Product Destination Manager – East Africa

Wilderness; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Wilderness in Johannesburg seeks an experienced role focused on driving East Africa 3rd party products and destinations to grow our DMC offering. The role coordinates Sales, Reservations, Operations, and suppliers to develop strategic partnerships and new products.

The successful candidate will build relationships with key suppliers, negotiate terms, and lead initiatives to expand FIT, Groups, and Owned Brands while supporting AP strategy goals.

Qualifications

• Broad knowledge of travel industry trends and best practices.
• Strong information-gathering, analysis and reporting skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and presentation abilities.
• Knowledge of DMC operations is a plus.
• Ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Develop and nurture relationships between Sales, Reservations, Operations and 3rd party suppliers.
• Negotiate rates, margins and terms with 3rd party products; align with company goals.
• Coordinate planning for Fam Trips, pitches, and workshops with Product Coordinators.
• Monitor market trends; report findings to management for strategic decisions.
• Provide regular updates on supplier negotiations and performance to leadership.
• Assist in supplier information maintenance and rate loading within internal systems.

Skills

Travel trends

Research & reporting

MS Office

Independent worker

Organizational skills

Communication

Stakeholder mgmt

DMC operations

Negotiation

Tools

TourPlan

Wilderness Window

WISH

Job description

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The role involves driving East Africa 3rd party products & destinations in order to grow the DMC offering in line with our business strategy as well as to contribute to the initiation, growth & development of FIT, Groups, and Owned Brands.
This position is based in Johannesburg.

Coordinating and developing relationships between the Sales team, Reservation Managers, Operations Reservation Managers, Travel Designers, and 3rd party suppliers.

Clearly defining strategic preferred and other suppliers and building strong relationships with key suppliers by arranging regular meetings, attending online and physical trade shows. The successful incumbent will need to be a strategic thinker with a passion for driving business growth and have a strong background in the travel industry.

Detailed Responsibilities

Communication

• Communicate and share information with various divisions and travel shops.
• Investigate, source, review, and compile information for special interest products and new products.
• Assist with the planning and coordination of Fam Trips, presentations, and workshops together with Product Coordinators.
• Collaborate with the training department to develop destination and product updates.
• Monitor industry trends and competitor offerings to ensure our products remain competitive and innovative.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, suppliers, and partners.

Market Trends

• Analyze market trends and customer feedback to identify areas for improvement in our Destination Management Company (DMC) offering.
• Compare and analyze rates and products of competitors to ensure competitiveness in the market.
• Communicate findings and recommendations to Management for strategic decision-making.
• Monitor and report on progress towards AP strategy goals.
• Investigate and resolve queries, complaints, and comments from guests, agents, and staff members in collaboration with the Travel Analyst team.
• Continuously seek ways to enhance the DMC offering and improve customer satisfaction.

Rates

• Negotiate rates, margins, overrides, terms and conditions with 3rd party products for strategic and preferred categories at Wilderness Travel Shops.
• Clearly define strategic preferred and other suppliers, ensuring they align with the company’s goals and objectives.
• Build strong relationships with key suppliers by arranging regular meetings and attending online and physical trade shows.
• Monitor and track supplier performance, ensuring they meet agreed upon terms and conditions.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure supplier agreements are in line with company strategy and objectives.
• Provide regular updates and reports on supplier negotiations and performance to management.

Suppliers

• Update and maintain supplier information in the Wilderness Window system together with Product Coordinator.
• Work closely with the RARA department to ensure accurate rate loading and highlight any contractual changes.
• Vet all services to ensure they meet Wilderness guidelines for insurance coverage.
• Promote and develop circuits internally based on your assigned region.
• Participate in ad hoc supplier negotiations to ensure competitive rates and high-quality services.

Reporting

• Attend regular management meetings to discuss day-to-day issues, assisting in finding solutions and possible areas of strategic importance, constructive feedback and best practices across the Wilderness group.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure seamless communication and guest experience.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Experience:

• 7-10 years’ experience in the travel & tourism industry
• Exposure to suppliers in Southern & East Africa preferably in operations or in product development
• Experience in interaction with agents & suppliers
• Personal or educational travel experience
• Working knowledge of TourPlan, Wilderness Window and WISH or similar booking/operating system
• Proven track record of driving sales and revenue growth
• Personal or educational travel experience
• Ability to negotiate contracts with suppliers and agents
• Must have a valid passport
• Must have a valid driver’s license & own personal vehicle

Skills:

• Knowledge of travel industry trends and best practices
• Experience with information gathering, analysis, and reporting
• Proficiency in MS Office, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint AI tools
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities
• Knowledge of the travel industry and DMC operations is a plus
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Interests:

A passion for wildlife and a commitment to sustainability and conservation.