Are you passionate about travel, relationship-building, and driving growth in the expedition cruise industry? AE Expeditions, a leader in small-ship adventure cruising, is seeking a dynamic Business Development Manager to grow the UK market and expand our community of valued partners.
This role is ideal for an energetic and strategic self-starter with a proven track record in the expedition, touring, or cruise sector—ready to elevate our brand visibility and partner engagement across the region.
What the Role Involves
– Taking ownership of a defined UK territory, identifying growth opportunities and generating revenue through indirect channels such as member groups, wholesalers, tour operators, and retail/homeworking agents.
– Engaging directly with partners through regular field visits, training sessions, and events (3 days/week in market).
– Representing AE Expeditions at trade shows, networking events, and industry conferences.
– Managing all stages of partner onboarding and performance, from training and product education to contract oversight.
– Collaborating closely with marketing to align activity with campaign timelines and objectives.
– Providing strategic input into budget planning and partner marketing initiatives.
– Keeping CRM (Salesforce) up to date with meetings, partner updates, and opportunities.
– Developing engaging presentations and materials for client events, webinars, and trade communications.
What We’re Looking For
Essential:
– Strong relationships with UK travel agents and industry partners.
– At least 3 years’ experience in business development, ideally within the expedition, touring, or cruise industry.
– Demonstrated success in meeting KPIs, managing pipelines, and planning effectively.
– Strategic and commercial mindset with contract and budget management skills.
– Excellent communication, reporting, and presentation abilities.
– Willingness and availability to travel frequently and attend evening/weekend functions as needed.
– A genuine respect for sustainability and cultural sensitivity.
Desirable:
– Firsthand knowledge of adventure travel or Polar destinations.
– Experience working with large UK or European travel accounts.
– Familiarity with Salesforce and digital business tools.
– Comfort using LinkedIn for networking and business development.
Why Join AE Expeditions?
Be part of a passionate and close knit team committed to exploration, sustainability, and delivering extraordinary experiences to guests across the globe. With strong values, a unique brand identity, and an award winning product offering, this is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact.
