Assistant Contracting and Negotiation Manager - Tourism

Company: DESERT GATE TOURISM - UAE

An organization built on professionalism, extensive experience, and guest-centricity, Desert Gate was established in 2004 as a supplier for top-level tour operators in the UAE. Today, it is a premium DMC serving the seven emirates of the UAE, Oman, the Maldives, and its newest destinations Qatar and Mauritius. The company has been recognized for its innovative approach to product design and providing top-notch service to its guests.

Desert Gate is part of the MTS Globe group (www.mtsglobe.com) and has access to best-in-class technology and clean XML feeds. As a traditional DMC, Desert Gate offers excellent contracting, creative excursions, and superior in-resort service levels.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the Contracting and Negotiation Specialists in coordination with the Regional Contracting Manager and the Director of Contracting.
• Support partnerships with hotels, coordinating rates, special offers, seasons, allocations, release periods, overrides, terms & conditions, and cancellation policies.
• Negotiate with hotels and resolve team issues in a timely manner.
• Review, compare, and analyze rates in each market and study product requirements.
• Assign the team for in-site inspections and prepare hotel assessment reports.
• Track and correct product performance/support problems and assist in driving sales results.
• Manage accurate updates and maintenance of back-office systems.
• Ensure that entered rates are correct and up to date.
• Monitor the online system for last-minute bookings, cancellations, and related transactions.
• Liaise with key departments for smooth operations.
• Assist in resolving contracting-related issues from other departments.
• Communicate and cooperate with hotels & tour operators to achieve planned goals.
• Handle and monitor team attendance and schedules to ensure smooth operations.
• Train new staff in contracting, SOP, policies, and systems.

Minimum Requirements:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience at a supervisory or similar level in the tourism/hospitality field within the UAE region.
• Hands-on experience in data entry related to contracts.
• Good negotiation skills.
• Ability to establish and sustain professional relationships.
• Having great contacts in the industry will be advantageous.