Cape Town: Agent Relationship Manager – Europe posted by Kendrick Recruitment

Agent Relationship Manager Europe | Luxury Safari Travel Company | UK or Cape Town Based

Location: UK or Cape Town based
Property Type: Luxury Safari Travel Company
Salary: Negotiable DOE

Position Overview:

Kendrick Recruitment is seeking a commercially driven Agent Relationship Manager Europe to join a prestigious luxury safari travel company. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving new business growth, reactivating dormant accounts, and nurturing long-term value from existing trade partners across Europe. Reporting to the Head of Agent Relationships, this role is pivotal in promoting the companys high-end camps, lodges, and comprehensive destination management services.

Key Responsibilities:

New Business Development & Expansion

• Identify and qualify high-potential new trade partners across Europe aligned with the companys premium safari positioning.

• Lead outreach campaigns and relationship-building initiatives focused on converting new partners.

• Develop compelling presentations that highlight the companys DMC proposition, including itinerary management, operational expertise, and value-added services.

• Re-engage dormant or lapsed partners, demonstrating service innovations and improvements.

• Attend trade shows, roadshows, and industry events to generate new leads and increase brand awareness.

Account Growth, Relationship Management & DMC Exposure

• Maintain and grow relationships with existing agent partners, promoting the full-service safari planning and DMC support.

• Position the companys value proposition consistently through product updates, trainings, account reviews, and marketing collaborations.

• Develop customised strategies to help agents sell a broader range of services, increasing reliance on the company as a one-stop safari partner.

• Co-develop sales enablement tools, training content, and digital assets.

Strategic Sales Planning & Market Intelligence

• Monitor and report on market trends, competitor offerings, and buyer expectations.

• Share insights to shape global messaging and agent engagement strategies.

• Deliver market-specific business reviews, including KPIs, reactivation efforts, and service uptake.

Additional Responsibilities

• Provide input for product innovation, system development, and service delivery improvements.

• Manage travel and sales budgets in line with performance targets.

• Support internal knowledge-sharing and cross-department collaboration on agent needs.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years experience in the African travel industry.

• Proven ability to sell and position complex services, ideally within luxury travel, safari operations, or destination management sectors.

• Strong B2B relationship development and solution-based selling skills.

• Familiarity with the European safari trade landscape and an existing network of contacts is highly desirable.

• Track record of securing new trade partnerships and reactivating dormant relationships with measurable outcomes.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, CRM platforms, and business intelligence tools (e.g., PowerBI).

• Digitally confident and professional across communication and collaboration platforms.

• High integrity, passion for conservation-driven travel, and a self-starting approach.

Work Practices & Requirements:

• Promote a best-in-class image externally with clients and internally with stakeholders.

• Uphold company values including integrity, dedication to service, teamwork, and going the extra mile.

• Flexible to attend staff events during working hours and participate in Training & Development programmes.

• Work 9 hours per day, including a one-hour lunch break, with flexibility according to team needs.

• Overtime may be required during peak periods, compensated with time off in lieu.

• Travel may be required for hosting agent fam trips, attending offsite meetings, and trade shows locally or internationally.

• Must have a valid drivers licence and reliable mode of transport.

This is a unique opportunity for a commercially focused and relationship-driven professional to drive European market growth for a luxury safari travel company, representing the brand at the highest level across key trade partners.