Travel Specialist
Specialist Holidays Group
Role
Travel Specialist
Function
American Holidays/ D2 - Sales
Reports to
Head of Sales
Location
Belfast – Lombard Street
Contract type
Permanent, full time
About Specialist Holidays Group
Specialist Holidays Group (SHG) is a leading specialist travel group, bringing together a family of trusted, expert-led brands that create exceptional holidays for discerning travellers. Each brand combines deep destination knowledge with personalised, high-service experiences — expertise that sits at the heart of everything we do.
Our portfolio spans accessible luxury and cruise through Destination2 and Destination2Cruise; ultra-premium, bespoke travel through Sovereign Luxury Travel; the USA, Canada, Caribbean and Latin America through American Holidays; authentic Italy through Citalia; and great-value getaways through Holiday Gems. Together they share one promise: Travel. Expertly Delivered.
As part of the group, American Holidays (www.americanholidays.com) is a North America, Canada & Caribbean specialist travel provider operating for over 40 years in the ROI, Northern Irish and UK markets. Our customers are at the heart of what we do, and we are passionate about inspiring their next holiday adventure. With offices in Belfast, Dublin and London we offer a wide range of holiday experiences from beaches, city breaks, fly drives and road trips, escorted tours, and cruises.
Destination 2 was established in 2016 and has grown quickly, positioning itself as one of the UK's fastest growing online tour operators and focuses on offering luxury travel at competitive prices, covering destinations such as Dubai, the Maldives, Thailand, the Caribbean, and more.
The role
We are now searching for ambitious and driven Travel Specialists to join our team. Our Travel Specialists are responsible for curating memorable holiday itineraries by using their in-depth knowledge to provide an unforgettable experience. They are highly motivated, enthusiastic and proactive with a thirst for sales, travelling and ensuring our customers get an unrivalled customer experience from enquiry to returning back from their holiday.
Key responsibilities
- Speaking with our direct customers and travel agents to create tailor-made and exciting holiday itineraries
- Proactively following up on sales leads and working to achieve and exceed sales targets.
- Use our ‘Sales Framework’ to ensure you fully understand the customers’ requirements and offer the best overall experience.
- Use a variety of systems including GDS to book all elements of the customer’s holiday.
- Continuously looking for sales opportunities and drive repeat business.
- Dealing with the full lifecycle of customer queries and service from pre to post departure.
What we’re looking for
- A thirst for understanding our destinations and product.
- Having previous travel sales experience is essential as we like our Specialists to have a real hunger for closing the sale.
- Be obsessive about our customers and the service we give them in order to enhance their enjoyment of our holidays.
- Excellent telephone manner with the ability to build rapport very quickly with customers.
- Ability to prioritise workload and show a high level of urgency. Shows flexibility, quick thinking and a highly organized approach
- High attention to detail showing accurate grammar and numerical skills.
- Enthusiasm, motivated and a passion to deliver excellent sales and service with a ‘can do’ attitude
- Experience of working with Microsoft applications (preferred but not essential) and able to pick up new systems easily.
- Experience using a GDS system such as Amadeus is preferred but not essential.
Your Development
- An induction programme to ensure you are fully prepared to engage with our customers.
- Sales and System training continue throughout your time in order for you to move through your career path.
- Access to an extensive in-house learning and development programmes.
- Regular supplier training, events and familiarisation trips occur throughout the year to further increase your destination knowledge.
- Annual objectives will be set and reviewed quarterly to ensure you are developing to your full potential, whether that’s within the sales team or if future opportunities present themselves within the business.
- Working very closely with the Team leaders and the management team you will be given the full support you need to be successful within your role during your probationary period
Working with us
Join us and, in return, you’ll be rewarded with:
- Competitive basic salary and commission structure
- Various employee discounts and offers
- Cycle to work scheme
- Contributory Pension scheme
- Career progression opportunities
Please note that all benefits are accurate as at the date of publication. Any changes will be notified to you upon joining the Company.
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- Referral programme
- Store discount
Application question(s):
- Experience in the Travel sector
- Travel Sales experience
- Destinations you are familiar with selling:
- This role requires 5 days in our store, are you able to travel to on a daily basis
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
