Groups & Incentives Travel Specialist

Innovation Advance; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Innovation Advance Group in Sandton is seeking an experienced Groups & Incentives Travel Specialist to design and manage luxury group journeys across Africa, from enquiry through to travel completion.

You will craft bespoke itineraries, coordinate with agents and suppliers, and ensure flawless execution while staying abreast of destinations across Southern and East Africa. The role requires 5 years in groups travel, Tourplan proficiency, and strong negotiation and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in Groups Travel, ideally within luxury tour operating.
• Advanced knowledge of Tourplan or a similar reservations system.
• Extensive destination knowledge of South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya.
• Strong understanding of group travel logistics and group reservation processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong computer literacy in Microsoft Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Itinerary Design & Planning: Creatively design and cost bespoke leisure group and incentive itineraries.
• Reservations & Booking Management: Manage reservations from enquiry to confirmation, qualify requirements, handle bookings and invoicing.
• Client & Supplier Relations: Build and maintain relationships with agents, guests and suppliers, negotiate for best value.
• Travel & Research: Stay informed on destinations and travel trends across Africa and participate in site inspections.

Skills

Group travel exp 5y

Tourplan

Destination knowledge Africa

Negotiation skills

Communication

MS Word/Excel

Tools

Tourplan

Job description

Groups & Incentives Travel Specialist

Do you have a passion for crafting unforgettable group travel experiences across Africa? Are you a detail-driven travel professional who thrives on creating seamless, creative itineraries while delivering exceptional client service? We are looking for a talented Groups & Incentives Travel Specialist to join a leading luxury travel company and play a key role in designing and managing extraordinary group journeys.

About the Role

This exciting opportunity is ideal for an experienced travel specialist with a strong background in group travel and incentives. You will be responsible for planning, quoting, coordinating, and managing complex group itineraries while ensuring every detail is flawlessly executed from initial enquiry through to travel completion.

You will work closely with agents, suppliers, guests, and internal teams to deliver exceptional travel experiences throughout Southern and East Africa.

Key Responsibilities

Itinerary Design & Planning

• Creatively design and cost bespoke leisure group and incentive itineraries.
• Develop innovative, out-of-the-box travel experiences tailored to client objectives and budgets.
• Ensure all itinerary components meet group travel requirements and policies.

Reservations & Booking Management

• Manage the reservations process from enquiry through to confirmation.
• Qualify client requirements and budgets to provide suitable travel solutions.
• Handle bookings, amendments, invoicing, and final travel documentation.
• Ensure all response times and service standards are met consistently.

Client & Supplier Relations

• Build and maintain strong relationships with travel agents, guests, and suppliers.
• Provide expert advice and proactive recommendations to enhance guest experiences.
• Communicate clearly and professionally throughout the booking journey.
• Negotiate effectively to secure the best possible value and outcomes.

Travel & Research

• Participate in site inspections and educational trips when required.
• Occasionally travel with groups to ensure successful delivery of travel experiences.
• Stay informed on destinations, products, and travel trends across Africa.

What You’ll Bring

Knowledge & Experience

• Minimum 5 years' experience in Groups Travel, ideally within luxury tour operating.
• Strong understanding of group travel logistics and group reservation processes.
• Advanced knowledge of Tourplan or a similar reservations system.
• Extensive destination knowledge of:
  • South Africa
  • Botswana
  • Tanzania
  • Kenya
• Knowledge of Namibia, Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique will be advantageous.
• A genuine passion for learning and expanding destination expertise.

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational, time-management, and desk-management abilities.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
• Excellent itinerary writing and presentation skills.
• Customer-centric approach with a commitment to service excellence.
• Strong computer literacy, particularly in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Professional, calm, and solutions-focused communication style.
• Self-motivated with a proactive, can-do attitude and natural curiosity.

The Ideal Candidate

You are someone who combines creativity with precision. You enjoy solving complex travel challenges, thinking beyond the obvious, and finding solutions that elevate the guest experience.

You possess:

• An enquiring and analytical mind
• Strong attention to detail
• Creativity and innovation
• Perseverance and patience
• Adaptability and resilience
• High energy and enthusiasm
• A positive attitude towards both routine responsibilities and new challenges
• The ability to remain focused and decisive under pressure

Ready to Create Extraordinary Group Travel Experiences?

If you’re passionate about designing exceptional African journeys and have the expertise to manage complex group travel arrangements with excellence, we’d love to hear from you.