OUR CLIENT

AMERICAN EXPRESS GBT is the world’s leading business partner for managed travel. We keep global business moving by making sure travelers are present where and when it matters. Companies of all sizes and in all places rely on GBT to provide travel management services, organize meetings and events, and deliver business travel consulting. From our standpoint, to make any sort of progress in the corporate world, it’s essential that businesses connect with colleagues, clients, and partners.
That’s why we make every effort to have your back and your travelers’ backs wherever the road takes them.
 

THE POSITION

The Business Development Manager Switzerland - Meetings & Events is a key and hands on role that will deliver growth to the existing American Express Meetings & Events business both via new sales and acquisition of target companies as well as cross selling from other areas of the Global Business Travel business (GBT). The role will interface with the M&E teams across GBT to ensure continuous and successful synergies between complete value, positioning to prospects in the sales process and effective post-sale delivery. This role requires effective filtering and qualifying of prospects, building a high value pipeline to ensure successful achievement of acquisition targets through researching and understanding clients’ needs to develop solutions that meet their specific requirements.

The position is Home Office based in Switzerland. Two offices in Basel and Geneva can be used as well for working.
 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Development and delivery of our local Sales Strategy within Switzerland aligning with global initiatives.
• Identify, manage and drive prospects through the sales cycle in the Swiss Event market environment.
• Building market and competitor awareness.
• Assessing client-specific needs and developing a client-specific value proposition and pricing. Presenting    a customized value proposition to client executive-level staff and to multiple stakeholders.
• Generate new business leads and client contract acquisition, drive cross selling opportunities from Business Travel clients.
• Confidently selling our whole portfolio of services.
• Leading RFI and RFP responses including bid writing where required.
• collation of sales material ensuring the quality and consistency of all sales presentation and collateral.
• Supporting teams based across all offices on client pitches and credential meetings.
• Representing American Express Meetings & Events at industry events and speaking engagements.
• Networking in both our client and supplier communities, responsibility for client engagement and entertainment activities.
• Working with CRM Sales Force Lightening and achieving Sales targets.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Substantial experience within a similar role as a Sales or Business Development Manager including proven success in managing structured sales process.
• Strong knowledge of the Swiss event marketplace as well as local network in order to understand the factors and issues that impact companies’ businesses selling products and services not only in Switzerland, but globally.
• The ability to identify business opportunities and achieve profitable new business for a range of American Express products and services is key through using a broad network of contacts, stretching across the industry and marketplace to identify potential leads.
• Proven ability in creating exciting and innovative event concepts and pitch proposals in order to showcase American Express GBT's meetings and events abilities to client prospects.
• Proven track record in sales negotiations, new business results and closing skills in an Event environment combined with Events industry experience.
• Excellent communications, leadership and presentation skills, fluency in German & Business English. Any additional language would be an advantage.
• Exceptional networking and relationship building plus very strong negotiations and influencing skills and the ability to influence prospective client decisions.
• Confident in liaising with stakeholder spectrum; C-level, procurement, internal operations & administration managers.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, flexibility & adaptability to changes, exceptional attention to detail.
• Dynamic and enthusiastic team player with the ability of self-motivation in both virtual & live environment.
• Understanding of dealing with compliance rules and implementing them.
• Strong proactive attitude - inside and outside the company.