South Africa: Senior Travel Designer – Luxury Safari & Travel Company – Johannesburg/Cape Town L Lb posted by Kendrick Recruitment

About the Role

Kendrick Recruitment is currently seeking an experienced and passionate Senior Travel Designer for a leading luxury safari and travel company with offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town. This role requires a strong blend of sales ability, destination knowledge, attention to detail and a service-driven mindset.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver prompt, professional and solution-oriented service to agents and guests

• Communicate clearly, proactively and consistently throughout the booking process

• Ensure a high level of responsiveness and customer satisfaction at all times

• Design bespoke luxury itineraries across Southern and East Africa

• Tailor experiences to guest preferences and travel expectations

• Identify upselling opportunities to enhance guest experiences and increase value

• Maintain strong focus on revenue generation and margin optimisation

• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with agents

• Understand agent preferences and tailor service accordingly

• Collaborate closely with sales and operations teams to ensure seamless delivery

• Prepare accurate and timeous quotations

• Maintain meticulous booking files and documentation

• Ensure all itinerary details are correct and fully aligned with operational requirements

• Work closely with operations teams to ensure seamless guest experiences

• Coordinate all booking logistics and itinerary components

• Resolve operational challenges quickly and efficiently

• Optimise bed nights, revenue and margins across all bookings

• Monitor financial performance and ensure profitability targets are met

• Contribute to overall sales growth and commercial success

• Maintain in-depth knowledge of luxury camps, lodges and travel experiences across Africa

• Stay up to date with product developments, experiences and industry trends

• Work effectively across industry systems such as Tourplan, WETU and similar platforms

• Maintain accurate system data and booking records

Requirements

Matric with Mathematics (Standard Grade or higher)

Tertiary qualification in Travel & Tourism or Hospitality advantageous

4–5 years’ experience in a senior travel design or reservations role

Proven experience in itinerary planning, sales and customer service

Strong knowledge of Tourplan and Microsoft Office

Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills

Strong communication skills in English (additional European languages advantageous)

Proven ability to upsell and create personalised luxury travel experiences

Salary & Benefits

Negotiable Depending on Experience