Senior Reservationist

African Echoes Recruitment; White River; On-site; ZAR 250,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

African Echoes Recruitment in White River, Mpumalanga, seeks an experienced Reservations Manager to lead a reservations team at a luxury safari lodge or lodge collection. The role requires managing direct enquiries, maintaining rates and guest records, and guiding a high-performing team.

Ideal candidates bring senior reservations experience, strong system skills and a sales-driven mindset, with the ability to work weekends on a rotational basis. Monthly hours align with a standard lodge schedule.

Qualifications

• Proven senior reservations experience.
• Luxury safari lodge, lodge collection or central reservations experience preferred.
• Strong reservations-system skills.
• Strong sales and commercial awareness.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently and manage daily reservations activity.
• Previous team leadership or supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage direct, travel-agent and DMC enquiries from quotation through to booking confirmation.
• Maintain accurate rates, availability, booking records and guest information.
• Calculate quotations, commissions, deposits and outstanding balances accurately.
• Manage provisional bookings, follow-ups, amendments and cancellations.
• Coordinate with lodge teams to ensure accurate guest handovers.
• Guide and support the reservations team.
• Prioritise workloads and maintain service standards.
• Provide reporting on booking activity, sales performance and outstanding enquiries.
• Convert enquiries into confirmed bookings.
• Maintain accurate financial and operational records.

Skills

Senior reservations experience

Safari reservations experience

Reservations system skills

Sales and commercial awareness

Written communication

Attention to detail

Independence and daily reservations

Team leadership

Office-based in White River

Weekend/after-hours standby

Tools

Reservations system

Job description

REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven senior reservations experience
• Luxury safari lodge, lodge collection or central reservations experience preferred
• Strong reservations-system skills
• Strong sales and commercial awareness
• Excellent written communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work independently and manage daily reservations activity
• Previous team leadership or supervisory experience
• Ability to work office-based in White River
• Ability to participate in rotational weekend and after-hours standby

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage direct, travel-agent and DMC enquiries from quotation through to booking confirmation
• Maintain accurate rates, availability, booking records and guest information
• Calculate quotations, commissions, deposits and outstanding balances accurately
• Manage provisional bookings, follow-ups, amendments and cancellations
• Coordinate with lodge teams to ensure accurate guest handovers
• Guide and support the reservations team
• Prioritise workloads and maintain service standards
• Provide reporting on booking activity, sales performance and outstanding enquiries
• Convert enquiries into confirmed bookings
• Maintain accurate financial and operational records

PACKAGE:

• Remuneration: To be discussed based on experience and responsibilities
• Monday to Friday, 08:00–16:30
• Rotational weekend and after-hours standby

LOCATION:

White River – Mpumalanga