Head of Sales - Travel events

Job Title: Senior Sales Lead - Luxury Travel Events
Location: London, UK (Hybrid)
Salary: -50K base + bonus (OTE -70K+)
Start Date: ASAP
About the Role
A rare opportunity to join a purpose-driven, market-leading media and events business with a 70-year heritage in delivering high-impact, high-quality experiences in the travel industry. We''re launching a brand-new, flagship Luxury Travel Meetings Event - a first-of-its-kind hosted buyer format connecting the world''s top luxury travel suppliers with a handpicked audience of elite travel sellers and advisors.
We''re looking for a Senior Sales Lead to own the commercial strategy and delivery of this new event. With strong backing, a respected brand, and a substantial contact base, the right person will be empowered to shape and scale this into a landmark annual experience for the luxury travel market.
You''ll be leading from the front, driving revenue through meeting packages and sponsorship sales - with an immediate revenue target of -1 million in Year 1. You''ll have full autonomy and support to build something meaningful - and fast.
Key Responsibilities
Own and lead the commercial sales strategy for a new luxury travel meetings event
Deliver -700K+ of the -1M revenue target across supplier bookings and sponsorship
Secure participation from 90-100 luxury travel suppliers across sectors: cruise, aviation, DMCs, resorts, ski, tourism boards, etc.
Sell to a highly competitive and discerning luxury market, where relationship, value, and credibility are key
Work with marketing, editorial, and event teams to help design, shape, and scale the product
Operate with full autonomy to lead commercial growth from the ground up
Identify and close new business while nurturing key accounts (approx. 50% new business)
Collaborate on hosted buyer strategy: 150 luxury travel agents qualified by transaction value
Ensure commercial partners receive outstanding value and guaranteed meetings via AI-driven matchmaking platform
Feed into event content and sponsorship activations with the wider luxury team
What We''re Looking For
Proven sales expertise in luxury travel events - ideally from ILTM, PURE, Connections, or similar hosted buyer format
Ability to hit the ground running - we need a doer, not a learner
Comfortable managing the full sales cycle, from pipeline to pitch to close
Strong industry black book across the luxury travel landscape: aviation, hospitality, cruise, DMCs, tour operators, etc.
Entrepreneurial mindset with desire to help shape and scale a premium event brand from scratch
Experience selling meeting/exhibitor packages and sponsorship for B2B travel events
High levels of credibility with senior travel execs - trusted, polished, consultative
Resilient, target-driven, and self-motivated, with an eye for opportunity
Excited by the luxury travel space and the doors it opens: events in Cannes, global luxury FAM trips, and more
Why Join?
Shape and scale a landmark luxury event with real purpose behind it
Access to a highly engaged luxury audience and an established brand legacy
Join a business passionate about smarter, fairer, better travel
Work with industry leaders with deep connections and years of expertise
Travel perks and the opportunity to attend global luxury events
Competitive base salary with uncapped commission and clear bonus targets
Autonomy to lead with support from an experienced and passionate team
We Are Aspire Ltd are a Disability Confident Commited employer
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