Work With Us

Overview 

The Relationship Coordinator supports the delivery of Bannikin’s travel trade services by helping to build, manage, and strengthen meaningful relationships between travel trade suppliers and buyers in priority target markets. 

Working closely and under the direction of the Travel Trade Specialist, the Relationship Coordinator helps to cultivate strong and lasting relationships between Bannikin clients and partners within the travel trade. They support sales, representation, research, and relationship-management activities, ensuring that opportunities, communications, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) records, and follow-up actions are organized, timely, and moving forward. 

This role is ideal for an early-career tourism professional who is seeking to build experience in international travel trade and grow in their role while supporting the growth and development of a company that aligns with their values. The right person will be highly organized, proactive, commercially curious, and comfortable being part of a small team that champions relationships, exercises sound judgment, and practices follow-through. 

• Location: remote (virtual office) 

• Hours: full-time, 35-40 hours week. Bannikin operates primarily within the Eastern Time Zone. Some early morning, evening, or weekend hours may be required from time to time for international meetings, trade events, or travel, with advance notice wherever possible. 

• Start: as soon as is reasonably possible but to be confirmed with the right person. 

• Remuneration: CAD $60,000 annual base salary, plus benefits, set mobile/internet expense reimbursement, and 2.5 weeks’ vacation.  

• Travel: Domestic and international travel is required, and this varies from year to year, and is expected to represent no more than 20% of working days. Travel may include familiarization (FAM) trips, buyer meetings, trade events / conferences, and related activations. 

Key Responsibilities 

Relationship Coordination & Partner Support 

• Maintain warm, professional, and timely communication with tour operators, travel advisors, wholesalers, consortia, and other industry partners. 

• Schedule meetings and introductory calls with prospective and existing trade partners. 

• Track communications, follow-up activities, relationship history, and next steps. 

• Prepare briefing notes and partner profiles before meetings. 

• Ensure buyer and partner interactions are documented clearly so that relationship momentum is not lost. 

CRM & Pipeline Administration 

• Maintain Customer Relationship Management (CRM) records and contact databases. 

• Update buyer profiles, meeting notes, and pipeline stages. 

• Track lead progression and relationship activity. 

• Help monitor key performance indicators and reporting requirements. 

• Ensure records remain accurate, organized, and up to date. 

• Flag overdue follow-ups, incomplete records, and relationship opportunities that require action from the Travel Trade Specialist. 

Market Research & Intelligence 

• Conduct background research on destinations, operators, advisors, buyers, trade organizations, and target markets. 

• Monitor industry trends and competitor activity. 

• Translate research findings into concise notes that help the team prioritize buyer outreach and meeting opportunities. 

• Research and qualify prospective buyers based on market fit, product alignment, values alignment, target customer profile, and commercial relevance. 

Event & Trade Show Coordination 

• Support planning and logistics for trade shows, marketplaces, webinars, roadshows, and networking events. 

• Assist with appointment scheduling and calendar coordination. 

• Prepare contact lists, briefing materials, and follow-up documentation. 

• Coordinate post-event follow-up, CRM updates, meeting notes, next steps, and outcome tracking to ensure trade events lead to meaningful relationship and pipeline progress. 

Sales & Outreach Support 

• Assist with buyer outreach campaigns and partner communications. 

• Draft introductory emails, follow-up correspondence, and meeting summaries. 

• Support distribution of sales materials and promotional assets. 

• Coordinate webinar invitations, training sessions, and partner engagement activities. 

• Monitor follow-up timelines and proactively flag opportunities, overdue actions, or next steps requiring attention from the Travel Trade Specialist. 

Administrative & Special Project Support

• Support special project administration, internal coordination, and process documentation so that travel trade activities remain organized, repeatable, and easy for the team to manage. 

• Prepare meeting notes and action item summaries. 

• Help develop monthly activity and performance reports. 

• Support the preparation of presentations, briefing packages, and client updates. 

• Contribute to maintaining project documentation and knowledge resources. 

Qualifications 

Required

• Diploma or degree in Tourism, Hospitality, Marketing, Business, International Development, or a related field. 

• 2–4 years of experience in tourism, hospitality, destination marketing, sales support, administration, customer service, business development, or a related field 

• Strong English written and verbal communication skills. 

• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities. 

• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications and comfort learning CRM systems, shared drives, spreadsheets, project management tools, email platforms, and AI-supported research or note-taking tools. 

Highly Valued 

• Interest in international tourism and travel trade development. 

• Familiarity with tourism operators, destinations, or travel advisor networks. 

• Experience with database and CRM systems.  

• Experience supporting events, conferences, or business development initiatives. 

• Additional language skills are considered an asset, specifically Spanish. 

Core Competencies 

• Relationship coordination and customer service orientation. 

• Collaboration, teamwork, and problem solving. 

• Professional communication and administrative excellence. 

• Research and analysis. 

• Adaptability, initiative, and an entrepreneurial mindset. 

• Event coordination and creativity. 

• Anticipation, follow-through, and sound judgment. 

Success Measures 

Success in this role may be measured through: 

• Responsiveness to clients, partners, and team members 

• CRM records, buyer profiles, meeting notes, and pipeline stages are accurate, current, and actionable. 

• Trade event preparation and post-event follow-up are organized and outcome-focused. 

• Follow-up actions are completed on time, with overdue items proactively flagged. 

• Buyer and partner meetings are well coordinated, well briefed, and clearly documented. 

• Quality of research and briefing materials 

• Monthly reporting inputs are accurate, timely, and useful for decision-making. 

• Overall confidence from the Travel Trade Specialist that needs are being anticipated to keep relationships activity moving forward.  

Ideal Candidate Profile 

The ideal candidate is curious, organized, relationship-oriented, and enthusiastic about responsible travel and sustainable tourism development. They enjoy connecting with people, coordinating moving pieces, and supporting meaningful partnerships. They are calm under pressure, attentive to detail, proactive in follow-up, and comfortable working in a small team where priorities can shift. While they may still be growing in their tourism career, they are eager to learn about travel trade, destination development, and international market development, and they are excited to grow under the mentorship of experienced professionals. 

We are Bannikin! 

A proudly Canadian and purposeful company operating within and beyond travel and tourism. We specialize in travel trade development, media relations, research and development, speaking and facilitation. Over the past 15 years, we have worked across the Canada and around the world with diverse individuals, businesses, and organizations, including destination management companies and tour operators, destination marketing and management organizations, industry associations, various levels of government, and not-for-profit organizations.