Intermediate Travel Designer - Members Club & SADC Directs - Sandton at Wilderness

Detailed Responsibilities

1) Develop relationships with Members, SADC & International Guests:

• Liaise with the Reservations Manager on sales potential and any development on the guest relationship for all bookings.
• Continuous communication and excellent service delivery to guests at all times.
• Build relationships with guests based on trust and support, knowing and exceeding their specific needs.

2) Quoting bookings – Design, develop and plan guests’ journeys

• Quote accurately and timeously keeping in mind our strategic and preferred AP and upsell where possible to benefit both WS and the agent ensuring relevant information is obtained from the ARM prior to quoting.
• Stipulate and utilize applicable specials in the WW and make appropriate notes as required as per AP’s systems and procedures.
• For special needs/high risk guests, follow the customer care protocol to ensure the guests are safe to travel in the planned journey.
• Work with the Yield team on maximizing out bed nights and margin per booking.
• Understand the agents/guests needs in each booking, if email does not help clarify then call the agent. Design itineraries around company guidelines and product knowledge e.g. area, variety, product status and service consistency in accommodation standard, distances travelled and time saving aspects.
• Follow up on all outstanding provisional bookings with the agents, consistently understanding the yield implication of provisional space held.
• Follow up on daily WISH/WW expiry reports with Agents ensuring no bookings are auto released and bookings are managed effectively.
• Maintain booking file (electronically) incl. Agent correspondence, AP correspondence, costings, invoices & credit notes and updated booking file cover/summary and ensure all documents can by uploaded to the WW by the Operations Specialist
• Measure sales and GP% per agent in conjunction with Sales, identifying variations and maintaining good GP’s per booking.

3) General

• Keep Agents booking information updated in the ARM 
• Keep updated with all Wilderness Safaris (WS) and 3rd party product (AP), as well as technology updates.
• Streamline operational negotiations by also reducing dead beds, wait list chasing and maximizing camp operations role to create those life changing journeys for guests
• Liaise with RARA if rates, accommodation, transit points and activities are not loaded or correctly linked on the WW.
• Attend all WS and AP training on a weekly basis, this knowledge facilitates exceeding expectations and accuracy in the booking process
• Keep abreast of company policies, procedures and system updates

 4) Confirm Bookings in accordance with company procedures

Candidate profile

Qualification:

• Matric certificate – with Mathematics
• Tertiary certificate in Travel & Tourism/hospitality. 

Experience & Skills:                 

• 2-3 years’ experience as a Travel Designer
• Experience handling customer relationships, developing & promoting product and services in the inbound travel industry.
• Working knowledge of TourPlan and WISH or similar booking/operating system. 
• General product knowledge on Southern & East Africa.
• Computer Literate (Microsoft Office, email, Internet)
• Good communication skills, (written & verbal)
• Excellent attention to detail
• Personal or educational travel experience advantageous.