Senior Travel Designer - Americas

Wilderness Safaris; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the travel industry is seeking a Travel Designer based in Johannesburg or Cape Town. The role involves managing booking inquiries, coordinating with agents, and designing itineraries to enhance guest experiences. Ideal candidates will have a passion for travel, wildlife, and sustainability, with significant experience in the inbound travel sector.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years in customer relationship management and journey building.
• Deep knowledge of South Africa and Southern/Eastern Africa.
• Strong integrity and ethical conduct required.

Responsibilities

• Manage and complete all booking enquiries and confirmations.
• Design itineraries based on company guidelines and product knowledge.
• Maintain continuous communication with agents and deliver excellent service.

Skills

Attention to detail

Financial skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Matric certificate with Maths (minimum standard grade)

Tertiary qualification in Travel & Tourism or Hospitality

Job description

PRIMARY PURPOSE

A dedicated consultant to the agents in managing and completing all booking enquiries and confirmations on the Wilderness Window, responsible for accuracy and the financial health of each booking.

The Travel Designer's main focus is ensuring that logistics and travel plans are carefully curated from start to finish, with all intricate details seamless, resulting in an elevated guest experience.

Must have excellent knowledge and good geographical understanding of all Southern and Eastern Africa regions, including day-to-day regional logistics and in-depth supplier knowledge, to maximize mutually beneficial relationships with our AP partners.

This position is based in Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Detailed Responsibilities

1. Liaise with the Reservations Manager regarding sales potential and developments in the agent relationship for all bookings.
2. Coordinate with the Reservations Manager on booking issues, manage changes, and add developments to ensure perfect trip planning.
3. Ensure all relevant systems are updated, including Wilderness Window, WISH, TourPlan, and others.
4. Book relevant tickets, accommodation for early-morning or late-night pickups and drop-offs.
5. Maintain continuous communication and deliver excellent service to agents.
6. Build relationships with agents based on trust and support, understanding their business trends and guest needs.
7. Handle queries from agents on various matters.
8. Process additional changes or updates after confirmation to the itinerary.
9. Maintain an electronic booking file, including correspondence, costings, invoices, credit notes, and documentation, ensuring all are in order.
10. Quote accurately and promptly, considering strategic and preferred AP partnerships, and upsell where beneficial.
11. Design itineraries based on company guidelines and product knowledge, considering area, variety, accommodation standards, travel distances, and time efficiency.

Candidate Profile

Qualifications: Matric certificate with Maths (minimum standard grade or above). Tertiary qualification in Travel & Tourism or Hospitality is advantageous.

Experience: 4-6 years, with senior experience in customer relationship management, product development, and journey building in the inbound travel industry.

Deep knowledge of South Africa (Cape Town, Garden Route, Safari Destinations), Southern Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia), and East Africa.

Skills: Excellent attention to detail, strong financial skills, high integrity, ethical conduct, dynamic, organized, and excellent communication skills.

Interests: Passion for wildlife, sustainability, and conservation.

Apply for this position via WhatsApp.