Reservation Travel Consultant (Cape Town)

Job description

Reservation Travel Consultant – Senior 

Natural Selection is a collection of owner-operated safari camps and safaris in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Our efforts contribute to protecting key habitats and conserving wild areas while using responsible tourism as a force for good.

Main purpose of job

Responsible for providing full reservation travel and sales services for Natural Selection and Associated Products properties and services – to secure business and promote future business and growth for the company.

This is not a remote position — you will be required to work from our Cape Town/Johannesburg office.

Reporting structure:

Reporting to: Reservations manager

Location: Cape Town/Johannesburg 

Key responsibilities:

• Offer a personalised booking service for all bookings whether directly or in the back-up role:
• Responding to trade enquiries efficiently and timeously.
• Communication with clients, offering quick turnaround times and a professional service.
• Responding to all product queries or concerns relating to bookings.
• Providing availability and costs/quotes for bookings.
• Making reservations using Tour Plan/TMIS.
• Managing booking status throughout the reservation process – quote, cancelled, provisional, confirmed and invoiced.
• Obtaining and capturing guest CRM and booking information onto Tour Plan for camps.
• Liaising with product management to ensure best possible services to the guests – in respect of guest information and requirements.
• Providing lodge information and relating documentation to clients where appropriate – WETU itineraries/pre-tour & departure information.
• Managing yield to ensure that we maximise occupancy and the rate achieved.
• Convert sales by offering excellent response times, providing alternative dates/products, offering approved discounts where budget is a constraint.
• Gain knowledge of Natural Selection so you can add value to our clients.
• After-hours standby and emergency duty will be on a rotational basis including after hours.
• Ability to handle group/series and FIT bookings

Formal education and experience required:

• Minimum of a matric certificate.
• Tertiary certificate in travel related field desirable.
• 3-5 years relevant experience in a similar environment.

Skills and attributes:

• Fluent in speaking and writing in the English language.
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic work environment and support different teams when needed.
• Ability to work fast and accurately.
• Service and detail orientated. 
• Shows empathy, care and understanding when dealing with clients.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Willingness/ability to share information. 
• Ability to multitask and work under pressure.
• Sales driven.
• IT savvy.
• Be driven by self-motivation and the company values.
• Self-starter with a natural curiosity about travel, strong desire to learn.

Measurement criteria:

• Response times.
• Booking conversions.
• Rate yields.
• Occupancies.
• Satisfied customers and guest
• Successful product and marketing initiatives.

Knowledge:

• Tour Plan system – essential.
• Local and international travel industry (inbound market) – essential.
• Product knowledge – Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and surrounds.

Posted on 14 Oct 17:30, Closing date 13 Dec