Senior Travel Designer

We are dedicated to authentic, genuine service and delivering the warmest hospitality with passion. We are humble, generous and empathetic towards everyone within our collective, whether we are welcoming and hosting guests, working alongside colleagues or collaborating with partners, communities or governments. We are inclusive and have fun expanding the wor…

Senior Travel Designer

PRIMARY PURPOSE

• The Travel Designer is responsible for generating and growing sales by securing, costing, and presenting journeys to our Sales agents accurately, efficiently, and timeously. To be equally invested in the “win” of each booking. The role requires a strong focus on sales, building relationships with Sales agents, and providing exceptional customer service in a highly competitive environment with tight deadlines. The Travel Designer must have extensive knowledge of Southern and East African destinations, regional logistics, and in-depth supplier knowledge to maximize the mutually beneficial relationship with our AP partners, their lodges/camps, and areas they are located.

• The Travel Designer will play a vital role in driving sales, building relationships, and ensuring exceptional customer service in a highly competitive travel industry. Their knowledge, expertise, and strong focus on sales will contribute to the growth and success of our business.

*This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya

Detailed Responsibilities

Develop relationships with the Sales Agents

• Generate and grow sales by securing, costing, and presenting journeys to Sales agents in a timely manner

• Foster and build strong relationships with Sales agents to strengthen the bond and partnership, attending relevant familarisation trips with agents (if and when required).

• Deliver a speedy service to Sales agents, ensuring efficient communication and meeting tight deadlines.

• Demonstrate a strong focus on sales and be equally invested in the success of each booking.

• Liaise with the Reservations Manager on sales potential and any development on the agent relationship for all bookings.

• Continuous communication and excellent service delivery to agents at all times.

The Sale

• Manage the new request from the Sales agent, from quote to prov on the WW. Align the booking to client requirements until ready to confirm in the fastest possible time whilst maintaining the booking integrity on itrvl.

• Quote accurately and timeously keeping in mind our strategic and preferred AP and upsell where possible to benefit both teams.

• Build strong connections with all supplier reservations teams, nurture these relationships in order to help get more benefits when engaging regularly with them.

• Maximize the mutually beneficial relationship with AP partners, their lodges/camps, and areas they are located.

• 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, flag concerns with the WS24 incident management teams and follow protocol to ensure the guests are safe to travel in the planned journey.

• Streamline the sales negotiations by reducing dead beds, waitlist chasing and maximising camp yield during the provisional stage of the booking process, where possible upsell to Wilderness camps thus increasing GP per booking.

• Liaise with RARA if rates, accommodation, transit points and activities are not loaded or correctly linked on the WW.

• Where issues are with itrvl, raise concerns with the Wilderness itrvl integration specialist.

• Understand the sales agents needs in each booking – including urgency of replies, if email does not help clarify first call the sales agent.

• Have an excellent understanding of the sales agencies preferred supplier list and great product knowledge to apply speedy turnaround for alternatives at play to help secure the deal effectively.

• Follow up on all outstanding provisional bookings with the sales agents, consistently understanding the yield implication of provisional space held.