Head of Contracting Nordics

Job description

Who are WebBeds?
WebBeds is the fastest growing and most significant accommodation supplier to the travel industry.

We are a global company offering ground services (hotels, transfers, tours, activities) to travel professionals.

Our products help our partners and customers to create amazing Travel experiences.
Our Products range from a Retail Online platform, Integration Connectivity hub and distribution APIs to name but a few and our systems are 100% cloud hosted processing up to 5.0bn search requests daily.

We deliver amazing outcomes using leading edge technology through innovative and creative thinking.
WebBeds is a subsidiary of Web Travel Group (ASX: WEB) – an ASX 200 listed company operating a global digital travel business.
What makes us stand out?
We are a wholesale global travel organization
We have 1500+ people speaking 50+ languages in 120+ cites across 50+ countries 
We partner with over 430,000 properties in more than 15,000 destinations 
We work with more than 44,000 travel companies in 139 source markets 
We have an amazing Technology team focused on delivering valuable outcomes using innovative tech and creative & lateral thinking
What will you do on your journey with WebBeds?
WebBeds is the world’s fastest growing provider of accommodation distribution services to the travel industry.

Our products incorporate distribution APIs, payment integrations, ERP integration, Data Lakes, User Interfaces, and others.

Our search API reach peaks of more than 50.000 requests per second, each one consisting of tens or hundreds of hotels, with continued expansion.
We design, deliver and support innovative solutions through engagement, collaboration and a fearsome passion for creating customer value is our mission as an IT organization.
With this in mind, we strive to be at the leading edge of technology when it comes to build the platform that meets the needs of our Supply partners and customers.

This translates to the use of latest technology including .NET Core versions, K8S, microservices architecture, clouds hosting and orchestration, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, Proactive monitoring, and alerting systems, to name a few.
Our delivery teams have the creativity and freedom to express themselves by building innovative solutions to often complex problems and are challenged to reach higher levels daily.

Our teams consist of product owners, QA engineers, Software Engineers, and people from across the business all working collectively and collaboratively.

We have a very strong technical team from which you will be able to learn but are encouraged by new ideas and fresh thinking that you will bring with you.
In this Role you will:
Lead the day-to-day operations of the Nordic contracting team, overseeing both individual performance and team-wide delivery.

You’ll coach and support Contract Managers, set performance targets, and foster a culture of collaboration and growth.

Simultaneously, you will manage a personal portfolio of hotel partnerships, negotiating contracts and securing competitive terms.

You will build and maintain strong relationships with hotel chains, monitor regional trends, and proactively respond to market needs.

Acting as a strategic link between internal stakeholders and external suppliers, you’ll ensure high product quality, optimize supplier performance, and contribute directly to WebBeds’ commercial objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and manage the regional team to ensure all members meet their KPIs and objectives.

Support performance through regular monitoring, open feedback, and by fostering a culture of innovation and proactivity.
Conduct regular one-to-one meetings to maintain strong two-way communication:
  - With team members: Review performance, align on short-, medium-, and long-term goals, conduct pre- and post-business trip briefings, and take corrective actions as needed to maximise results.
  - With the Vice President of Northern Europe: Share updates on individual and team performance, discuss trading improvements, flag challenges, and collaborate on solutions.

Seek guidance when necessary.
Support recruitment activities within the department as required.
Set high standards and enhance the team’s commercial capability.

Identify development needs and support individual growth through coaching, mentoring, and training.

Accompany team members on business trips where appropriate to provide in-the-field support.
Ensure the team is fully familiar with key procurement tools and requirements relevant to the region, including connectivity and channel manager usage.
Empower the team to manage and strengthen commercial relationships with hotel partners, including key regional chains, working closely with internal stakeholders such as Reservations, Sales, Revenue, and Accounts.
Promote strong internal communication by sharing successful contracting initiatives and flagging any destination-related issues with relevant departments in a timely manner.
Deliver against annual departmental and individual KPIs and objectives.
Negotiate and secure competitive contracts that meet company requirements for rates, allocations, overrides, and other key commercial terms within your assigned area.
Regularly analyse production data to ensure sufficient inventory aligned with destination performance targets.
Optimise contract performance by securing tactical promotions and special offers to drive competitiveness and sales.
Ensure timely re-contracting of existing hotels in line with agreed renewal cycles and business timelines.
Identify and prioritise contracting of ‘must-have’ hotels to enhance regional portfolio strength.
Lead strategic negotiations and partnership management with key hotel chains to maximise market share and long-term collaboration.
Plan and carry out in-year contracting trips to secure renewals and sign new properties, aligned with personal and team targets.
Negotiate added-value offers and exclusive deals to support revenue growth and distribution advantage.
Monitor competitor pricing and availability, responding to market demand and trends proactively.
Proactively address supplier-related service level issues, ensuring high standards of delivery.
Conduct regular hotel inspections and ensure up-to-date, accurate product content (e.g., amenities, photos, facilities).
Share relevant destination intelligence internally, including peak travel dates, local events, and trade shows.
Take responsibility for mitigating commercial losses through proactive negotiation and issue resolution.
Identify underperforming hotels and implement actions to improve or replace them as appropriate.
The skills we would love to see in your suitcase!
Minimum 5 years’ experience in hotel contracting and team management.
Proven track record in hotel partnerships and commercial performance within the Nordics market.
Demonstrated experience in managing relationships with major hotel chains in the region.
Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
Proactive leadership style with the ability to develop and motivate teams.
High attention to detail and accuracy.
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; fluency in one or more Nordic languages is an advantage.
Comfortable working under pressure and focused on achieving results.
Solid working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Confident team leadership and delegation.
Target-driven mindset.
Strong internal and external communication.
Effective stakeholder management.
Willingness to travel within the region.
Why choose us as your next destination?
We are super proud of our dedicated team of friendly, energetic & passionate professionals.

Our people are key to the success of our business & everybody at WebBeds has their own unique role to play as we continue to drive the company forward.
Over 50 different languages are spoken by our workforce, but whether working from offices in Dubai or London or out in the field in Johannesburg or Buenos Aires, we all share the common goal to take pride in what we do & to deliver our partners with unbeatable service & support.
International highly skilled group of experts from all around the globe 🌎
Dynamic environment with the chance to grow, influence & impact change ⚡
Disruptive, fast-growing market leader within travel & endless possibilities 💼
Culture built on collaboration🤝 empowerment and innovation 💡

Find out more about the WebBeds business at www.webbeds.com  - #LI-Hybrid

Required Skill Profession

Operations Specialties Managers