Job Description
- Department: Corporate Travel
- Reports to: Operations Manager and General Manager
- Location: Sandton, South Africa
Role Purpose
To provide high-performance, end-to-end travel management for high-net-worth (HNW) and C-suite executive clients. The VIP Travel Manager acts as a strategic partner, ensuring seamless, discreet, and highly personalized travel experiences that align with both the client's executive preferences and the organisation’s travel policies.
Key Responsibilities
- White-Glove Service Delivery: Provide 24/7 (or on-call rotation) support for complex, multi-sector international itineraries, ensuring zero tolerance for errors.
- Executive Support: Anticipate travel needs before they arise, including private transport, VIP meet-and-greet services, and concierge-level requests.
- Policy Compliance & Reporting: Balance the "high-touch" service requirement with corporate travel policy adherence, ensuring negotiated rates and preferred suppliers are utilized effectively.
- Strategic Relationship Management: Maintain deep, trusted relationships with key executive stakeholders and their personal assistants (PAs).
- Crisis Management: Proactively manage travel disruptions (flight cancellations, schedule changes) with immediate, creative problem-solving and communication. Must be able to handle pressure.
- GDS & Systems Proficiency: Utilize Global Distribution Systems (e.g., Amadeus, Galileo) for complex bookings, reissues, and amendments while maintaining meticulous CRM records.
Core Competencies & Skills
- Advanced GDS Knowledge: Expert-level proficiency in Amadeus is essential for complex international ticketing and fare calculations.
- Industry Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of the South African travel landscape, including local carrier regulations, visa processing, and regional corporate travel trends. Must have experience in servicing SA government and corporate clients.
- Professional Discretion: Absolute commitment to confidentiality, data security, and privacy when handling sensitive executive travel data.
- Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for high-level stakeholder management.
- Financial Acumen: Understanding of service fees, foreign exchange (Forex) processing, and corporate expense reporting.
- Problem-Solving: Proven ability to remain calm and decisive under extreme pressure.
Availability
Start date: ASAP
Salary
Highly negotiable dependent on experience. • Company benefits
Required Qualifications
Qualification:
Education & Experience
- Experience: Minimum 5–7 years of experience in a Travel Management Company (TMC), with at least 3 years specifically within a VIP or executive-level corporate travel capacity.
- Education: Grade 12 (Matric) is essential. A tertiary qualification in Tourism Management.
- Certification: Valid GDS-specific certification is required.
Considerations for your Recruitment
Given your focus on staff development and email etiquette within your team at Atlantis Corporate Travel, when evaluating candidates for this role, you may want to assess:
- Cultural Fit: Since this role requires high levels of emotional intelligence, look for candidates who demonstrate "anticipatory service"—the ability to sense a client's needs before they ask.
- Communication Standards: Given the delicate nature of VIP clients, screen their written communication during the interview process to ensure it meets the professional standards you set for your department.
- Technological Proficiency: Ensure they are comfortable with your specific internal tools (e.g., Quicktrav, if applicable) to ensure they can hit the ground running with your current administrative workflows.
Location
Gauteng
Sandton
Application details
Mellisa
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