Business Development Manager, Private Luxury Events

Business Development Manager, Private Luxury Events Borough, South London (SE1 1EP) – Hybrid Private Luxury Events: Expect the Extraordinary Private Luxury Events delivers world‑class experiences to the luxury travel community through its event brands Amour, Private Luxury, TFest and Ultra. Our ethos has always been to put the human experience first. This mantra has powered some of the most respected events in the industry, inspiring thousands of luxury travel professionals around the world and at the heart of everything we do lies a passion for connecting people. Part of Worldwide Events Group Private Luxury Events sits within Worldwide Events Group, founded in 2004 and now a recognised leader in global MICE and luxury travel. Across our events, we bring people together and facilitate meaningful relationships, a philosophy we call H2H, human‑to‑human connection. Innovation drives our evolution. We’re embracing AI to elevate personalisation, streamline event design, and create smarter, more intuitive experiences for our global communities. Our Sister Brand: M&I M&I brings together high‑calibre meeting planners and exhibitors from the hospitality industry through a series of standout events across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Our portfolio includes M&I Expo, M&I Flagship, M&I Healthcare, and M&I Luxe. The Role We're looking for a commercially driven, proactive Business Development Manager who thrives on winning new business, opening doors and turning opportunities into revenue. Private Luxury Events operates in a competitive luxury market, bringing together exceptional hotels, destinations, tourism boards and hospitality brands. Success in this role requires a genuine hunter mentality: someone who actively seeks out new prospects, builds relationships from the ground up, confidently pitches our proposition and consistently works to convert opportunities into commercial results. You'll take ownership of the sales cycle, from researching and approaching prospective clients through to pitching, negotiating and closing deals. You'll be motivated by ambitious targets, comfortable taking the initiative and energised by the opportunity to make a tangible impact on business growth. This is an opportunity to join a growing team where adaptability, commercial thinking and a willingness to challenge the status quo are valued. As our portfolio and priorities evolve, you'll be expected to spot opportunities, respond positively to change and find ways to move the business forward. You'll join a team of experienced, passionate people who have delivered hundreds of events worldwide and bring creativity, precision and purpose to everything we do. Responsibilities New Business Development and Revenue Growth - Proactively identify, research and approach new business prospects across the luxury travel, hospitality and events sectors, building and maintaining a strong pipeline of potential clients. - Take ownership of new business generation, actively prospecting and opening doors rather than relying solely on inbound enquiries or existing relationships. - Identify and develop commercial opportunities with luxury hotels, hotel groups, destination marketing organisations, tourism boards, exhibitors and other relevant industry partners. - Manage the full sales cycle, from prospecting and pitching through to negotiation, closing and securing new business. - Develop compelling sales propositions that demonstrate the value of our events and convert prospective clients into long-term commercial relationships. - Work towards and deliver agreed revenue targets, using initiative, persistence and commercial judgement to overcome challenges and maximise opportunities. - Maintain momentum across the sales pipeline, prioritising high-value prospects and taking a proactive approach to follow-ups, negotiations and closing deals. Client Relationships and Commercial Development - Build credible, lasting relationships with decision-makers and key stakeholders across the luxury travel and hospitality industries. - Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and generate additional revenue across assigned event portfolios or markets. - Understand client objectives, market dynamics and competitor activity to identify opportunities, strengthen our proposition and support commercial growth. - Maintain accurate Salesforce pipeline records and provide consistent sales reports, forecasts and market updates to senior management. Adaptability, Ownership and Growth - Take ownership of your objectives and work independently, demonstrating initiative, accountability and a solutions-focused approach. - Adapt quickly as business priorities, market conditions and event propositions evolve, viewing change as an opportunity to learn, improve and drive growth. - Bring ideas, test new approaches and identify ways to improve prospecting, conversion and overall sales performance. - Collaborate with colleagues across the business to maximise commercial opportunities and contribute to the continued growth of Private Luxury Events. Due to the nature of our work, you may occasionally be required to work outside standard hours to support events or meet key deadlines. Requirements You'll thrive in this Business Development Manager role if you bring: - Proven experience in business development or sales, ideally within events, exhibitions, luxury travel, hospitality or a related sector. - A demonstrable hunter mentality, with experience proactively generating leads, winning new business and building a pipeline from scratch. - Evidence of achieving or exceeding revenue targets and converting opportunities into tangible commercial results. - Confidence engaging decision-makers, pitching propositions, negotiating commercial agreements and closing deals. - Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to identify opportunities, prioritise prospects and understand what drives revenue. - Resilience, persistence and the confidence to operate in a competitive market, overcoming objections and maintaining momentum through longer sales cycles. - A self-starting, action-oriented approach, with the ability to work independently, take ownership and deliver without constant direction. - Adaptability and a positive response to change, ambiguity and evolving priorities. - Strong communication, relationship-building and organisational skills, alongside the ability to maintain accurate pipeline and reporting information in a fast-paced environment. Desirable Qualifications and Experience - Experience selling to luxury hotels, hotel groups, tourism boards, destination marketing organisations, exhibitors or other luxury hospitality brands. - Experience in luxury lifestyle, fashion, travel, hospitality, sponsorship or partnership sales. - Experience managing strategic commercial partnerships, negotiating larger contracts or developing high-value client accounts. - Proficiency in Salesforce, Airtable or similar CRM and reporting tools. - A bachelor's degree in business, marketing or a related field, or additional language skills. Benefits We offer a thoughtful package designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work–life balance. - £75k OTE (£45k Basic + £30k Commission). - 28 days holiday plus UK bank holidays, with additional days awarded for length of service. - A centrally located London office with a summer terrace within walking distance of the world-famous Borough Market. - Regular employee social events supported by our Happiness & Culture team. - Monthly contribution towards Bupa private health insurance (post probation). - Employee Assistance Program offering confidential wellbeing support. - Enhanced maternity and paternity leave to support growing families. - 4 pm Friday finish! Our Commitment to Diversity Our approach to diversity is simple: it’s about embracing everyone. We are committed to welcoming all individuals, regardless of gender identity, orientation, expression, age, race, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, or perspective. Our diversity fuels innovation, brings diverse thoughts, and connects us more closely to our clients and the communities we serve. How to Apply We review every application with care and attention. If you're excited to contribute to our mission, we’d love to hear from you. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. To ensure your experience and perspective are considered, we encourage you to apply early. Our Company Website www.privateluxuryevents.com Our Events Portfolio www.wwideevents.com www.amourforums.com www.mi-forums.com www.travel-fest.com