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.