Overall Purpose of the Role

The Trade  Engagement & Events Executive is responsible for delivering Disney Destinations International (DDI), including Disneyland Paris (DLP), Walt Disney World (WDW) and Disney Cruise Line (DCL), events, training, agent engagement & sales targets within the Travel Trade network.

Promote DDI products and current sales messages to the Travel Trade to ensure maximum coverage and drive results.

Areas of Responsibility

• Work closely with Trade Engagement & Events Manager & Team (TEEM) and Trade Engagement & Events Executives (TEEs), Trade Events & Marketing (TEM) team, Account Managers, key partners, commercial and marketing departments to ensure the DDI training and engagement plans are implemented and maximised
• Promote DDI at key external partner meetings throughout the year
• Responsible for generating innovative ideas and seeking opportunities to engage, educate and excite trade partners for example implementing competitions/incentives, identifying new training methods, upselling product, knowledge gaps within partners/regions to help maximise sales
• Work with TEEM on any training and engagement projects, attending and actively participating in project meetings, taking meeting notes, following up on actions and ensuring all other stakeholders are kept up to date
• With support of the TEEM, create DDI special offer communications, product updates, engaging presentations and vlogs, ensuring materials are fresh, professional, tailored to the audience and in adherence to brand guidelines ready for distribution to all key partners to help drive product knowledge and sales.
• With support of the TEEM, pre-record and deliver trainings in an engaging and exciting manner at both virtual, hybrid and live events such as partner conferences (UK and abroad), webinars, partner managers meetings and trade wide Disney roadshows
• Help internal teams with planning Familiarisation (FAM) trips before hosting and escorting external partners throughout the event. (Europe and USA)
• Work with the TEEM to ensure key partners are aware and actively utilising all of the DDI training platforms, sales tools, training apps and online booking tools and any new training resources created.
• Work with the TEEM to upload engaging and relevant content on social media channels, ensuring approval of new content before it is posted online. Also responsible for replying to comments and answering private messages on behalf of the Company in a compliant and timely manner
• Handle day-to-day queries from partners, escalating any key challenges with DDI product or operating procedures with an appropriate sense of urgency
• Build and develop effective relationships with all touch points including but not limited to central offices, key partners, Disney specialists/expert programmes from external partners
• Conduct key partners’ store visits, targeting specific stores, using data to inform decisions
• Visit DDI Head Office in Hammersmith and Key Partner offices when required
• Attend and actively participate in internal Disney meetings (virtually or various locations across the UK)
• Provide timely and consistent feedback to the central offices on trade sales and trading activity
• Manage any allocated budget/merchandise effectively and update tracking files following company guidelines
• Responsible for effective diary management and calendarisation of future opportunities with key partners, maximising efficiency and productivity
• Responsible for processing expenses in a timely and accurate manner
• Stay up-to-date on product news both internally at Disney and wider travel industry level

Training and Professional Development

• Operate with integrity, champion change and be a good ambassador for DDI and the wider Walt Disney Company

• Operate as part of an effective team, demonstrating an awareness of others, offering support, sharing knowledge and best practices and contributing to the overall achievement of departmental commitments
• Take ownership of your professional development through regular career conversations with your line manager and utilising available resources such as D Learn, instructor led courses and on the job learning
• Proactively suggest ways to improve departmental performance and processes
• Build links with other TWDC functions to develop broader knowledge of the business

Areas of Accountability

• Accountable to the Trade Engagement & Events Manager  
• Accountable for delivering against annually agreed performance commitments
• Accountable for effective budget spend i.e. incentives and merchandise budgets with the support from TEEM and for timely and accurate maintenance of budget were relevant
• Accountable for generating ideas and identifying opportunities that will maximise sales within allocated region
• Accountable for effective diary management
• Accountable for timely and accurate management of expenses
• Accountable for ensuring processes for key DDI promotions and incentives for respective key partners networks are optimised
• Accountable for responding to comments and messages on social media in a brand compliant manner, seeking support from TEEM where necessary
• Accountable for sharing engaging and brand compliant social media content and ensuring approval from TEEM is in place prior to publication
• Accountable for cultivating and maintaining productive relationships and collaborating across departments internally and externally
• Accountable for providing training for identified key partners promoting awareness of DDI sales messages, special offers, training programmes, platforms/apps and online booking tools
• Accountable for handling day-to-day queries from partners, escalating any key challenges with DDI product or operating procedures
• Accountable for operating with an appropriate sense of urgency

Experience and Professional Qualifications Required

• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience working in a similar field
• Proven experience working with an external tour operator or experience in a field sales position on the road in a similar industry, preferable 
• Knowledge of the travel industry, particularly within retail and tour operating, preferable
• Proven track record of achieving against sales targets & planning/hosting events
• Demonstrable success in a events and engagement role with experience collaborating with various departments within travel retail and/or head office
• Clean driving license for UK travel
• Experience maintaining and managing allocated budgets

Skills Required

• Strong influencing and negotiation skills
• Effective communicator with ability to train on product knowledge and updates in a clear and effective manner
• Results-orientated and commercially minded
• Analytical skills
• Innovative and creative thinker
• Ability to present to large audiences in clear and compelling manner, virtually, hybrid and face to face
• Comfortable and familiar with recording, editing and delivering Vlogs with confident execution
• Strong collaborator with the ability to operate across a range of business functions and work effectively with different levels of seniority
• Ability to create, edit decks in line with brand guidelines, and write scripts for presentations to a high standard using PowerPoint/Canva or similar
• Strong understanding of social media and ability to use the back end and front end tools to connect with sales staff
• Strong customer service skills with strong empathy and understanding of customer (partner) needs and motivations
• Proficient in MS Office 365 including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams; adept in use of video conferencing tools such as Zoom, video editing tools, creative programmes such as Canva essential
• Ability to edit content using Adobe Premier Pro, beneficial

Additional Information

• Flexibility for frequent/occasional UK, European or international travel will be required
• Contribution to ad-hoc projects as the business requires
• Flexible hours may be required to meet business needs
• Driving license