Inbound Fit Operations Coordinator (French)

We invite all suitable applicants to apply for the exciting position available as an Inbound FIT Operations Coordinator, servicing our French-speaking customers. The position is based at our Head Office in Westville, Durban. Thompsons Africa is a Destination Management Company supplying meet and greets, transfers, fully escorted and group series tours, seat-in-vehicle tours, open-vehicle safaris, and FIT services in South and Southern Africa.

Established more than 36 years, we provide memorable and life-changing African holiday experiences thereby ensuring our customers' success in selling Africa.

Our reservations team is knowledgeable, innovative, and committed to exceptional service delivery. As FIT Operations Coordinator, you will play a pivotal role in delivering exceptional operational support to the Reservations team, ensuring that all travel and booking arrangements are not only accurate but also delivered with timely precision. The position would require a candidate to have related Inbound FIT travel operations experience, be fluent in speaking and writing in French, and experience working with reservations systems.

Key Objectives

The key functions of the Operations Coordinator include but will not be limited to:

1. Empower and support the Reservations Consultants by:
2. Conducting availability checks with precision
3. Finding and securing alternative options when challenges arise
4. Booking of services
5. Loading bookings into the Reservations system accurately and timeously
6. Reconfirming accommodations and services to safeguard against errors or losses
7. Making amendments as and when requested by the customer
8. Performing telephonic reconfirmations before guest's arrival
9. Conducting quality checks on every booking, ensuring excellence is our standard
10. Compiling final travel documentation and any other essential operational documents
11. Upholding processes and checks that facilitate the smooth, timely, and efficient delivery of travel documentation and operational support to the Reservations Consultants.
12. Reflect on your processes and documentation to share innovative suggestions with your manager, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and service excellence.
13. Providing regular status updates to the Reservations Consultants, keeping everyone informed on the progress of their bookings.
14. Cultivating strong relationships with suppliers, recognizing they are vital to our success and collaboration.
15. Gaining a deep understanding of your customer's needs and passionately delivering on those expectations.

Requirements

Qualification: Grade 12. A Travel and Tourism qualification is highly preferable.

Essential Experience And Skills Required:

1. Fluent in French (reading and writing)
2. Related Inbound FIT travel operations experience
3. Experience working with reservations systems
4. Strong computer literacy
5. Product, destination, and logistical knowledge of South and Southern Africa

Attributes

1. Well-organized with strong time management skills
2. Capable of working toward and achieving deadlines
3. Adept at building and sustaining positive relationships
4. Skilled in multi-tasking while ensuring a high degree of detail and accuracy
5. Effective at prioritizing tasks
6. Possesses excellent interpersonal abilities
7. Collaborative team player
8. Strong communicator who delivers valuable information
9. Proficient in problem-solving and driven to find solutions.

Please Note: Preference will be given to employees from the designated groups in line with the provisions of the Employment Equity Act, No. 55 of (and any amendments thereto), the internal recruitment policy as well as units' employment equity plans.