Destination Experiences Executive

SAGA PLC; Sandgate; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension scheme matched up to 10%

Company bonus up to 5%

Life assurance policy

Wellbeing programme

Colleague discounts

Saga Academy access

Job summary

Saga PLC is seeking a Destination Experience Executive to design and deliver market-leading shore excursions across river and ocean cruise programmes. You’ll manage the full lifecycle from research and development to supplier contracting and execution, with a strong focus on guest experience and commercial performance.

The role is permanent, hybrid in Folkestone, and offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Have worked in a travel industry role.
• Strong organisational and multi-tasking abilities to manage deadlines.
• Excellent time management and attention to detail.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills; ability to build relationships.
• Problem-solving and analytical mindset with a results-driven approach.
• Strong commercial awareness with negotiation experience an advantage.
• Ability to develop relationships with suppliers and collaborate for results.
• Knowledge of European/worldwide travel is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Plan and develop shore excursions with capacity and margin considerations.
• Negotiate and contract shore experiences with suppliers while prioritising guests.
• Champion the product range to ensure high quality for Saga guests.
• Create innovative excursions to attract new customers and refresh existing experiences.
• Represent Saga with suppliers and high-level stakeholders.
• Collaborate with itinerary planners and onboard teams for best guest experience.
• Identify opportunities using commercial and analytical skills for a market-leading range.
• Coordinate with suppliers to enhance guest experience and implement new ideas.
• Brief marketing and wider teams on new products and ensure accurate info across platforms.
• Monitor pricing and programme performance to hit budget and profit targets.

Skills

Organisational skills

Multi-tasking

Time management

Communication skills

Problem solving

Negotiation

Commercial awareness

Relationship building

IT skills (Word/Excel/Outlook)

Willingness to travel worldwide

Tools

Taurus

Destiny

MXP

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

You'll be responsible for developing and delivering an exciting, innovative and market-leading portfolio of bespoke shore excursions and destination experiences across Saga's river and ocean cruise programmes. You'll support the full experience lifecycle - from destination research and product development through to supplier contracting, commercial planning, operational delivery and follow-up. You'll have the opportunity to:

Responsibilities

• Plan and develop a compelling range of shore excursions, making sure we have the right capacity to meet forecast margins and our product guidelines.
• Negotiate and contract commercially considered shore excursions, building strong and positive supplier relationships whilst keeping our guests at the heart of every decision.
• Champion your product range and ensure every experience delivers the high levels of quality Saga guests expect.
• Create innovative excursions that attract first-time buyers while continually refreshing and improving our existing experiences.
• Represent Saga with suppliers, organisations, political bodies and trade contacts, building relationships at the highest levels.
• Work closely with cruise itinerary planners and our onboard Explore Ashore teams to make sure the best possible guest experience can be delivered.
• Research, spot new opportunities and use your commercial and analytical skills to ensure a bespoke and market leading range of excursions.
• Work with suppliers to enhance the guest experience and bring fresh ideas to life.
• Brief marketing, content and wider teams on new products, ensuring destination and excursion information is accurate across all platforms.
• Monitor pricing and programme performance to deliver great value for guests while achieving budget and profit targets.
• Ensure all contracts, costs, rates and systems are accurate, clear and fully agreed, helping us maximise guest experience and margins.
• Support ship's staff with product briefings for their specific cruises.
• Make sure products meet insurance, health and safety requirements, arranging route proofing where needed.
• Keep a close eye on costs, revenue controls and any non-budgeted expenditure or refund requests, ensuring these are managed robustly.

We're looking for someone who loves travel, thrives on bringing ideas to life and enjoys getting things done. You'll be hands-on, proactive and comfortable working with autonomy, while also being a great team player. This is a fast-moving role where no two days are quite the same, so you'll need to be organised, commercially minded and calm under pressure.

Requirements

• Have worked in a similar role within the travel industry.
• Strong organisational and multi-tasking skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage competing deadlines.
• Excellent time management, attention to detail and a flexible, adaptable approach.
• Good communication, influencing and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships.
• Good problem-solving and analytical skills, alongside a self-motivated and results-focused approach.
• Strong commercial awareness, with negotiation experience an advantage.
• The ability to develop close relationships with suppliers and work collaboratively to achieve great results.
• European and worldwide travel product knowledge would be an advantage.
• Good IT and database skills, including Word, Excel, Outlook and internal systems such as Taurus, Destiny and MXP.
• Strong numerical and literacy skills.
• Additional European languages would be advantageous but are not essential.
• A willingness and flexibility to travel worldwide as part of the role when required.
• Knowledge of contracting processes would be an advantage but is not essential.

Over the past 75 years we have become the UK's specialist provider of products and services to people aged over 50 in the UK. We're the most trusted brand amongst UK consumers in this demographic, recognised for high-quality products and exceptional standards of service. Our product portfolio includes cruises, holidays, insurance, personal finance products and our Saga Magazine.

Our focus on delivering exceptional products and service empowers our colleagues to create moments that are personal and special for our customers and for each other and our values underpin our approach and help guide us to deliver our purpose. We're committed to making sure that colleagues can be their best, be themselves and make a difference - more than anywhere else. We have done this by creating a truly inclusive culture, where all colleagues can bring their full and authentic selves to work and be treated with dignity and respect in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Thanks to our people, Saga was awarded with a Gold for Best Customer Centric Culture in 2025. This is testament to the great culture we've built together. This award belongs to all our colleagues who collectively make Saga a fantastic place to work.

Job Details

Salary £26,000 to £30,000 depending on experience Permanent Hybrid / Folkestone At Saga, we believe the moments that stay with you are the ones that feel truly special. And this is a brilliant opportunity to help create more of those moments for our guests. As a Destination Experience Executive, you'll play a key role in shaping the shore excursions and destination experiences that bring our river and ocean cruises to life. This is a rare opportunity to join our Destination Experiences team and make a real difference. You'll have the freedom to get stuck in, use your ideas and take real ownership of your product range, working with fantastic destination partners and suppliers around the world. From discovering a new experience to bringing it to life for our guests, you'll be involved throughout the journey - and you'll see your work make a difference. We work in a hybrid way at Saga, both at home and in the office. In this team we work mainly from Enbrook Package Description At Saga we recognise that our people make us special. We believe our colleagues deserve rewards for the excellence they demonstrate every single day, that's why we have put together an amazing benefits package for all colleagues.

BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS ROLE:

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Option to purchase additional leave - 5 extra days
• Pension scheme matched up to 10%
• Company performance related annual bonus - Up to 5%
• Life assurance policy on joining us, 4 x salary
• Wellbeing programme
• Colleague discounts including family discounts on cruises, holidays and insurance
• Range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Grandparents leave
• Income protection
• Access to Saga Academy, our bespoke learning platform