Tourvest Destination Management is a leading travel management company in South Africa, offering a wide range of travel services including destination management, travel consulting, and tour operation. As a travel specialist, you will be responsible for assessing client needs, quoting and booking services, and managing client complaints and emergencies. In this article, we will explore the key responsibilities, qualifications, and required skills for the Travel Specialist position at Tourvest Destination Management.
Key Responsibilities
Assess Client Needs
As a Travel Specialist, your first responsibility is to assess client needs in terms of special interests, special needs, and affordability/budget. This involves asking the right questions to understand the client’s travel requirements, preferences, and expectations. You will need to be able to identify the most suitable travel products and services based on the client’s needs and budget.
Quoting and Booking Services
Once you have assessed the client’s needs, you will be responsible for providing a comprehensive quote for all the services requested by the client within the required turnaround time. This includes flights, accommodation, tours, transfers, and any other travel-related services. You will need to have excellent communication skills to negotiate with suppliers for availability and rates. Once the quote has been accepted, you will need to make reservations for all the services requested by the client.
Respond to Written Requests
As a Travel Specialist, you will need to respond to written requests from clients and provide written confirmations of their bookings. This includes providing clients with all the relevant information they need to prepare for their trip, such as flight details, accommodation information, and tour itineraries.
Loading Reservations on Tourplan
Tourplan is a tour operating software that is widely used in the travel industry. As a Travel Specialist at Tourvest Destination Management, you will be required to load all reservations on Tourplan. This includes updating the system with any changes to bookings, cancellations, or amendments to travel itineraries.
Ensure Confirmation of Services with Suppliers
Once the reservations have been made, it is essential to confirm all the services with suppliers. This ensures that there are no discrepancies between what the client has booked and what the suppliers are providing. You will need to maintain excellent relationships with suppliers to ensure that they provide the services as agreed.
Stay in Constant Communication with Agents
As a Travel Specialist, you will be required to stay in constant communication with agents regarding the status of reservations, payment requirements, deadlines, and conditions of reservations. This ensures that the client’s travel arrangements run smoothly and that any issues are resolved quickly.
Arrange Meet and Greets
As part of the travel arrangements, you may need to arrange Meet and Greets for clients at airports or other destinations. This involves coordinating with suppliers to ensure that clients are met on arrival and taken to their accommodations.
Maintain Contact with Tour Guides
During the client’s trip, you will need to maintain contact with tour guides to ensure that the itinerary is running smoothly. This involves monitoring the progress of the tour and resolving any issues that may arise.
Manage Client Complaints and Emergencies
As a Travel Specialist, you will need to manage client complaints and emergencies. This involves responding to client complaints promptly and resolving them to the client’s satisfaction. In the event of an emergency, you will need to coordinate with suppliers to ensure that the client’s safety and well-being are taken care of.
Maintain Contact with Agents
As a Travel Specialist, you will need to maintain contact with agents. This includes updating agents on the status of reservations, resolving any issues that may arise, and providing feedback on the client’s travel experience.
Qualifications
To be considered for the Travel Specialist position at Tourvest Destination Management, you will need to have the following qualifications:
- Matric / Grade 12
- A Travel & Tourism qualification would be preferable.
Experience
In addition to the qualifications, you will need to have at least 4 years of FIT-Tailor Making Tour consulting experience within the tour operating industry. This means that you will need to have experience in designing custom travel itineraries for clients, as well as knowledge of the various travel products and services available in the market. You will need to be familiar with the booking and reservation process and have experience in managing client relationships.
While not a mandatory requirement, having knowledge and execution experience with Tourplan would be preferable. Tourplan is a widely used tour operating software that helps travel agents manage bookings, reservations, and itineraries. It is an essential tool for managing travel arrangements and ensuring that everything runs smoothly.
Required Skills
To be successful in the Travel Specialist position at Tourvest Destination Management, you will need to have the following skills:
Knowledge of Customers’ Needs and Products
As a Travel Specialist, you will need to have a good understanding of customers’ needs and the products available in the market. This means that you will need to be up-to-date with the latest travel trends, destinations, and products. You will need to be able to match the client’s needs with the most suitable products and services.
Ability to Negotiate with Suppliers
To provide the best possible rates and availability for clients, you will need to have strong negotiation skills. You will need to be able to communicate effectively with suppliers and negotiate rates and availability to meet the client’s needs and budget.
Good Tourism Industry Knowledge
As a Travel Specialist, you will need to have a good understanding of the tourism industry. This includes knowledge of the different types of travel products, such as flights, accommodation, tours, and transfers. You will need to be familiar with the various travel regulations, such as visa requirements, health regulations, and travel insurance.
Excellent South African Geographic Knowledge
Tourvest Destination Management is a South African company that specializes in destination management. As a Travel Specialist, you will need to have excellent knowledge of South African geography, attractions, and destinations. This includes knowledge of the different regions, cities, and tourist attractions.
Strong Touring Logistics Knowledge
As a Travel Specialist, you will need to have a good understanding of touring logistics. This includes knowledge of transportation options, such as flights, trains, and buses, as well as knowledge of the different types of accommodation available, such as hotels, lodges, and camps. You will need to be able to coordinate all aspects of the client’s travel itinerary to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Salary and Area
The salary for the Travel Specialist position at Tourvest Destination Management is competitive and dependent on relevant experience. The company is based in Bryanston, Johannesburg, and job applications can be submitted through their career portal.
Applications
If you are interested in applying for these vacancies as a Travel Specialist at Tourvest Destination Management, please visit their career portal at: https://careers.tourvestdm.com/2022/07/05/travel-specialist-3/
Conclusion
The Travel Specialist position at Tourvest Destination Management is a challenging and rewarding role that requires a unique set of skills and qualifications. As a Travel Specialist, you will be responsible for assessing client needs, quoting and booking services, managing client complaints and emergencies, and maintaining contact with agents and suppliers. You will need to have a good understanding of the tourism industry, strong negotiation skills, and excellent knowledge of South African geography and touring logistics. If you have the required qualifications and skills, then the Travel Specialist position at Tourvest Destination Management could be the perfect opportunity for you to advance your career in the travel industry.