Cruise Relationship Manager

Job Description

To develop and strengthen buyer attendance across all Seatrade Cruise events. The role will include researching, identifying, qualifying and recruiting cruise industry buyers in line with targets and event strategies. This is an important role in understanding the buying process as part of our customer insight initiative and delivering relevant buyers to satisfy exhibitors across all Seatrade cruise events. This role will focus on identifying the different cruise line buyers responsible for purchasing and procurement across all sectors within the cruise industry. The right candidate will manage the buyer relationship throughout the event cycles and strengthen existing audience attendance whilst also attracting and delivering a new audience across the Seatrade cruise brand. The Buyer Relationship manager will be responsible for matching buyers relevant to exhibitors and encourage their attendance at various Seatrade cruise events.

• To identify named buyers and key decision makers (specifiers) in the buying process including cruise lines, ship management companies, concessionaires and shipbuilders and repairers (the ’buyers’) on a global basis and identify the relevant buyer population
• Proactively build and maintain a buyer database by visiting buyer’s offices, engaging with decision makers on a weekly basis, and undertaking desk and telephone research to identify contacts and make recommendations for content purposes
• To manage the relationship with a large number of such companies (buyers) on a global basis; encourage their participation at Seatrade cruise events worldwide and solidify the perception of the events as ‘must attend’ ones
• Monitor and report on weekly registrations of buyers
• Actively encourage buyers to meet with relevant exhibitors in a series of one-to-one meetings onsite at the event
• Actively engage with buyers throughout the event cycles (via face to face and telephone calls) and maintain a constant communication to ensure attendance at our events
• To assist in any travel enquiries and event enquiries which the buyers may have
• To identify and manage those key buyers based in North America requiring face to face engagement to ensure their attendance and make recommendations to the wider RoW team to undertake such engagement.
• Engage with customers to understand their buying process.
• Responsible for the onsite event delivery of the buyer programacross all cruise events
• To collect qualitative information from the buyers on what types of suppliers they are looking to do business, and relay this information back to the event teams
• To get a better understanding of future trends from the buyers to help build future strategies for the events
• To work with the event teams to understand the gaps in attendance in order to better target buyer outreach

Qualifications

• An aptitude for networking and building relationships with a diverse range of people
• Excellent telephone manner
• Excellent written & spoken English with proven skills in written communication
• Customer focused
• Strong organisational and administrative skills
• Results-focussed with ability to work under own initiative
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Confident team player with a creative and innovative approach
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Proven ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office – Excel, Word, Power point) and affinity with CRM systems.
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in a hosted buyer or relations manager role
• Experience/knowledge of the cruise industry favourable
• Ability and flexibility to travel globally for events and when required.

Additional Information

• Competitive Compensation Package
• Access to LinkedIn Learning and other development/training opportunities
• Health and Wellness Benefits (medical, dental, eye)
• 401K and Matching
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Generous PTO policy
• Work-life balance
• Additional discounts through various partnerships

We know that sometimes the 'perfect candidate' doesn't exist, and that people can be put off applying for a job if they don't fit all the requirements. If you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, please go ahead and apply. You could be just what we need! We believe strongly in the value of diversity and creating supportive, inclusive environments where our colleagues can succeed. As such, Informa is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, or religious creed, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other protected characteristics under federal, state or local law.