Contractor, Hotels

ABOUT GLOBUS FAMILY OF BRANDS

With 95+ years in travel, the award-winning Globus family of brands – consisting of Globus, Cosmos, and Avalon Waterways – creates vacations that offer travelers culture-rich experiences featuring must-see sights, the stories behind the scenes and countless joy-filled memories in more than 70 countries on six continents across the globe. With equal measures vision and hard work; team collaboration and commitment; adaptability, honesty, and integrity as well as a genuine love for all-things-travel, the Globus family of brands – a leader in international travel – now offers unparalleled, perfectly planned tours; inventive, inspiring cruises and modern, independent vacation packages to millions of travelers.

Travel and/or in-office presence may be required at times. Generous benefit package including travel benefits and retirement.

THE DEPARTMENT

The following teams make up the Product & Operations department: Contracting, Data Management & Product services, Product Creation, and Tour Operations. Product & Operations is responsible for the creation, operation, inventory management and delivery of Globus, Cosmos, and Avalon Waterways in select destinations (North America, South America, Asia, South Pacific and East/South Africa). This department is also responsible for supporting tour products planned and sold worldwide, including managing inventory and content.

THE ROLE

The role of a Contractor is to implement the contracting strategy, negotiate and administer contracts for their designated supplier type (ie. Hotels, cruise, train, excursions or ground handlers) and assigned territory. This role also serves as the functional expert for all buying in their assigned region and/or supplier type and requires collaboration with various work areas to ensure successful execution of our tours.

THE POSITION

Contractors are also responsible for the following results:

• Determining acquisition and contract requirements by acting as an expert resource.
• Building solid business relationships with tour suppliers by establishing rapport, utilizing influence rather than control and fostering unilateral communication.
• Implementing the business processes associated with the acquisition and contracting life cycle (sourcing, negotiations, terms, contract executing) and relationship management (contract performance, contract compliance, quality, delivery and payment).
• Developing and implementing a contracting strategy for their designated territory that leverages volume nationwide to obtain the best contract rates and supports company goals for each brand.
• Maintaining up-to-date information by creating and modifying contracts based on final agreements.
• Analyzing contract performance to ensure optimal costs are obtained and to monitor inventory needs, product flow, and pricing trends.
• Collaborating with Data Management team to ensure supplier contracts and content are accurately portrayed in the systems that drive contractual documents, websites and operating information
• Ensuring the accuracy of contracts for costing and accounting purposes
• Identify and communicate product opportunities to Product Managers and Management that may result from buying opportunities.
• Maintaining accurate and thorough supplier records; including contracts, critical communications, supplier details and information required by Tour Operations at outset of working season.
• Working in tandem with Tour Operations as required to resolve any on-tour issues that involve suppliers as well as provide general assistance answering inquiries, providing updates and handling supplier requests
• Maintaining a broad knowledge of the travel industry and economic environment; especially as it relates to travel and market trends, city occupancies, hotel development and opportunities. Using this knowledge to the advantage of the company and negotiations.
• Maintaining an understanding of the company’s competitive position through competitive analysis as well as other means of research and review.
• Representing the organization by attending annual trade shows and conventions as well as related supplier inspections or familiarization tours. (estimated 4+ events annually)
• Collaborate with the Health & Safety Coordinator to ensure all contracted suppliers meet our minimum requirements for health and safety practices; provide assistance when it is necessary to further investigate or review supplier practices.
• Maintaining accurate information in the Tour Technicals in order to ensure Tour Operations and Tour Directors have the most relevant and essential information to operate a tour successfully.
• Collaborating with a wide variety of functional areas such as Sales, Marketing, and other operating offices as appropriate and required.
• Maintaining confidence and protecting operations by keeping information confidential.
• Contributing to a team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

EDUCATION

The preferred candidate will hold a Bachelor’s degree in a related field or; or related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE PREFERRED

The preferred candidate has noteworthy experience in the following areas:

• Contract negotiations (negotiating and securing contracted rates for products and services)
• Five plus years experience in travel or entertainment industry.
• Knowledge of product costing and pricing concepts and strategies.
• Technical and functional expertise on GVI’s systems, processes, and procedures as related to the maintenance of contract data. (beneficial, but not required)
• Demonstrate experience in a role that requires critical thinking and problem solving as well as solid communication skills
• Knowledge of Globus, Cosmos, and Avalon Waterways products, services, policies, features, and benefits (beneficial but not required)
• Strong business acumen
• Microsoft office (primarily Word, Excel, and Outlook)

EOE

While performing this job, it will require: Eight (8) hours or more a day of sitting; walking; standing; bending; answering the telephone; entering data into the computer; retrieving data from the computer or analyzing data from reports.