Role Overview
The Business Development Manager is a pure hunter role tasked with driving net new business annually through relentless prospecting and strategic outreach. This position is designed for a high-energy, results-driven professional who thrives on opening doors, building pipelines, and converting new corporate partnerships across Canada.
This is an outbound business development role, not an inbound reservations, account management, or order-taking sales role. The successful candidate will be expected to create opportunities through proactive outreach, disciplined follow-up, market knowledge and strong commercial judgment.
The Business Development Manager will own the top of the funnel, leveraging industry expertise, networking, and advanced sales tools to identify and engage decision-makers. Once qualified, leads are transitioned to Key Account Managers for quoting, relationship development and long-term account management. The BDM will support the first conversion and ensure a clean handoff, but does not own ongoing account management, quoting or long-term servicing once the account has been transitioned. Travel is required for client meetings, trade shows, conferences and industry networking events as needed.
Core Responsibilities
Prospecting & Lead Generation
Aggressively identify and pursue new corporate partnership opportunities through cold outreach, networking, and digital tools such as LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, and Salesforce.
Maintain a high volume of outbound activity to consistently build a strong pipeline.
Build and maintain a qualified pipeline of meaningful new business opportunities, with a focus on recurring or strategically valuable corporate accommodation demand.
Generate new conversations with decision-makers and influencers within assigned industries and target accounts.
Conduct market research to uncover emerging opportunities and key decision-makers.
Qualify leads using predefined criteria to ensure strategic fit and revenue potential.
Reactivate dormant and former clients where there is renewed revenue potential.
Clear exit point: responsibility ends once a direct, recurring relationship is established, qualified and handed to a KAM
Industry Specialization
Develop deep expertise in assigned industries and tailor outreach strategies to resonate with target audiences.
Customize messaging and proposals to align with industry-specific needs.
Represent Premiere Suites at industry events, trade shows, and conferences to build visibility and credibility.
Lead Handoff & Collaboration
Transition qualified leads to Key Account Managers with detailed background and context for seamless onboarding.
Collaborate closely with Key Account Managers to ensure continuity and maximize conversion.
Provide strategic input to support account growth and retention post-handoff.
Work with the assigned KAM through the first booking or conversion point to ensure the opportunity is properly understood, commercially viable and set up for long-term account growth.
Sales Strategy & Reporting
Track prospecting metrics, conversion rates, and pipeline performance.
Deliver regular reporting to leadership on activity, pipeline health, and emerging opportunities.
Contribute insights to quarterly and annual sales planning.
Share feedback with Marketing and Sales Analyst to refine campaigns and targeting.
Report on meaningful conversations, qualified opportunities, dormant account reactivations, handoffs to KAMs, first conversions and pipeline value.
Use reporting to demonstrate both activity levels and quality of pipeline, not simply volume of outreach.
Sales Technology & Tools
Maintain accurate records in Salesforce for visibility and accountability.
Use ZoomInfo, LinkedIn, and other digital tools for prospecting and lead generation.
Leverage data to prioritize high-potential leads and optimize outreach strategies.
Skills & Qualifications
Proven success in B2B Business Development roles with a track record of exceeding new business targets.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Strong research and analytical abilities to identify and engage decision-makers.
Industry knowledge or specialization in one or more assigned verticals.
Strong knowledge of the Toronto / GTA corporate market, business networks, relocation drivers, construction/project activity, or extended-stay accommodation demand is preferred.
Proficiency in Salesforce, ZoomInfo, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Self-starter with a hunter mentality , resilience under pressure, and a drive to win.
Commercially minded and able to assess whether an opportunity has real revenue potential, strategic value and operational fit.
Comfortable with cold outreach, long sales cycles, rejection, disciplined follow-up and creating demand without relying on inbound leads.
Collaborative mindset with ability to work cross-functionally.
