Special Tours

Arts Council England; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ultimate Travel Company is seeking a Senior Tour Organiser to design and lead specialist art and garden tours across Europe. You will manage planning, budgeting, supplier liaison, and on-tour leadership, owning tours from concept to delivery to ensure top-quality experiences for discerning travellers.

Ideal candidates bring a passion for travel, culture and the arts, with strong organisation and communication skills, capable of handling multiple projects with diplomacy and calm under

Qualifications

• A background in Art History and/or interest in gardens
• The ability to deal with complex projects, prioritise and pay attention to detail
• Good communication skills
• The ability to produce clear engaging itineraries and brochures
• Sound judgement, initiative and imagination
• Strong decision-making skills under pressure, being diplomatic, patient and calm
• Stamina - and a sense of humour!

Responsibilities

• Designing, planning and costing tours
• Sourcing and liaising direct with European suppliers (hotels, restaurants etc)
• Organising exclusive hosted private visits and special out of hours visits to museums
• Working with ground agents (in Europe and beyond)
• Liaising with US clients
• Responsibility for tour finances
• Copywriting: descriptive itineraries, mailings and brochures
• Ensuring all arrangements run smoothly and according to plan
• Welfare of the party during travel
• Working with expert lecturers and local guides
• Handling issues calmly (lost baggage, emergencies)
• Delivering outstanding cultural journeys for discerning travellers

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Diplomacy

Calm under pressure

Project management

Education

Art History background

Garden interests

Job description

Job Summary

Join Specialtours at The Ultimate Travel Company as a Senior Tour Organiser, creating and leading specialist art and garden tours across Europe. Manage planning, logistics, suppliers and clients while delivering exceptional cultural travel experiences.

Job Description

Specialtours, part of The Ultimate Travel Company, is a leading specialist in art, cultural and garden tours across Europe. We work with prestigious American museum groups, alumni associations, private clients and garden societies, creating exceptional travel experiences that bring destinations, collections and cultural heritage to life.

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Senior Tour Organiser to join our small, dedicated team. This is a varied and rewarding role that combines tour planning, client management, supplier liaison and on-tour leadership. You will take ownership of a portfolio of tours from concept through to delivery, ensuring every detail is managed to the highest standard.

Key responsibilities include designing and costing itineraries, contracting hotels and suppliers, arranging exclusive museum visits and cultural experiences, managing tour budgets, liaising with international clients and producing engaging tour materials and brochures. You will also lead selected tours, overseeing logistics and ensuring clients enjoy a seamless and memorable experience.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for travel, culture and the arts, with a background in Art History, cultural tourism or a related field. You will be a confident communicator with strong administrative skills, excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Previous experience in tour operations, travel planning or group travel management is highly desirable.

We are looking for someone who is resourceful, diplomatic and calm under pressure, with sound judgement and a proactive approach to problem-solving. An interest in gardens and horticulture, as well as knowledge of one or more European languages, would be an advantage.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a respected specialist travel company and play a key role in delivering outstanding cultural journeys for discerning travellers.

Job Requirements

• A background in Art History and/or interest in gardens
• The ability to deal with complex projects, prioritise and pay attention to detail
• Good communication skills
• The ability to produce clear engaging itineraries and brochures
• Sound judgement, initiative and imagination
• Strong decision-making skills under pressure, being diplomatic, patient and calm
• Stamina - and a sense of humour!

Job Responsibilities

Tour Administration & Product Development

• Designing, planning and costing tours
• Sourcing and liaising direct with European suppliers (hotels, restaurants etc)
• Organising exclusive hosted private visits and special out of hours visits to museums
• Working with ground agents (in Europe and beyond)
• Liaising with US clients
• Responsibility for tour finances
• Copywriting: descriptive itineraries, mailings and brochures

Tour Leading

• Ensuring all arrangements run smoothly and according to plan
• Being responsible for the welfare of the party as well as daily logistics
• Working with expert lecturers and / or local guides
• Coping calmly and efficiently with any issues which arise - from tracing lost baggage to medical emergencies

The closing date is the 2nd of October at 6pm BST.