Travel Sales Development Specialist

A career at The Auto Club Group (ACG) can be satisfying, exciting and rewarding. By aligning your professional development with our business objectives, ACG can help you attain your career goals — and make a difference. Get started by choosing the career that’s right for you.

Burnsville, MN

The Auto Club Group

AAA was founded over 100 years ago for the purpose of lobbying for driver and passenger rights, fair laws and safer vehicles — all to better promote the love of the open road and the adventure of driving. Since then, AAA has grown to over 50 million members strong, while providing valuable membership services such as roadside assistance. Additionally, AAA has broadened its horizons to include all types of travel-related services, as well as offer a variety of insurance and financial products and services. Today’s AAA is a national federation comprised of more than 50 individual clubs throughout the United States and Canada. Whether you’re traveling around the world or to the corner grocery store, planning a honeymoon or weekend road trip, learning to drive or in need of a battery boost, the best way to begin your journey is with AAA. http://michigan.aaa.com/

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Full-Time

Competitive Compensation and Benefits Package

Overview: <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Auto Club Group (ACG) provides membership, travel, insurance and financial services offerings to approximately 9 million members and customers across 11 states and 2 U.S. territories through the AAA, Meemic and Fremont brands. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation and is the second largest AAA club in North America. </span></p> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br /></span></u></strong></p>
Responsibilities: <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Responsible for creating sales entrepreneurs utilizing a strong foundation in proven selling skills and processes while collaborating with field management to maximize the business development opportunities that support overall Travel Agency initiatives. Will employ programs, tools and processes to increase travel sales, revenue and profitability.</span></p> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Provide collaborative support to the Field Management to identify market opportunities, understand the market place and the competition; sharing best practices with Field Management and other Travel Sales Development Specialists. Communicates Travel updates to the Travel Agents and Field Management.</span></p> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Provides oversight and/or assists management in the in the development, implementation and maintenance of new and/or revised sales and marketing plans that: meet member needs, build company revenue, promote travel sales and ensure meeting the corporate travel sales objectives within assigned region. Seeks cross promotional sales opportunities and develops business and communication plans for each assigned region. </span></p> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Conducts regular visits to branch offices and management to discuss and /or implement travel sales and marketing initiatives. May act as a company representative in the interaction with local travel suppliers and vendor relationships. </span></p> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Assists with the on-boarding of new Travel Agents and provides guidance and direction to Travel Agents in the ongoing development of critical sales and service skills. Monitors and assesses Travel Agent performance through on-site review, joint sales work, input from field management and production reports. Develops action plans to address specific performance gaps, and assists the Travel Agent in implementation. Guides the Travel Agent through cross/up-selling to grow Membership, Credit Cards and other ACG products. Provide feedback to management regarding progress of Travel Agent development plans. </span></p> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Assists in the development of Travel Agent business plans. Assists Field Management in learning travel processes, prospecting and Travel Agent development skills in support of Travel productivity goals. Provides support to management as part of the field interview and selection process. Work in cooperation with field managers regarding Travel Agent performance in order to ensure the success of agency development goals.</span></p>
Requirements: <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Preferred Qualifications:</span></u></strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Bachelor&rsquo;s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Sales, Travel, Liberal Arts or related field preferred.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) designation preferred.</span></li> </ul> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Work Environment:</span></u></strong></div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Works primarily in a temperature controlled office environment. Varying amounts of travel with occasional extended or overnight stays and out-of-state travel required.</span></p> <br /> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: Arial;">Required Qualifications:</span></u></strong></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Education:</span></u></p> <ul type="disc"> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">High school diploma or equivalent</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Must possess valid driver&rsquo;s license</span></li> </ul> <div><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Experience:</span></u></div> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Developing sales and/or marketing plans including annual objectives, strategies and programs for defined business segments</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Developing and motivating a sales team to meet or exceed the sales goals and objectives</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Analyzing territories and/or sales markets and developing plans to increase quality of existing business, cross selling products to existing customers, getting current customer to rebook another trip, and increasing market share</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Developing and supporting regional sales/marketing initiatives</span></li> </ul> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Knowledge and Skills:</span></u></div> <ul type="disc"> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Must have demonstrated sales and marketing abilities.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Knowledge of travel industry and standards</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Identify strengths and weaknesses and model skills needed to facilitate corrective action in various areas including product knowledge, prospecting, professionalism, closing techniques, etc.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Strong interpersonal and communication skills.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Ability to motivate and develop others as a team for success</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Ability to identify trends and implement appropriate course of action, acting as a change management agent.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Interpret reports and utilize tools to increase Travel Agent&rsquo; performance</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Translate corporate goals into individual work plans</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Strong PC knowledge that includes word processing and spreadsheets.</span></li> </ul> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">The Auto Club Group offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a base salary with performance based incentives; medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), generous time off, a complimentary AAA Membership and much more!</span></p> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Important Note: The above statements describe the principal and essential functions, but not all functions that may be inherent in the job. This job requires the ability to perform duties contained in the job description for this position, including, but not limited to, the above requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants, as needed, to enable them to fulfill these requirements.</span></p> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">The Auto Club Group, and all of its affiliated companies, is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.</span></p> </div>