Travel Consultant

Job Description:
Position: Travel Consultant – FIT Sales
Reports to: FIT Sales Coordinator for day-to-day matters
A&K Italy General Manager
Summary of Duties:
To create luxury tailor-made Group and FIT tour product to sell to international markets. Using all resources available each tour must be of a high quality, imaginative, competitively priced and then followed through to sale. The tour consultant is also key in maintaining/developing client relationships, as well as developing new product and initiatives suitable for marketing purposes.
Salary range: EUR 25,000 – 30,000
Contract Type: Fixed-Term Contract (Maternity Cover)
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Proposal Creating / Selling
Design/price the itinerary where requested and to suggest improvements on itineraries requested by clients.
Check hotel availability, ensuring use of allocations where available.
Create each itinerary in English-language (Spanish and/or Portuguese would also be a bonus) competitively and to the requested level of quality within the expected time frame.
Accurately present an inspiring tour itinerary, pricing, inclusions, exclusions, optional activities and up-sell possibilities
Understand that the designed proposal needs to be sold, but in a way which ensures the tour can be operated perfectly for the client at the required margins
Proactively follow-up enquiries to the point of sale (by telephone as a preference)
Support travel agency/tour operator clients, building relationships for repeat business
Work as part of the team, collaborate and cooperate with team members to facilitate accuracy and creativity, checking quotes and other outputs
Fully use A&K’s in-house reservations system, Travel Studio
Negotiate the best pricing and terms with hoteliers and suppliers at the point of proposal, whilst maintaining professional supplier relationships at all times
Post-tour follow up with clients
Meet with clients, as and when required, to improve business co-operation.
Tour Operating:
Ensure a feasible itinerary is sold and de-briefed fully to the Operations Department, including accurate paper and reservations system records
Assist the operations team, as and when required, particularly with complex bookings
Self-operate certain Special Group projects, including live ground handling as required
Quality Control
Provide Quality Control information to the General Manager as required.
Investigate and assist with responding to Customer Service issues in a fair and balanced manner
Proactively seek opportunities to improve the quality of A&K tours to enhance the overall client experience.
Brochure and Promotion Planning/Costing
Fully engage in proposing new brochure products, detailing the key sales points
Participate in the preparation and pricing of the following year’s brochure product
Prepare and price ad’hoc promotions, detailing the key sales points
Financial:
Ensure at the point of sale that necessary payments and deposits are received, working closely with the Finance Department
Ensure that target margins are being achieved on all tours and take all necessary steps to maximise profitability where possible (e.g. secondary buying).
Product Development/Training
Play a central role in developing new product involving but not limited to; creating relevant new product ideas, writing it up into a sellable format, ensuring it is operationally sound and providing training to colleagues and clients
Source new product ideas through reading, internet research, using business/personal connections and FAM trips
Assist with creating new written tour materials, as well as creating packages on Travel Studio which can be used by others.
Sales & Marketing / Social Media
As a destination specialist, proactively keep Sales and Marketing colleagues informed of local events, new products, market trend and other destination developments.
General
General office duties such as answering the telephone etc.
To provide 24 hour client emergency service on a rota basis
To partake in ad-hoc projects as requested and agreed by the General Manager.
Any other reasonable duties as requested
Other
Office location is Florence – but you may be required to work at other such location(s) as the company may require including occasional overnight stays domestically or internationally
Office hours are Monday to Friday 10.00am to 6.30pm with 30 minutes lunch break. Working beyond regular office hours especially during the busy seasons is very likely
EEO Statement
Abercrombie & Kent is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.