotions.
• Prepare and present regular project status reports to stakeholders, including senior management.
• Monitor the competitive landscape and recommend partnerships and growth opportunities that support organizational goals.

Benefits

• Opportunity to participate in a discretionary annual incentive plan or other incentive plans, depending on position.
• Company 401(k) match of $1 for $1 up to 6% of eligible earnings per pay period.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Wellness program.
• Paid holidays.
• Paid time off accrued monthly.
• Depending on position, an additional 24 hours per year for volunteer activities.
• Free AAA Classic Membership.
• AAA product discounts.
• Tuition reimbursement program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager