Senior Travel Designer

Wilderness Safaris; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury travel company in Johannesburg is seeking a Senior Travel Designer to create unforgettable travel experiences across Southern and East Africa. This role involves delivering exceptional service, curating bespoke itineraries, and building strong relationships with agents. Ideal candidates will have a tertiary qualification in Travel & Tourism or Hospitality, proven sales experience, and a commitment to conservation. Join a passionate team dedicated to luxury travel and wildlife conservation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in itinerary planning, customer service, and sales.
• Strong communication (English required, European languages advantageous).
• Ability to upsell and personalize travel experiences.

Responsibilities

• Deliver exceptional, personalized travel experiences for guests.
• Curate bespoke journeys reflecting guest preferences and Wilderness standards.
• Build trust-based relationships with agents and collaborate with teams.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Creativity

Sales skills

Education

Tertiary qualification in Travel & Tourism or Hospitality

Matric with Maths (Standard Grade or higher)

Tools

TourPlan

Microsoft Office

Job description

Senior Travel Designer Wilderness Safaris • Johannesburg, Gauteng

Location: Johannesburg or Cape Town
Reports to: Reservations Manager
Company: Wilderness

Are you passionate about luxury travel, conservation, and creating unforgettable journeys? Join Wilderness as a Senior Travel Designer and help craft extraordinary experiences across Southern and East Africa!

About the Role

As a Senior Travel Designer, you’ll deliver exceptional, personalized travel experiences for our guests and agents. You’ll combine deep product knowledge with high‑touch service, fast response times, and a consultative approach. Your mission: build strong relationships, curate bespoke itineraries, and drive sales while maintaining healthy margins.

Key Responsibilities

• Service Excellence: Deliver prompt, professional, and solution‑oriented service to agents and guests. Communicate proactively and with clarity.
• Itinerary Design & Upselling: Curate bespoke journeys reflecting guest preferences and Wilderness standards. Identify upselling opportunities to enhance guest experiences.
• Agent Relationship Management: Build trust‑based relationships, understand agent preferences, and collaborate with Sales and Operations teams.
• Booking Accuracy: Quote accurately and timeously, maintain meticulous booking files, and ensure seamless execution of itineraries.
• Operational Coordination: Work closely with Operations Specialists to ensure a high‑quality guest experience and manage all booking logistics.
• Performance & Margin Focus: Optimize bed nights and margins, track financial performance, and ensure revenues are secured.
• Product Knowledge: Stay current on Wilderness camps and experiences across Southern & East Africa, and confidently position our offerings.
• Systems & Technology: Use industry systems (Wilderness Window, WETU, Smartbox, Tourplan, etc.) to streamline processes and enhance service delivery.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

• Matric with Maths (Standard Grade or higher); tertiary qualification in Travel & Tourism or Hospitality.
• 45 years in a senior travel design or reservations role; proven experience in itinerary planning, customer service, and sales; familiarity with TourPlan and Microsoft Office.
• Exceptional attention to detail; strong communication (English required, European languages advantageous); organizational skills; ability to upsell and personalize travel experiences.
• Creative, proactive, service‑driven, passionate about wildlife and conservation; able to work under pressure; dedicated to customer satisfaction.

Why Wilderness?

Work with a passionate team dedicated to conservation and luxury travel. Deepen your destination expertise through ongoing training and familiarisation trips. Be part of a company that values creativity, initiative, and going the extra mile.

Interests

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

Apply for this position with us on WhatsApp. Simply send the word Hi to ************