Account Manager - Travel

OttoBauthentic; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent travel management company in South Africa is seeking an experienced Account Manager to enhance client satisfaction and expand business relationships. The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years of experience in account management within the travel and tourism sector and strong negotiation and analytical skills. This role includes managing client communications, delivering strategies for growth, and preparing tenders. Regional and international travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience as Account Manager in the travel and tourism industry.
• Minimum 2 to 3 years' experience dealing with Government accounts.
• Good experience with preparing and submitting Tenders.

Responsibilities

• Retaining and increasing the business
• Meeting and exceeding client goals and aspirations assigned to their travel programme
• Acting as the Brand ambassador
• Project Management - Evaluate the needs for specific projects for the customer
• Client report management

Job description

The Role:

1. Retaining and increasing the business
2. Meeting and exceeding client goals and aspirations assigned to their travel programme
3. Acting as the Brand ambassador
4. Look out for new opportunities

As an Account Manager this person must be able to understand and analyze the client’s needs to formulate a medium to long term strategy for continual development of the business. This person will be responsible for all communications ensuring client satisfaction locally and where applicable liaising multi-nationally with colleagues to ensure client retention and maximum growth.

A win for the business without a gain for the customer and vice versa isn’t a win at all and the Account Manager will be accountable for delivery of advantage to the client and profitable revenue for the business.

Main Outputs:

• Contract Management - Understand the terms of the contract to ensure that contractual commitments are continually met
• Strategic & Financial Planning - Identify various objectives that will assist in maintaining and moving the business relationship forward. Set goals and produce creative, measurable and workable plans to achieve them, communicating the plans, key dates and activities to all involved
• Management Information - Have knowledge and understanding of client expenditure, trends and travel patterns
• Project Management - Evaluate the needs for specific projects for the customer
• Communication management - Responsible for account ownership and co-ordination of all client communication
• Internal and External Communication
• Client corporate agreement management
• Client profile management
• Client SLA management
• Client report management
• Client quarterly reviews
• Expenditure (Client hospitality, etc.)
• Change of professional fees for clients
• Signing of any contracts, SLA’s, Tenders / Bids on behalf of the company
• Participation in Tenders / Bids
• Segmentation of clients

REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum 3 years' experience as Account Manager in the travel and tourism industry
• Minimum 2 to 3 years' experience dealing with Government accounts (understanding Government needs and protocols)
• Good experience with preparing and submitting Tenders
• Advanced level with English Business Writing
• MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook – Advanced Level
• Thomas International PPA
• Regional/International travel will be required

OTHER SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Cultural awareness – Understand the drivers for both key client contacts and the wider client business and target/sell solutions accordingly
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills – externally to clients and internally to customers and stakeholders
• Analytical skills – ability to understand margin drivers
• Team Player
• Initiator / Self-starter