Description

Synopsis

The Holidays Lead is responsible for driving the growth, transformation, and digitalization of Etihad Holidays across all markets. This role will lead the strategic development of Etihad's Holidays business, with a strong focus on creating innovative holiday packages, enhancing digital booking capabilities, and ensuring commercial competitiveness. The Holidays Lead will define and execute the roadmap for product, distribution, and technology evolution, ensuring alignment with the wider Etihad Airways.

This role will work closely with cross-functional stakeholders - including Digital, Commercial, Operations, Technology, and external partners - to deliver an end-to-end customer experience that is seamless, competitive, and scalable. The Holidays Lead will be accountable for achieving revenue and growth targets, enhancing customer satisfaction, and positioning Etihad Holidays as a key driver of incremental revenue and destination preference for Abu Dhabi.

The role will be based in Abu Dhabi and report directly to the Director Destination, Partnership & Holidays.

Accountabilities

Lead the end-to-end strategy and execution of Etihad Holidays, ensuring alignment with Etihad's commercial goals and Abu Dhabi's tourism strategy.Define and maintain the Holidays business roadmap, including digital booking enhancements, product diversification, and distribution expansion.Plan and execute seasonal campaigns, tactical promotions, and market-specific holiday offers (e.g., staycations, events, double miles, partner-driven packages).Collaborate with Revenue Management and Pricing teams to ensure competitive positioning of holiday packages in all markets.Manage relationships with key partners (OTAs, hotel suppliers, DMCs, and technology providers) to ensure product availability, competitiveness, and margin optimization.Oversee testing, quality assurance, and approval of all holidays content and product launches on Etihad.com and connected platforms.Work with Digital Marketing, CRM, and Lifecycle teams to design targeted campaigns driving qualified traffic and conversions for Holidays.Partner with the Digital Engagement team to deliver compelling content, visuals, and storytelling across digital platforms.Develop and track KPIs including revenue growth, booking volume, conversion rates, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.Lead A/B testing, market research, and data-driven initiatives to better understand customer behavior and improve holiday product adoption.Stay up to date with global travel trends, regional dynamics, and cultural preferences to ensure relevance and competitiveness of the Holidays proposition.Ensure compliance with licensing, regulatory, and operational requirements for packaged holidays across markets.

Education & Experience

Minimum 7 to 10 years of experience in travel, tourism, or hospitality, with at least 5 years in a leadership role focused on airline, product, holidays, or packaged travel solutions.Proven track record in driving growth and digital transformation within a commercial or travel-related business.Strong background in partnership management (hotels, OTAs, DMCs, technology providers) and contract negotiation.Experience in digital commerce platforms, distribution channels, and online booking environments.Solid understanding of revenue management, pricing, and yield optimization in the context of holidays or packages.Strong financial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance tracking.Advanced knowledge in data analysis and insights, with ability to translate complex data into strategic actions.Experience with data and analytics tools (Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or equivalent) to generate insights and inform decision-making.Effective planning, organizational, and project management skills, with ability to handle multiple stakeholders and priorities.Project management certifications (PMI, PMP, or Agile/Scrum) considered a strong plus.Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills, with experience engaging C-level and external partners.Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Economics, or related field.