Travel Specialist – Reservations & Tour Operations

About the role

The Travel Specialist will manage product reservations and scheduled tour operations for a leading integrated tourism group in Southern Africa. The role focuses on delivering exceptional service to both clients and suppliers while ensuring smooth execution of tours, transfers and charter requests.

Key responsibilities

• Monitor and process emails in the shared reservations mailbox, adhering to response standards.
• Handle website live‑chat inquiries promptly and according to established guidelines.
• Prepare accurate quotes for accommodation, tours and transfers using department templates.
• Book and confirm tours, airport transfers, day tours, add‑nights and charter requests across all sales channels.
• Track scheduled group numbers, block departures when needed and allocate suppliers efficiently.
• Invoice bookings, manage pre‑payments, deposits and client accounts, and ensure timely supplier payments.
• Apply cancellation policies, process refunds and monitor tour profitability.

Required profile

• Matric qualification with excellent knowledge of South African tourist attractions, routes, seasonality and transport infrastructure.
• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent problem‑solving, organisational and time‑management abilities.
• Attention to detail, basic financial understanding and a proactive, team‑oriented attitude.

Required skills

• Working knowledge of Tourplan (advantageous) and other online reservation systems.
• Experience with Group Series and FIT client reservations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office – Word, Excel and Teams.