At Manchester United, we believe that excellence on the pitch starts with excellence off the pitch. Our team thrives in a high-performance environment, united by a shared passion for success. We aim to elevate the standard of performance through collaboration and continuous growth, creating a space where everyone can contribute their best to our common goals.
We work together at our iconic Manchester United offices, enabling connection and innovation as we look ahead to what we can achieve as a global football club. We are excited to bring in passionate people who share our vision and drive for success.
The Travel Trade Manager - M&T Partnerships is responsible for driving revenue growth and visitor volumes across Manchester United's Museum and Stadium Tour business through the development and management of travel trade, group sales, tourism, corporate and commercial partnerships.
The role will lead the strategy for engaging domestic and international travel operators, destination management companies, coach operators, tourism bodies, online travel agents and commercial partners, positioning Old Trafford as a leading visitor attraction and must-visit destination. The postholder will identify new commercial opportunities, develop strategic partnerships and maximise sales performance across key markets.
Key Responsibilities
Travel Trade & Tourism Sales
- Develop and deliver the travel trade sales strategy to increase Museum & Stadium Tour revenue and visitor numbers.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with UK and international tour operators, wholesalers, online travel agencies and destination management companies.
- Identify new market opportunities and sales channels across key domestic and international tourism markets.
- Negotiate commercial agreements, rates and partnership terms with travel trade partners.
- Represent Manchester United at industry conferences, trade shows, networking events and sales missions.
- Work closely with tourism bodies, visitor economy organisations and destination marketing agencies to maximise exposure.
Commercial Partnership Development
- Identify and secure strategic commercial partnerships that drive visitor growth and incremental revenue.
- Develop group sales opportunities across education, corporate, leisure and special interest markets.
- Explore opportunities for packaged experiences, hospitality, retail and wider club offerings.
- Manage partnership performance through regular reviews and commercial reporting.
- Deliver revenue-generating campaigns with key stakeholders and partners
Revenue Growth & Performance Management
- Own and deliver annual sales and revenue targets.
- Monitor visitor trends, booking patterns and market insights to optimise commercial performance.
- Analyse sales data and produce regular reports, forecasts and recommendations.
- Develop pricing, promotional and distribution strategies to maximise yield.
- Monitor competitor activity and identify opportunities to strengthen market position.
Stakeholder Management
- Collaborate with Marketing, Hospitality, Retail, Partnerships, Finance and Operations teams to deliver joined-up visitor experiences.
- Support the development of new products, experiences and commercial offers.
- Act as a key ambassador for the Manchester United brand within the tourism and visitor attraction sectors.
- Maintain strong internal relationships to ensure commercial initiatives are effectively executed.
Leadership & People Management
- Lead, coach and develop team members where applicable.
- Foster a commercially focused and customer-centric culture.
- Establish clear objectives and performance measures for the sales function.
- Promote continuous improvement and innovation within the department.
Skills & Expertise
Essential
- Proven experience in travel trade sales, attraction sales, tourism, hospitality or commercial partnerships.
- Strong track record of delivering revenue growth and exceeding sales targets.
- Experience managing relationships with tour operators, travel agents and tourism partners.
- Commercially focused with strong negotiation and influencing skills.
- Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building capability.
- Strong analytical and reporting skills.
- Ability to develop and execute strategic sales plans.
- Excellent presentation and communication skills.
Desirable
- Experience within a major visitor attraction, sports organisation, entertainment venue or tourism destination.
- Knowledge of the UK and international tourism sectors.
- Experience using CRM and sales management systems.
- Degree-level qualification in Business, Tourism, Hospitality, Marketing or related field.
