Destination Specialist (FIT)

Craven Cottage CC; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Craven Cottage CC in Cape Town is seeking an experienced inbound travel coordinator to manage groups, MICE and FIT bookings. You will negotiate with suppliers, source new products, and build strong relationships with agents while ensuring competitive pricing and margin control.

The role covers operations, budgeting, invoicing support, and guiding staff on itineraries, with travel to familiarization trips and a focus on staying current with regional destinations across Southern Africa.

Qualifications

• At least 4+ years’ experience in inbound travel (Groups / MICE / FIT) essential.
• Knowledge of travel destinations in South & Southern Africa.
• Knowledge of Botswana, Mozambique, Kenya & Tanzania an added advantage.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Word).
• Highly organized, energetic and well informed about world affairs.

Responsibilities

• Secure business and cost products and build supplier relationships.
• Source new products and develop sales strategy with agents.
• Capture, confirm bookings and manage tour proposals in Tourplan.
• Coordinate with suppliers for better rates and policies.
• Prepare guide documentation and brief guides before travel dates.
• Support tour guides on tours and handle 24-hour emergency contact.
• Assist with invoicing, debtors and supplier reconciliations.
• Travel on educational and familiarization trips.

Skills

Inbound travel experience

Communication skills

Customer care

Regional travel knowledge

Organizational skills

Education

High school diploma

Formal qualification

Tools

MS Office (Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Word)

Job description

Duties:

Sales:

• Secure business and effectively cost products.
• Understand the market and margin control.
• Build up and maintain agent / supplier relationships.
• Source new products.
• Develop own sales strategy to secure more business through existing and new agents.
• Work closely with the team to achieve goals.

Operations:

• Quote and design successful, creative itineraries and proposals for all market related groups, Tour Series and FIT requests.
• Capture and confirm bookings in Tourplan.
• Negotiate with suppliers for better rates, cancellation policies and FOC’s.
• Find new suppliers that offer a good service and better rates.
• Follow up on quotes that have been sent out.
• Successfully run groups / tour series / FIT booking.
• Compile welcome packs itineraries.
• Create co-pilots according to itinerary.
• Handling the 24hour emergency phone.
• Prepare guide documentation and brief guide before travel date.
• Work closely with tour guides whilst on tour.

Financial:

• Instruct debtors to raise invoice.
• Reconcile supplier invoices for processing.
• Assist debtors clerk with invoicing / collection queries.
• Reconcile tour guide expense sheets on completion of tours / check guide salary invoices.

Additional responsibilities:

• Participate in supplier training and workshops.
• Reduce the transaction turnaround time.
• Demonstrate good communication skills and customer care.
• Stay current on events and changes of suppliers / product.
• Travel on educational’s and familiarizations trips.

Requirements:

• High school diploma
• A formal qualification
• At least 4+ years’ experience in Inbound Travel (Groups / MICE / FIT experience essential)
• Knowledge of travel destinations in South & Southern Africa
• Knowledge of Botswana, Mozambique, Kenya & Tanzania an added advantage
• Knowledge and experience in MS Office (Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Word)
• Must be highly organised, energetic, well versed in the world affairs.