Travel Contracting Manager (Luxury DMC)

DataTech Recruitment; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

DataTech Recruitment in Cape Town is seeking an experienced Travel Contracting Manager for a luxury DMC. You will strengthen supplier networks, negotiate rates, benefits, and bednight commitments, and ensure commercial agreements support exceptional African travel experiences.

This hands-on role requires DMC and tourism knowledge, supplier relationship management, and the ability to analyse data to improve contracting performance.

Qualifications

• Based in Cape Town and eligible to work locally.
• Degree or Diploma in Tourism, Commerce, Contracting, or related field.
• 3–5 years in procurement, contracting or supplier management within a DMC environment.
• Strong knowledge of the tourism industry and supplier contracting process.
• Experience with hotels, lodges, transport providers or similar travel partners.
• Experience using a travel booking system.
• Strong commercial understanding, including rates, margins, supplier performance and profitability.
• Excellent negotiation skills with the confidence to secure favorable agreements.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort with data and systems.
• Interest in applying AI and automation to improve contracting efficiency.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• Ability to influence suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple contracts and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with hotels, lodges, transport providers, and other suppliers.
• Negotiate competitive rates, exclusive benefits, and favourable terms.
• Manage contracts from negotiation through implementation with Rates Team alignment.
• Negotiate overrides, bednight commitments, and other opportunities to boost revenue.
• Identify opportunities to improve supplier terms, product competitiveness, and performance.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure contracts support business priorities and guest experiences.
• Monitor supplier performance, contract outcomes, and commitments.
• Analyse data and provide recommendations to improve supplier and contract performance.
• Leverage travel systems, data, AI, and automation to streamline contracting.
• Maintain trusted relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Negotiation

Relationship mgmt

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Influence stakeholders

Procurement experience

DMC knowledge

AI & automation interest

Commercial awareness

Education

Degree or Diploma in Tourism, Commerce, Contracting, or related field

Tools

Travel booking system

Data systems / AI tools

Job description

Travel Contracting Manager (Luxury DMC) - Cape Town.

An established luxury travel company is looking for an experienced Travel Contracting Manager to strengthen its supplier network and secure the commercial agreements behind exceptional African travel experiences.

This is a hands-on role for someone who knows the DMC environment, understands the value of strong supplier relationships, and is confident negotiating rates, benefits, overrides, and bednight commitments.

You will work closely with hotels, lodges, transport providers, activity operators, and internal teams to ensure supplier agreements are commercially sound, competitive, and aligned with guest expectations.

The role suits someone who enjoys the balance of negotiation, relationship management, commercial analysis, and improving how contracting processes are managed.

DMC and tourism experience is essential, and applicants must already be living in Cape Town.

Start Date: As soon as possible

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with hotels, lodges, transport providers, activity operators, and other tourism suppliers.
• Negotiate competitive rates, exclusive benefits, value-added offers, and favourable commercial terms.
• Manage contracts from negotiation through to implementation, working closely with the Rates Team to ensure agreements are accurately captured and applied.
• Negotiate override agreements, bednight commitments, and other commercial opportunities that improve revenue potential and strengthen the travel offering.
• Identify opportunities to improve supplier terms, product competitiveness, and overall commercial performance.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure supplier agreements support business priorities, market demand, and exceptional guest experiences.
• Monitor supplier performance, profitability, contract outcomes, and agreed commitments.
• Analyse commercial data and provide clear recommendations to improve supplier and contract performance.
• Use travel systems, data, AI, and automation where appropriate to improve contracting processes and reduce unnecessary manual work.
• Maintain professional, trusted relationships with both supplier partners and internal stakeholders.

Requirements:

• You must currently be based in Cape Town.
• A Degree or Diploma in Tourism, Commerce, Contracting, or a related field.
• A minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in procurement, contracting, or supplier management within a DMC environment.
• Strong knowledge of the tourism industry and supplier contracting process.
• Proven experience working with hotels, lodges, transport suppliers, activity providers, or similar travel partners.
• Experience using a travel booking system.
• Strong commercial understanding, including rates, margins, supplier performance, and profitability.
• Excellent negotiation skills with the confidence to secure commercially beneficial agreements.
• Strong analytical skills and confidence working with systems and data.
• An interest in using AI and automation to improve efficiency.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• The ability to influence suppliers and internal stakeholders while maintaining constructive working relationships.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple contracts, deadlines, and priorities.

If you are an experienced DMC contracting professional who wants to play a direct role in shaping high-quality African travel experiences, this is an opportunity to put your commercial knowledge and supplier relationships to meaningful use.