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

? Senior Travel Designer | Luxury Safari & Travel Company | Johannesburg / Cape Town ? 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 is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled travel professional with a passion for luxury travel, conservation and creating unforgettable guest journeys across Southern and East Africa. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing bespoke itineraries, delivering exceptional service and building strong relationships with agents and guests while driving sales and maintaining healthy margins. ? Location: Johannesburg / Cape Town ? Type: Live out ? Salary: Negotiable Depending on Experience Role Overview The Senior Travel Designer will be responsible for curating personalised, high-end travel experiences that reflect both guest preferences and luxury travel standards. This role requires a strong blend of sales ability, destination knowledge, attention to detail and a service-driven mindset. You will work closely with agents, guests and internal operations teams to ensure seamless itinerary execution, accurate quoting and exceptional end-to-end travel experiences. ? Key Responsibilities ? Service Excellence 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 ? Itinerary Design & Sales 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 ? Agent & Client Relationship Management 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 Provide ongoing support and consultation to agents and partners ? Booking Accuracy & Administration Prepare accurate and timeous quotations Maintain meticulous booking files and documentation Ensure all itinerary details are correct and fully aligned with operational requirements Ensure smooth end-to-end execution of all bookings Operational Coordination Work closely with operations teams to ensure seamless guest experiences Coordinate all booking logistics and itinerary components Resolve operational challenges quickly and efficiently ? Performance & Commercial Focus 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 ? Product & Destination Knowledge Maintain in-depth knowledge of luxury camps, lodges and travel experiences across Africa Stay up to date with product developments, experiences and industry trends Confidently position and sell luxury travel offerings ? Systems & Technology Work effectively across industry systems such as Tourplan, WETU and similar platforms Maintain accurate system data and booking records Use technology to enhance efficiency and service delivery Requirements Matric with Mathematics (Standard Grade or higher) Tertiary qualification in Travel & Tourism or Hospitality advantageous 45 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 ? Candidate Profile Passionate about luxury travel, wildlife and conservation Creative, proactive and highly service-driven Strong sales and commercial mindset Calm and composed under pressure Highly organised with excellent attention to detail Strong communicator and relationship builder Dedicated to delivering exceptional guest experiences Motivated, energetic and results-driven What’s on Offer Opportunity to work within a leading luxury travel environment Exposure to premium African travel destinations and experiences Supportive and passionate team culture Ongoing learning, development and industry exposure Competitive salary package based on experience ? To apply, please send your CV today! Please note: Due to the high volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within 7 working days, please consider your application unsuccessful.