Senior Manager, Tourism and Market Development in Gatineau

Groupe Nordik is the leading creator of wellness spa villages, including the largest spa (Chelsea, QC) and the largest event sauna (Whitby, ON) in North America. Since opening our doors in 2005, we have grown to now welcome over 500,000 visitors per year across our 3 existing locations (Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea, QC, Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature in Winnipeg, MB, and Thermëa Spa Village | Whitby, ON). Our team of 600 employees brings our operations to life through their innovative approach to well-being.

What you will do:

• The Senior Manager, Tourism and Market Development is responsible for growing traffic and revenue across all of our markets, from our local radius to long-haul markets.
• Reporting to the Senior Director, Marketing and Sales, the manager will develop our B2B business channel (hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, companies and organizations) and our ties with the tourism industry, while overseeing the three regional marketing managers who activate our markets day to day.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the development plan for all of our markets: the local radius, long-haul markets, U.S. border markets and international markets.
• Develop local inbound tourism: hotels, inns, attractions, festivals and major employers in the region.
• Represent Groupe Nordik with tourism organizations and industry associations, and leverage their co-op programs and trade shows.
• Monitor trends in wellness tourism and visitor flows.
• Negotiate and manage commercial agreements with hoteliers, tour operators, receptive operators, agencies and distribution platforms.
• Build and nurture a portfolio of key accounts, from prospecting to retention.
• Develop corporate segments (companies, social committees, conventions, incentive travel) in collaboration with the operations teams.
• Design offers and packages tailored to distribution channels, while protecting brand value and profitability per visit.
• Align partner terms with our pricing strategy, particularly during periods of high demand.
• Lead the holiday kiosk program in shopping centres.
• Optimize program performance and recommend adding or removing locations.
• Develop and execute off-site field activations in collaboration with the marketing managers: events, festivals, consumer shows, corporate presences and sampling partnerships.
• Supervise the regional marketing managers across our markets: objectives, coaching, development and performance evaluation.
• Translate the group’s direction into measurable local activation plans.
• Establish a clear management rhythm: follow-ups, performance reviews and sharing of best practices.
• Balance priorities and resources between long-haul markets and the local radius.

To succeed in this role, you will need:

• A degree in tourism, business administration, management, marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 to 7 years of experience in business or market development, ideally in tourism, hospitality, or entertainment.
• Proven experience negotiating commercial agreements and managing key accounts.
• Experience in field activation and seasonal operations (kiosks, events, temporary staff).
• In-depth knowledge of the Ottawa-Gatineau and Ontario markets and their tourism dynamics.
• Good knowledge of the Canadian tourism ecosystem and travel distribution channels (receptive operators, OTAs, agencies, package providers).
• Comfort with commercial data: CRM, dashboards, forecasting.
• Excellent communication, public representation, and project management skills.
• Bilingualism is an asset (French and English).
• Valid driver’s licence and availability for frequent travel across Canada.

Your profile stands out for your:

• Ability to move from the field to strategy without losing the thread.
• Engaging leadership with a team spread across three provinces.
• Commercial rigour: you track your numbers and deliver on your targets.
• Political acumen and diplomacy with partners and industry organizations.
• Curiosity about the travel habits and cultures of our clientele.
• Autonomy and the ability to juggle multiple files at once.

Salary and benefits:

• Competitive salary according to Groupe Nordik’s pay scale.
• Access to a comprehensive benefits package, including telemedicine.
• Free spa access for you and one guest.
• Discounts on food, massage, and aesthetic services at our spas.
• Free access to an on-site gym.
• A warm working environment with free parking and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Personalized training and development program.
• Full-time position (40 hours per week), based at Groupe Nordik, with the possibility of remote work.
• Regular travel to Whitby (ON) and Winnipeg (MB), and frequent travel across Canada.
• Occasional availability on evenings or weekends for events.