Riviera Travel is set to significantly expand its field-based sales team by 75%. This strategic initiative involves the recruitment of key account managers to support their growth. As the company approaches its 40th anniversary, this move underscores their commitment to excellence in trade support.
As the travel industry continues to evolve, Riviera Travel is strengthening its sales force to expand its market reach. This expansion is a strategic effort to enhance their relationships with agent partners and drive business growth through comprehensive support and empowerment.
Significant Expansion of Riviera Travel’s Sales Team
Riviera Travel is set to expand its field-based sales team by a significant 75%, reinforcing its commitment to growth and service. This strategic move involves recruiting three new key account managers, who will integrate into the existing team of 18. This expansion aligns with Riviera Travel’s dedication to bolstering its relationships with agent partners, crucial to the company’s ongoing success.
The newly appointed managers will report directly to Vicky Billing, the head of trade and partnerships. Billing highlighted that as Riviera Travel approaches its 40th anniversary, expanding the agent-facing team is vital. This expansion ensures the company continues to offer top-tier trade support, directly contributing to their ambitious plans for business growth.
Leadership Reshuffle to Support Growth
To support this growth, Riviera Travel has restructured its leadership team. Stuart Milan, who has been pivotal in the company’s strategic planning, will lead the revamped team as Trading Director. His responsibilities will extend across trade, international, and group functions, reinforcing Riviera’s strategic alignment.
Tom Morgan, previously head of trade for the UK and Ireland, will assume the role of Head of International Sales. Morgan will focus on extending Riviera’s international reach, while continuing to report to Milan. The reshuffle ensures a focused approach to expanding Riviera’s market presence, tapping into new opportunities for growth.
Vicky Billing’s Enhanced Role
In addition to her current responsibilities, Vicky Billing has been promoted to Head of Trade and Partnerships for the UK and Ireland. Her role now encompasses driving trade business while nurturing key partnerships—a move that empowers her to leverage more comprehensive strategies.
Billing’s direct oversight aims to streamline communication and collaboration with agent partners. She will continue her impressive work under the oversight of Stuart Milan. Together, they are poised to enhance Riviera Travel’s market position, capitalising on their strengthened leadership team.
The leadership roadmap is clear: foster growth through strategic appointments and established partnerships. This cohesive strategy encourages more dynamic trade interactions and superior agent support, which are pivotal for their 40th anniversary goals.
Training and Engagement as Growth Catalysts
The role of the new account managers is not limited to sales; they will also spearhead training and engagement efforts. These managers are tasked with enhancing agent knowledge about Riviera’s offerings, ensuring that agents are well-equipped to market their products effectively.
Training programmes will be systematically implemented, aimed at empowering sales agents with the necessary tools for success. This knowledge transfer is key to increasing revenue through improved agent productivity, demonstrating Riviera’s commitment to comprehensive support for its partners.
Focus on Revenue Management and Agent Activity
Stuart Milan’s comprehensive role includes overseeing revenue management and agent activity, ensuring alignment with Riviera Travel’s overarching business objectives. He will manage these functions with a focus on driving efficiency and effectiveness across departments.
The strategic integration of Milan’s roles is intended to provide a seamless approach to managing revenues and agents. It reflects a proactive stance towards managing market dynamics, enabling Riviera to respond swiftly to industry changes.
Strategic Importance of Agent Partnerships
Agent partnerships are at the heart of Riviera Travel’s strategy. With agents playing a crucial role in the company’s distribution model, strengthening these partnerships remains a top priority.
Riviera’s commitment to agent engagement is reflected in their structured approaches to partnership. This includes frequent communication, detailed training sessions, and collaborative marketing efforts. These initiatives ensure stakeholders are aligned with the company’s growth trajectory.
Future Prospects and Growth Potential
Looking forward, Riviera Travel is set to capitalise on these strategic initiatives to enhance its market position. The expansion and restructuring efforts are designed to meet the demands of a dynamic travel industry, geared towards sustainable growth.
Strengthening field sales capabilities through targeted recruitment and a clear leadership strategy sets the stage for Riviera’s future successes. These efforts underline their commitment to maintaining a competitive edge and adapting to evolving market needs.
Riviera Travel’s strategic enhancement of its sales team and leadership roles underscores its commitment to growth and development. By investing in agent partnerships and focusing on comprehensive training, the company is well-positioned to adapt to industry changes and realise its ambitious goals.
