Destination Specialist - Africa
Role Mission The Destination Specialist is the driving force behind the sales and growth of our Africa portfolio. This is a high-impact sales and relationship-building position where you act as the ultimate expert for our partner travel advisors. Your mission is to convert complex luxury travel requests into high-value bookings by blending elite product knowledge with influential communication and lasting relationship management. The Core Focus: Sales & Relationship Building High-Impact Sales & Conversion: Lead the sales process from initial inquiry to confirmed booking, utilizing persuasive skills and strong closing techniques to exceed targeted goals. Strategic Relationship Management: Act as the primary, trusted point of contact for our partner travel agencies, providing personalized and informative services that encourage repeat bookings. Client Connection: Lead high-touch communication, including "30-Day Pre-Travel" consultations with travelers to build excitement, ensure readiness, and solidify the relationship before departure. Expert Luxury Curation: Design sophisticated, bespoke itineraries for East and Southern Africa that cater to the most discerning luxury clientele. This requires a deep understanding of high-end properties, seasonal movements, and exclusive, off-the-beaten-path experiences. Execution & Operations Precision Itinerary Design: Utilize your firsthand destination expertise to recommend ideal accommodations, exclusive experiences, and reputable guides while factoring in complex logistics and health/visa requirements. Supplier Collaboration: Work strategically with DMCs and in-country partners to secure all logistical details, ensuring every booking meets our 5-star brand promise. Administrative Accuracy: Manage all payments, documentation, and costings (reviewing for 100% accuracy) within our CRM and itinerary building platforms (Wetu). Proactive Support: Monitor bookings and anticipate challenges, serving as the main point of contact to resolve unforeseen issues or emergencies during a client’s trip. What Makes You a Specialist: Firsthand experience traveling or living in Africa, offering practical insights that go beyond standard resources. Curated, established networks of trusted luxury partners and suppliers across multiple African destinations. Deep, niche expertise in African travel, including its complexities, nuances, and operational realities. A passion for Africa — its wildlife, people, cultures, and landscapes — that inspires and informs your work. A natural problem-solver, able to anticipate and resolve issues quickly to ensure peace of mind for clients. You Are: Experienced selling Africa as a luxury travel destination, ideally within a DMC or Tour Operator setting; B2B sales experience is a plus. Passionate about sales, with a strong track record of achieving high sales performance. Self-motivated and driven, with an entrepreneurial mindset and proactive approach to your business. Highly client-centric, skilled at building strong relationships and delivering personalized service. Calm under pressure, with excellent problem-solving skills during fast-changing situations. Highly organized and detail-oriented, able to manage complex itineraries with multiple moving parts. Experienced with itinerary building platforms (Wetu strongly preferred), CRM systems, and supplier portals. Knowledgeable about travel sales financials, including margins vs. markups and how they apply in luxury travel pricing. An excellent communicator, able to clearly convey information to clients, partners, and internal teams. Collaborative and professional, working seamlessly with internal teams and trusted partners.