Cape Town: Assistant Reservations Manager | Luxury Safari Collection | Cape Town | Ss posted by HotelJobs

Assistant Reservations Manager | Luxury Safari Collection | Cape Town Salary: R37,000 R40,000 DOE Kendrick Recruitment is currently seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Assistant Reservations Manager to join a leading luxury safari collection based in Cape Town. This permanent, full-time role supports the Head of Reservations and combines hands-on travel design with team supervision, systems governance, and commercial accountability. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate luxury travel professional who thrives in a fast-paced, high-performance environment and is committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences. Minimum Requirements: Proven experience in a leadership role within luxury hospitality, safari, or high-end travel Strong background in reservations, travel design, and itinerary planning Excellent written and verbal communication skills Demonstrated ability to meet and exceed sales targets Impeccable attention to detail and strong organisational skills Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word) Experience with Res Request, Safari Portal, and HubSpot advantageous Ability to work flexible hours in line with business requirements Genuine passion for luxury safari travel Key Responsibilities: Travel Design & Reservations Leadership Research, design, and curate high-end B2B and B2C itineraries Support Travel Designers in crafting seamless, brand-aligned journeys Review complex or high-value bookings to ensure feasibility and guest alignment Monitor enquiry management and conversion ratios Identify upsell and cross-sell opportunities Approve discretionary discounts within authorised thresholds Step into full managerial capacity in the absence of the Head of Reservations Manage domestic/international flights and third-party service bookings Booking Performance & Revenue Integrity Support occupancy management and peak period inventory control Monitor cancellation trends and rate integrity Participate in weekly commercial reviews and revenue discussions Ensure compliance with internal discount and rate-loading policies Work towards departmental revenue targets Team Leadership & Development Supervise, mentor, and motivate the Reservations team Conduct quality control audits on bookings and communications Support onboarding, probation processes, and training implementation Manage team scheduling and ensure adequate market coverage Handle escalated guest or agent matters professionally Systems & Process Governance Ensure accurate use of reservation and CRM systems Maintain CRM hygiene and pipeline tracking Oversee data integrity, booking documentation, and rate loading Identify system inefficiencies and support process improvements Ensure consistent application of booking terms and cancellation policies Financial & Compliance Oversight Monitor deposits, outstanding payments, and reconciliations Support margin awareness and responsible discount application Assist in preparing weekly and monthly performance reports Customer Retention & Guest Care Monitor guests travelling and proactively manage in-travel concerns Resolve complaints efficiently and professionally Follow up with guests during and post-travel to ensure satisfaction This is an exceptional opportunity for a commercially minded reservations professional to step into a strategic leadership role within a globally respected luxury safari brand. To apply, please submit your CV, reference letters, and a recent head & shoulders photo today Please note: Due to the high volume of applications, only candidates who meet the listed requirements will be contacted. If you do not receive a response within 7 working days, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.