Travel jobs in South Africa

Kendrick Recruitment is seeking a skilled and experienced Lodge Wholesale Travel Specialist to join a high-end travel company based in Sandton. This position is ideal for someone passionate about tailor-made travel experiences and with a deep understanding of Africa's luxury lodge offerings.

Location: Sandton

Salary: Negotiable, Live Out

Key Responsibilities:

1. Engage consistently with colleagues, agents, operators, guests, and suppliers via phone and email.
2. Creatively plan and design bespoke leisure FIT itineraries.
3. Manage the full reservations process from initial quote to finalizing bookings, invoicing, and travel documents.
4. Ensure adherence to turnaround times in line with standard operating procedures.
5. Proactively sell products and services to curate the best possible guest experiences.
6. Provide support on Saturdays and Public Holidays on a rotating basis.
7. Act as backup for colleagues during their absence.
8. Participate in training sessions to expand product knowledge.
9. Uphold the brand values of care for people, land, and wildlife.

Knowledge Required:

• Strong knowledge of travel destinations across Southern, South, and East Africa.
• In-depth geographical and logistical understanding of at least two of the mentioned regions.
• Solid grasp of excellent service delivery within the luxury travel sector.
• Proficiency in Tourplan or similar booking systems.
• Strong organizational and lateral thinking abilities.
• Initiative and a proactive mindset.

Skills Required:

• Fluent in written and spoken English with excellent communication skills.
• Strong time management and task prioritization skills.
• Competence with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Familiarity with platforms such as Tourplan, WETU, ZOHO, and Maximizer.
• Analytical understanding of quantitative and qualitative data.
• Commercial awareness and strategic thinking abilities.
• Creativity in crafting luxury guest experiences.
• High attention to detail and structured workflow.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a collaborative mindset.
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving capabilities.
• Paperless and digital file management proficiency.
• Ability to work flexible hours and travel when required.
• Self-motivated, responsible, and enthusiastic about the travel industry.

Experience Required:

• Minimum of 3-5 years experience in tour operating.
• Tourplan experience highly advantageous.
• WETU experience preferred.

A methodical, detail-oriented approach with creativity and resilience under pressure is essential. Ability to complete routine tasks while maintaining high energy and flexibility, along with adaptability and decisiveness in a dynamic working environment.

If you are a travel specialist who thrives in a high-performance environment and has a genuine passion for luxury African travel, we would love to hear from you. Apply today to take the next step in your travel career.

Key Skills:

Active Directory Administration, Advertising Management, Hair and Beauty, Biotechnology, Corporate Finance, ABAP

Employment Type: Full Time

Experience: 3-5 years

Vacancy: 1