Excursion Manager

Reliance Career Opportunities; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Reliance Career Opportunities seeks an experienced tourism operations lead to design and develop diverse excursion packages for adventure, culture, luxury, and nature within the UAE. You will research locations, manage supplier relations, negotiate contracts, and lead a team of guides to ensure safety and exceptional customer experiences.

Role requires 5+ years in travel/tourism with 2+ in management; oversee budgeting, compliance, and marketing collaboration to grow profitability and guest

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in travel and tourism, with 2+ years in management.
• Proven experience organizing and managing excursions or tour operations in UAE or similar market.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop tourism packages and excursions for varied customer interests.
• Research potential excursion locations, activities, and events within the UAE.
• Build and maintain relationships with local suppliers, guides, transport, and stakeholders.
• Negotiate contracts and service agreements ensuring competitive pricing and safety.
• Evaluate supplier performance and monitor outcomes regularly.
• Lead a team of tour guides and excursion staff; provide training and evaluations.
• Ensure staff knowledge of excursions, customer service, and safety protocols.
• Oversee customer feedback, tailor experiences, and drive satisfaction and repeat business.
• Ensure excursions comply with local regulations, safety, and environmental guidelines.
• Conduct safety audits and risk assessments for locations and activities.
• Ensure licenses, permits, and insurance coverage are in place.
• Prepare and manage budgets; report performance and propose improvements to senior management.
• Collaborate with marketing to promote excursions and stay updated on tourism trends.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Tourism market knowledge

MS Office

Excursion management software

Problem-solving

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management, Hospitality, Business Administration

Tools

MS Office

Excursion management software

Job description

• Design and develop a variety of tourism packages and excursions catering to different customer interests (e.g., adventure, culture, luxury, nature).
• Conduct thorough research on potential excursion locations, activities, and cultural events within the UAE.
• Establish and maintain relationships with local suppliers, tour guides, transportation services, and other stakeholders.
• Negotiate contracts and service agreements, ensuring competitive pricing, quality service, and adherence to safety standards.
• Evaluate and monitor supplier performance regularly.
• Lead and manage a team of tour guides and excursion staff, providing them with training, performance evaluations, and support.
• Ensure all team members have comprehensive knowledge of the excursions, customer service practices, and safety protocols.

Customer Experience

• Oversee customer feedback and ensure any concerns or issues are addressed promptly and effectively.
• Tailor experiences for different customer segments, ensuring satisfaction and repeat business.

Safety and Compliance

• Ensure all excursions comply with local regulations, safety standards, and environmental guidelines.
• Ensure regular safety audits and risk assessments of excursion locations and activities.
• Ensure that all necessary licenses, permits, and insurance coverage are in place for excursions.

Budgeting & Reporting

• Prepare and manage budgets for excursions, ensuring profitability and cost-effectiveness.
• Report on excursion performance and recommend improvements to senior management.

Marketing & Promotion

• Collaborate with the marketing team to promote excursions through various channels (e.g., online platforms, brochures, travel agencies).
• Stay updated on tourism trends to suggest new excursion packages that cater to evolving customer preferences.

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: Bachelors degree in Tourism Management, Hospitality, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, with at least 2 years in a management role.
• Proven experience in organizing and managing excursions or tour operations in the UAE or a similar market.

Skills

• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• In-depth knowledge of the UAEs tourism landscape, including popular destinations, activities, and cultural landmarks.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and excursion management software.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities.