Manager, Travel Partners
About The Position
The Manager, Travel Partners oversees core travel partnerships, including tour and cruise partners, as well as emerging partnerships across destination, hotel, airline, and other growth-opportunity sectors. 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, external creative agencies, and partner organizations on daily partner relations, campaign execution, and cooperative promotional strategies. The Manager also leads assigned Product Specialists to support effective operations and team productivity. This is a hybrid role requiring three days per week onsite at the Walnut Creek, California 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 expertise in enhancing end-to-end member travel experiences.
- Strong analytical ability to identify market trends, interpret data, and translate insights into marketing tactics that support sales goals.
- Strong interpersonal, negotiation, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to maintain professional 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 shifting member demographics.
- Proficiency with standard business tools, including Microsoft Office Suite.
Nice To Haves
- Eight or more years of dedicated project-management experience.
- Prior experience in the cruise or hospitality sectors.
- Four to six years of experience in the travel sector.
Responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day operations and annual strategic plans for assigned priority and emerging partners across tour, cruise, hotel, airline, and destination categories.
- Identify partner positioning opportunities and cooperative investments across product verticals.
- Collaborate with the Director of Partnerships on onboarding destination partners and managing ongoing relationships.
- Work with the Director of Partnerships to develop cooperative marketing, brand-awareness, and member-benefit promotion opportunities that drive results from partner investments.
- Coordinate with Travel Marketing on partner needs, upcoming offers, marketing agreements, and override opportunities.
- Develop solutions-driven promotional offer ideas for internal and external use.
- Work with 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 review marketing execution, sales, campaign opportunities, agent incentives, and challenges.
- Communicate regularly 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 deliver strategic partner objectives.
- Manage and direct the daily responsibilities of assigned Product Specialists to improve work execution and 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 AAA discretionary annual incentive or other incentive plans, depending on position.
- 401(k) company 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
