Senior Travel Designer- Trade & Media at Wilderness

Responsibilities

• Responsible for planning and executing educational itineraries to the regions in which Wilderness operates in order to enhance Wilderness product knowledge for Travel Designers and Owned Agencies.
• Liaise with the Associated Product Department to include 3rd party suppliers in order to build itineraries and enhance experience.
• Share feedback from educational trips with Associated Product, for onward distribution to regions..
• Work on ad hoc projects such as planning and executing of travel arrangements for Workshops – for both local and regional staff.
• Load bookings as necessary into Wilderness Window.
• Update spread sheets for record purposes such as Thompsons flights.
• Book standalone car rentals and/or flights.
• Raise invoices and share correct allocation codes if necessary
• Save relevant documentation in the Window. (Guest Info Forms, Confirmations, Invoices)
• Handover bookings to the Opetartions Specialist Team - for the process of documents and hanfdling payments to suppliers.
• Working closely with Management and EXCO
• Liaise with regions for authorization on applicable rates and/or permission to book specific camps or other services, taking into account yield rules.

 General

• Keep all booking information updated in the system.
• Keep updated with all Wilderness and AP product updates, as well as technology updates
• Attend all training on a weekly basis, this knowledge facilitates exceeding expectations and accuracy in the booking process
• Keep abreast with company policies, procedures and system updates

  Booking Operations

• Contact suppliers in writing to confirm or cancel relevant services giving them all special requirements as mentioned above, ensuring that cancelled space has indeed been cancelled
• Ensure all service lines are loaded correctly in the WW
• Quote accurately and timeously keeping in mind our strategic and preferred AP
• Understand the guests needs in each quote.
• 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 quotes
• Update and review all information in WW, ensure services match the supplier documents
• Ensure all AP invoices are given to OPS /creditors timeously for deposit payments and that the applicable due dates are met.
• Maintain electronic booking file (i.e. Guest Information, AP confirmations , invoices all are uploaded in the WW)
• Handover bookings to the Operations team timeously.
• Assist with Financial queries as a matter of urgency
• Discuss any discrepancies with the Manager.
• Pre-tour information needs to be send with confirmation of bookings
• Reconfirmation of services to the regions. (i.e Guest Ops) to highlight travel arrangemnets for certain bookings.
• Ensure to flag all VIP guests to the relevant teams / Guest Ops.

  Candidate profile

 Qualification: 

• Matric certificate – with maths (minimum standard grade or above) 
• Tertiary certificate in Travel & Tourism/hospitality. 
• Experience: 4-5 years’ experience at a Senior level.
• Experience in handling customer relationships and developing & promoting product and services in the inbound travel industry.
• Computer Literate (Microsoft Office, email, Internet)
• Proven English literacy.
• Working knowledge of TourPlan and WISH or similar booking/operating system.  General product knowledge on Southern & East Africa.
• Personal or educational travel experience advantageous.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Skills: Excellent communication skills both written and oral, in English.
• Foreign language skills advantageous