Reservations Manager

Kruger Gate Hotel; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Kruger Gate Hotel in South Africa seeks an experienced Reservations Manager to lead our reservations function, ensuring guest-focused service and revenue-driven operations for a world-class safari hotel experience. You will manage enquiries to confirmation and pre-arrival communication, driving occupancy and rate performance.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in a Reservations Manager role within luxury hospitality, strong PMS knowledge (Opera/Fidelio), and excellent English communication.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in the same or similar Reservations Manager role within hotel, lodge or luxury hospitality.
• Strong knowledge of hotel reservations, room inventory management, rate structures and guest booking journeys.
• Experience with PMS and reservations systems such as Opera or Fidelio.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Reservations Department, ensuring efficient daily operations and consistently high service standards.
• Oversee all FIT, group, corporate, leisure and travel tradereservations from enquiry through to confirmation and pre-arrival communication.
• Maximise occupancy, average daily rate and room revenue through inventory control, upselling, booking conversion and yield management.
• Ensure all reservations are accurately captured, updated and maintained in the property management system.
• Maintain relationships with tour operators, travel agents, corporate clients and internal hotel departments.
• Communicate guest requirements, VIP arrivals and group details to Front Office, Housekeeping, F&B, Sales, Finance and Operations.
• Monitor booking trends, pick-up reports, cancellations and no-shows to support revenue planning.
• Train, coach and support the reservations team to deliver professional, accurate and guest-centered service.
• Ensure compliance with hotel policies related to deposits, payments, guarantees, cancellation terms, rate codes and data accuracy.
• Represent the Kruger Gate Hotel standard through warm communication, attention to detail, urgency, accountability and pride in service delivery.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in the same or similar Reservations Manager position within a hotel, lodge or luxury hospitality environment.
• Previous experience working with PMS and reservations systems such as Opera, Fidelio or similar platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional South African languages will be advantageous.

Skills

Guest-focused

Commercial awareness

Leadership

Communication (English)

Team collaboration

Tools

Opera PMS

Fidelio

Job description

EmploymentType:Full-time

Experience Required:Minimum 5 years in the same or similar Reservations Managerrole

Position Overview:

Kruger Gate Hotel is looking for an experienced, guest-focused, and commercially minded Reservations Manager to lead our reservations function and uphold the high service standards expected of a world-class safari hotel experience. Situated at the iconic Paul Kruger Gate, our hotel welcomes local and international guests seeking warm South African hospitality, seamless booking support, and an unforgettable Kruger safari stay.

AbouttheRole

• Leadandmanage the Reservations Department, ensuringefficient daily operations and consistently high service standards.
• OverseeallFIT,group,corporate,leisureandtraveltradereservationsfrom enquiry through to confirmation and pre-arrival communication.
• Maximiseoccupancy,averagedailyrateandroomrevenuethrougheffective inventory control, upselling, booking conversion and yield awareness.
• Ensureallreservations areaccurately captured, updatedandmaintainedinthe property management system.
• Maintainstrongworkingrelationshipswithtouroperators, travel agents,corporate clients, online platforms and internal hotel departments.
• Communicate guest requirements, VIP arrivals, special occasions, safari arrangementsandgroupdetailsclearlytoFrontOffice,Housekeeping,F&B, Sales, Finance and Operations.
• Monitor booking trends, pick-up reports, cancellations, no-shows and forecast information to support revenue and operational planning.
• Train,coachandsupportthereservationsteamtodeliverprofessional,accurate and guest-centered service.
• Ensure compliance with hotel policies relating to deposits, payments, guarantees, cancellation terms, rate codes and data accuracy.
• RepresenttheKrugerGateHotelstandardthroughwarmcommunication, attention to detail, urgency, accountability and pride in service delivery.
• Minimumof5years’experienceinthesameorasimilarReservationsManager position within a hotel, lodge or luxury hospitality environment.
• Strongknowledgeofhotelreservations,roominventorymanagement,rate structures, distribution channels and guest booking journeys.
• Previous experienceworkingwithPMS and reservationssystems such asOpera, Fidelio or similar platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional South African languages will be advantageous.

The Ideal Candidate

• Passionateaboutdeliveringexceptionalguestservicefromthefirstpointofcontact.
• Highlyorganised,detail-drivenandaccuratewithreservationinformation.
• Commercially aware, withastrongfocus on occupancy, revenue andconversion.
• Calmandprofessionalwhenhandlingpressure,guestconcernsorlast-minutechanges.
• Abletocollaborate effectively with Sales, Front Office, Finance, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage and Operations.
• Anaturalleaderwhocanmotivate,guideanddevelopareservationsteam.

The ideal candidate should be from the Belfast Trust and surrounding area, high desire to learn new skills, be able to work independently as well as part of a team and enjoy high stress production environments.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to contact all applicants. Should your application be deemed eligible, we will contact you within 05 days after the closing date.