Making waves in luxury travel: jobs in marketing with Saverio Smorto

5 min read

As head of business development for Spanish luxury travel firm Le Collectionist, Saverio Smorto spearheads the organization’s expansion efforts and builds partnerships with key stakeholders in bespoke villa rentals and exclusive travel experiences. But he attributes his new adaptability in luxury travel jobs to his time at IE Business School.

“Since the program, I’ve experienced a notable career boost, which has been recognized through increased responsibilities and opportunities for leadership within my role.” Saverio acknowledges the value of the innovative Executive Master in Strategic Marketing & Communication, which he completed in July 2024, despite being an experienced sector operator even before he enrolled.

The importance of understanding buyers in luxury travel jobs

With very high client expectations to meet, Saverio has been collaborating with the marketing department since the day he joined the firm. He joined the firm with an understanding of the need to align marketing campaigns with the quality of their products and resonate with their target audience.

 “I wanted to expand my expertise beyond my core responsibilities and gain a more strategic perspective in marketing and communication. I needed to broaden my spectrum of learning and dive deeper into areas that influence market positioning and customer engagement on a larger scale.”

A comprehensive view of current marketing trends

With clear objectives in mind, what drew Saverio specifically to the Executive Master in Strategic Marketing & Communication was its 360-degree vision of the latest sector trends, technologies and strategies, particularly when applying these aspects to luxury travel jobs. “I needed to broaden my spectrum and dive deeper into areas that influence market positioning and customer engagement on a larger scale,” he tells us. “The program stood out because of its focus on essential subjects like digital marketing, digital transformation and branding, which are critical for any organization aiming to stay competitive and innovative.” 

These areas offered Saverio new tools and frameworks for understanding client motivations, building brand loyalty and navigating the radical changes being wrought by the sector’s digital advancements. He saw all these areas as vital for expanding his professional impact. What’s more, they’re delivered in a format that allowed him not only to continue his work, but to immediately integrate new insights.

Balancing responsibilities throughout the Executive Master in Strategic Marketing and Communication

Though Saverio says there was a “powerful synergy” between his studies and his professional responsibilities, it did require careful juggling of his workload and schedule. Flexibility and understanding on the part of his employer, who also saw the value in his studies, and some meticulous scheduling on Saverio’s part, helped smooth the experience. 

A particular challenge for Saverio was the upturn in workload over the summer months, especially July and August. These months account for 70% of his client stays, and all of them expect immediate responses and personalized service.

He says adjustments were also required to his personal life, with some weekends becoming dedicated to study time due to the many forums, projects and presentations on the curriculum. However, the program also provided him with valuable social experiences. “Working closely with new colleagues on group projects helped me build meaningful connections within my cohort,” he tells us.

Impactful diversity when studying at IE Business School

The multicultural nature of his class positively impacted more than just Saverio’s social life, of course. “One of the most valuable experiences was the diversity of perspectives within our group. Collaborating with peers from various industries and backgrounds enriched our discussions and provided insights that I might not have considered otherwise. This exchange of ideas helped broaden my understanding of strategic marketing and communication in different contexts.” 

The same was true of the faculty, too. Experienced professionals brought insights from the sharp end of the sector to the classroom, imparting the experiences they’d gained in the real world with practical strategic advice that Saverio and his peers took into their own companies.

Specific takeaways for jobs in marketing

Saverio cites “a deeper understanding of owned and earned media” as helping him build cohesive marketing strategies, while the “intriguing” exploration of digital transformation reinforced his understanding of how consumers engage with brands. These learnings strengthened his belief that future marketing success lies in the digital landscape. 

“Since starting the program, I’ve experienced a notable career boost, which has been recognized through increased responsibilities and opportunities for leadership within my role.” 

Having such a strong strategic framework has equipped him with valuable tools to enhance brand visibility and engagement moving forward. Saverio feels optimistic about his own and the sector’s future opportunities, even in a fast-changing and unpredictable landscape. Indeed, applying what he has learned has already paid off.

A marketing master’s with an immediate career boost

The program’s highly practical focus includes extensive analysis of real-world case studies, and studying past scenarios rather than just theory allowed Saverio to reflect on past mistakes and consider improvements for future strategies.  

Already seeing greater responsibility and leadership opportunities within his role, he urges other professionals to take the plunge and follow in his footsteps. “Embrace the opportunity to learn from diverse cultures and perspectives. [It] can provide invaluable insights that challenge your thinking and broaden your understanding of global markets,” he tells us, clearly in no doubt about the value of the program’s return on his investment.