RESERVATIONS MANAGER

RESERVATIONS MANAGER – FIT

CAPE TOWN – HYBRID

COMPETITIVE SALARY PLUS INCENTIVE SCHEME

Our Customer:

Our customer, a leading destination specialist for Southern Africa, has entrusted us exclusively to recruit their new Reservations Manager. Renowned for creating bespoke itineraries, they provide seamless ground handling services from arrival to departure. With offices in South Africa and Namibia, their expert team ensures every journey is flawlessly executed.

This is an opportunity to lead within a dynamic, customer-focused environment while contributing to unforgettable travel experiences across Southern Africa.

As the Reservations Manager you will benefit from working in a dynamic, flexible, and supportive environment that encourages personal and professional growth. With hybrid working arrangements, competitive compensation, and additional benefits like medical aid, life cover, and an incentive scheme, this role provides a unique opportunity to lead a team while contributing to creating unforgettable travel experiences across Southern Africa.

Job Description:

In this role, you will drive sales through key account management, lead and inspire the reservations team, and ensure seamless, profitable operations while delivering exceptional, customer-focused experiences.

• Build and maintain strong client relationships, gathering feedback to align sales and product offerings with customer needs
• Lead the team in achieving sales targets, delivering operational excellence, and meeting service level agreements
• Monitor and optimise team workload, ensuring accurate quoting and cost
• Conduct quality checks and support margin control, upselling, and profitability through effective training and strategies
• Enhance operational efficiency by implementing best practices and supporting the team’s proficiency in systems and processes
• Address and resolve client complaints, ensuring feedback is communicated to improve services
• Drive team development through clear targets, performance appraisals, training, and cross-skilling initiatives
• Foster a motivated and supportive team environment through open communication, regular meetings, and approachable leadership
• Ensure compliance with invoicing processes, account query resolutions, and financial understanding of costs and profits
• Collaborate with HR to manage recruitment, training, leave records, and disciplinary procedures effectively

Experience Required:

• Possess in-depth knowledge of the customer product portfolio, including sales and product priorities
• Maintain awareness of competitor safari offerings to ensure competitive advantage
• Be willing to travel occasionally for educational and familiarisation trips to Southern Africa, providing post-trip insights and training for the team
• Demonstrate exceptional communication skills and a strong commitment to customer service excellence
• Contribute to management decision-making by offering thoughtful and informed input
• Uphold confidentiality of management information unless explicitly authorised to share

Benefits and Perks:

• Hybrid working arrangements
• Discovery Medical aid benefit for principal member
• Life cover and trauma counselling
• Bi-annual incentive scheme
• Supportive and collaborative workplace

Click here to apply for this Reservations Manager – FIT, travel industry job, which is being recruited by Tessa Robertson and Ambitions Travel Recruitment, a boutique recruitment agency, specialising in travel and hospitality roles, and known for sourcing hard-to-find talent.