Product Specialist – Groups

Redtag; Canada; Hybrid; CAD 54,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental benefits

RRSP employer contribution

Travel benefits for you and family

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

HIS Canada Travel Inc. seeks a Group Product Specialist to own the development, coordination, launch and operations of group tours from brief to post-trip follow-up.

You will manage pre-departure operations, collaborate with Product, Web, and Marketing teams, and coordinate with DMCs and Tour Leaders to ensure seamless departures. Strong bilingual skills and travel industry knowledge are essential.

Qualifications

• Bilingual in French and English (spoken and written).
• Travel/Tourism school diploma or equivalent experience.
• 1–2 years of group tour experience.
• Knowledge of Sabre is an asset.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Generate revenue to contribute to overall objective.
• Develop new group tours from the Product Manager's brief and optimize existing products.
• Request, analyze and negotiate proposals from DMCs/suppliers; build and write detailed itineraries.
• Coordinate air requirements, analyze air contracts/blocks, prepare complete costings and secure allotments once approved.
• Coordinate group setup with Product Build and launch with Web/Marketing; validate consistency across systems and promotional materials.
• Monitor sales, capacity, allotments, release dates, deposits, final payments, passenger lists and deadlines; prepare recommendations when a commercial decision is required.
• Own group pre-departure operations, including confirmations, rooming/passenger lists, flights, transfers, guides, Tour Leader arrangements, special requests, local contacts and final reconfirmations.
• Provide all required information to Ops/Docs, review the travel documents prepared by that team and provide final approval before release.
• Act as Exotik's primary contact with the DMC/supplier and Tour Leader while the group is travelling and coordinate resolution of operational issues.
• Review Tour Leader reports, client feedback and supplier feedback to improve future departures.
• Develop and deliver product training for Reservations and National Sales teams when required.
• Provide ad hoc support to the Product team as needed, including administrative tasks, accounting, margin reporting, and other activities supporting the overall efficiency of the Product department

Skills

Bilingual in French & English

Customer service

Teamwork

Under pressure

Microsoft Office

Sabre

Education

Travel/Tourism diploma or equivalent

Tools

Sabre

Job description

Reporting to the Product Director and working closely with the Product Manager, the Group Product Specialist owns the development, coordination, launch and operations of group tours from the initial brief through post-trip follow-up. The role acts as the operational owner of each departure, while the Product Manager retains market intelligence, product positioning, final product/pricing approval and major commercial decisions.

How You Will Be Spending Your Time

• Generate revenue to contribute to overall objective
• Develop new group tours from the Product Manager's brief and optimize existing products.
• Request, analyze and negotiate proposals from DMCs/suppliers; build and write detailed itineraries.
• Coordinate air requirements, analyze air contracts/blocks, prepare complete costings and secure allotments once approved.
• Coordinate group setup with Product Build and launch with Web/Marketing; validate consistency across TTS, Access+, SIREV and promotional materials.
• Monitor sales, capacity, allotments, release dates, deposits, final payments, passenger lists and deadlines; prepare recommendations when a commercial decision is required.
• Own group pre-departure operations, including confirmations, rooming/passenger lists, flights, transfers, guides, Tour Leader arrangements, special requests, local contacts and final reconfirmations.
• Provide all required information to Ops/Docs, review the travel documents prepared by that team and provide final approval before release.
• Act as Exotik's primary contact with the DMC/supplier and Tour Leader while the group is travelling and coordinate resolution of operational issues.
• Review Tour Leader reports, client feedback and supplier feedback to improve future departures.
• Develop and deliver product training for Reservations and National Sales teams when required.
• Provide ad hoc support to the Product team as needed, including administrative tasks, accounting, margin reporting, and other activities supporting the overall efficiency of the Product department

Specialized Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes Required to be Successful

• Bilingual in French and English (spoken and written)
  • English is an asset for communicating with international and national partners
• Travel/Tourism school diploma or equivalent related travel industry experience
• Up to and including one year of on-the-job experience and/or performing similar duties required
• 1-2 years of experience with Groups
• OPC/TICO (an asset)
• Excellent customer service skills and interpersonal skills
• Professionalism and patience
• Team player but able to work autonomously
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Capable of managing stress and respecting deadlines
• Excellent selling skills and results driven
• Knowledge of the travel industry
• Computer knowledge - Microsoft Office and ability to learn new software
• Knowledge of Sabre is an asset

Working Conditions

• Hybrid - 1 day/week in office
• Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm ET (occasional flexibility required to address urgent travel-related matters outside of regular business hours, as needed)
• 37.5 hours per week

Crew Advantages

• Medical and dental benefits
• 9 additional paid days: 1 birthday day, 5 sick days, 2 personal days, and 1 volunteer day
• Employer RRSP contribution program
• Awesome travel benefits for you, your friends, and your family
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family members

Who We Are

HIS Canada Travel Inc., a division of the H.I.S. Group, is one of Canada's largest travel companies. Incorporated in 2004, HIS Canada Travel Inc. owns and operates multiple wholesale and retail travel brands. The retail division, including redtag.ca, itravel2000.com, Sunquest, The Travel Experts, Merit Travel, Flights.ca and Cruises.ca offer diverse products to travelers including destination packages, flights and hotels worldwide, excursions and more. The wholesale travel business, TravelBrands, provides a full range of travel products including air, hotel, car rental, cruise and specialty to travel agents and retail agencies throughout Canada. HIS Canada Travel Inc. is a comprehensive one-stop shop for agents and travelers alike.

We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

HIS Canada Travel Inc. values diversity in the workplace and is committed to employment equity. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), HIS Canada Travel Inc. will provide accommodation, accessible formats, and communication support for the interview upon request and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.