Sales Manager (Schools) - #35204

Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Leatherhead RoadChessington, SURREY, KT9 2NEUnited Kingdom

Sales Manager (Schools)

Location: Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Surrey, KT9 2NE
Hours: Full time, permanent, averaging 40 hours per week. Flexibility is required to meet the needs of the business; shifts will include weekends, evenings, and bank holidays.
Benefits: Competitive annual salary, discount on our animal VIP experiences and Go Ape course, discounts on our Hotels and a Merlin Magic Pass - 20 free tickets for you, your family, and friends to enjoy all of our Merlin Attractions across the world.

With our Theme Park, Zoo, spectacular Hotels & Glamping as well as our Go Ape courses there are plenty of ROARingly exciting career paths available. We're also a part of the Merlin Entertainments family - associated with attractions like SEA LIFE, LEGOLAND Parks, Madame Tussauds and More!

We're currently looking for a Sales Manager to join our Marketing team at Britain’s Wildest Adventure!

About the Role

In this role, reporting directly to the Marketing Director, you will be responsible for increasing revenue from the schools market. You will play a key part of the overall Marketing Plan, meeting agreed budgets and targets, and identifying key trends to maximise Resort attendance from these markets.

Understanding our wild and adventurous brand, you will act as the main contact for acquiring and managing schools bookings, inviting key decision makers to the Resort to induct our brand and deliver regular FAM trips and show-rounds for key clients. You may also be required to support other sales opportunities for the resort as required, for example supporting the Merlin Central Trade team with the generation of new international schools / international tourist business.

You will be responsible for producing weekly reports discussing prospects, tentative and secured deals, in addition to benchmarking price points based on the season. You will regularly identify and source opportunities that will deliver theme park sales and/ or hotel stay packages.

Monitoring financial performance of existing accounts against targets, you will effectively forecast and implement any corrective actions through sales and marketing strategies, as well as develop new products and packages based on your understanding of the leisure industry.

You will work closely with the Marketing Director and Sales Manager (Corporate) to develop and deploy short and long-term sales plans.

About You

• Strategic commercial expertise to ensure all short- and longer-term targets are well planned and ultimately achieved.
  

• Excellent sales and negotiation skills.
  

• Deep understanding of the schools’ and/or international leisure markets.
  

• High levels of commitment, drive, energy, and a positive approach to daily challenges.
  

• Effective communication and influencing skills.
  

• High-quality networking skills.
  

• Strong organisational skills.
  

• Strong knowledge of CRM principles with a particular emphasis on digital marketing.
  

• Experience in theme park, hotel sales, school sales or international trade/wholesale business is advantageous but not essential.

What’s on offer?

• Competitive annual salary
  

• 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
  

• Merlin Magic Pass - 20 free tickets for you, your family and friends to enjoy all of our Merlin Attractions across the world rising to 40 after a year’s service
  

• Company bonus
  

• Private pension scheme
  

• 40% discount online off LEGO
  

• 25% discount in our on-site retail shops and restaurants
  

• Ongoing training and development opportunities
  

• Plus, many more…

Everyone Matters at Merlin
At Merlin we welcome the world to our magical attractions and resorts every day and we want to reflect that same multicultural mix inside our business too. We strive to create an inclusive and diverse workplace where people can be themselves, have the same opportunities and thrive together. Because at Merlin, everyone matters! Together, we work to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, no matter their age, race, gender, disability or sexual orientation Although we understand that we'll always be learning and growing, we aim to be the most inclusive and flexible employer in our industry.

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