Ref: BP0204AB
Start Date: ASAP

Notes: Package includes Medical Aid and Provident Fund contributions.
Leave: Weekends off, and annual leave. Working hours: 8am – 5pm

Employer Overview:
This luxury lodge collection is built, almost entirely, on the strength of remarkable people who give passionately to their roles, work tirelessly, and have the guest experience at the core of their focus daily and care of the sustainability of the environment. With several properties throughout Africa, this group now seeks a dedicated Reservations Manager to oversee and ensure the success of the Groups Reservations department.

What are the key responsibilities of the position?
Clients Guests and Suppliers
• Communication with all relevant parties (Manager, clients, travel consultants, sales teams and lodges) about all developments with regards to guests and guest feedback
• Actively work at improving internal processes and information flow to all key partners
• Assisting consultants in advising clients on all product related queries
• Managing quality control process on all reservations queries and issues, accurately, efficiently and timeously
• Actively handle files
• Manage and maximise margins for the entire team looking to achieve agreed budgeted margins
• Meet with international clients, host dinners, site inspection and /or host educational and attend trade shows
• Negotiate preferential rates with suppliers and specialised terms for group bookings
• Implement secondary buying with the groups team to increase
• Must be able to do on-site inspections with Clients and assist with traveling groups
People
• Managing, train, motivate and mentor a team of three groups consultants
• Ensuring personnel files are kept up to date
• Interviewing and hiring new staff in alignment
• Oversee and continuously ensure that the groups team is trained, informed and kept up to date with the latest product information, specials and offers
• Hold annual performance appraisals with all team members
• Distribution of incoming enquiries, ensuring that the workload is spread equally and ensuring that standard turnaround time is always maintained
• Hands on management and checking of VIP files
Finance
• Manage costs in line with revenues and budgets
• Ensure through strong commercial focus that all files are profitable
• Month end processes and procedures
• Support and communicate with accounts teams to ensure debtors are collected

What type of experience do we require?
• Extensive knowledge of Tourplan, alternatively, another reservations system
• In-depth geographical, logistical and product knowledge of South, Southern and East Africa
• 4 - 5 years management or supervisory experience in the hospitality/tourism industry (inbound tour operating)
• Minimum of 7 years inbound experience at a senior level in the hospitality/tourism industry

What skills / behaviours are required?
• Excellent knowledge of word and excel
• A good command of the English Language in both the written and spoken form
• Excellent telephone manner
• High attention to detail
• Ability to solve problems
• Ability to make decisions quickly
• Good organizational skills including desk and time management skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Diligence and self-motivation to meet deadlines and keep on top of your job
• Willingness / ability to share information, and to teach and inspire others

Why should you apply for this position?
Join a dynamic and diverse team, within a well established hospitality group. Develop your sales experience and skills by promoting a trusted and reputable brand.

Please ensure that you provide the following information with your application:
- Photograph – Head and shoulders picture, in low resolution format for our database
- Start and End dates for all previous employment
- Written references that you have available
- Current contact telephone numbers and email addresses for all previous employers, for referencing purposes.

Due to high volumes of CV’s received, should you not hear from us within seven working days of sending your application, please consider your application for this particular position unsuccessful. You are welcome to apply for any other positions that we may advertise in future.

Please note that we are not able to accept any application if a valid work permit is not held.