Travel Advisor, International

About the role

Provide travel services for VIP/Executive business travelers, including arranging domestic and extensive international air, ground transportation, hotel, and any other travel services as requested. Utilize communication skills and teamwork to deliver optimum service and achieve high customer satisfaction, as well as develop strong collaborative relationships with clients and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Confidently communicate with customer in verbal and written form to determine destination, mode of transportation, travel dates, financial considerations, accommodations, and other services required.
• Interpret vague or nonspecific instructions from the client to draw clear conclusions and assemble accurate travel arrangements.
• Use of additional resources may be necessary.
• Arrange all travel related services, including bookings such as air, rail, car, car service, hotel, seat assignments, and any other accommodations requested by the client.
• Understand, manage, and execute use of upgrades and loyalty programs including follow-through to ensure services were delivered.
• Have the knowledge to select and recommend foreign carriers for safety and reliability and make special arrangements (hotels, showers) to accommodate international flight schedules and time zones.
• May be required to have understanding and expertise in international offerings, including airport lounges, day rooms, local currency, local customs, and resources available.
• Use available resources, such as RADIUS, Virtuoso networks, eGlobalfares and VerifyMyTrip to stay current on international and global affairs, benefits and offerings if position requires international travel bookings.
• Be consultative with customer and proactively anticipate the client’s needs to produce optimum results.
• Execute travel plans with a high level of accuracy while overcoming unanticipated obstacles.
• Compute cost of travel related services using the GDS (Global Distribution System) or other booking tools and resources.
• Quality Control each reservation before queuing to the relevant ticketing/quality control queue.
• Empowered to resolve customer service issues using resources through leadership and/or vendor representative when necessary.
• If resolution is outside of monetary guidelines, recommend solution and obtain approval from leadership.
• Review incoming correspondence and materials as needed; prioritize, summarize, and respond in a timely manner.
• Communicates all necessary information to travelers and travel arrangers to ensure all expectations are met.
• Maintain all reservations in a completed state regardless of if authorization to ticket received at time of call.
• Monitor assigned queues and tasks throughout the work day to ensure reservations and tasks are accurate and complete.
• Responsible for insuring that all tasks within their team are completed or re-assigned by end of shift.
• Work with leadership team to identify opportunities for process improvement and continual enhancement to the travel program.
• Collect payment from customer for travel services according to Client’s Travel Policy and Travel and Transport Policy and Procedures.
• Read daily briefings and industry announcements to keep abreast of industry developments.
• Participate in training opportunities to maintain and expand travel knowledge and customer service skills.
• Research and advises visas/passports for international travel to ensure compliance with international regulations.
• Maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of GDS and any other product used for specific account being handled (i.e. BARTT, Online Booking Tool, Quality, Banx, etc.).
• Ensure strong intra departmental communication, display positive team spirit, and ensure exemplary customer service.
• Develop trusting relationships with executive admin and executive travelers while demonstrating superior customer service.
• Build collaborative relationships with vendors to reach targeted goals.
• If participating in Travel and Transport’s mentoring program, responsible for coaching and mentoring other travel counselors in their career development.
• Ability to work outside regular shift during special events or times of crisis.
• Monitor flights of executive travelers using any available resources, such as eTTek Preview and Flight Stats/PNR Monitor.
• Arrange travel for small corporate groups and secure special group rates for airlines and hotel at the best price.
• Conduct initial introduction and interview of executive traveler profiles, which could include client onsite visit.
• Responsible for ongoing profile updates.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Minimum of 2 years travel counselor experience booking corporate/business travel.
• Sabre GDS Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills and capability to work effectively with all levels.
• Demonstrates professionalism and skills to maintain positive image.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to keep confidential any information, observations, or viewpoints regarding business matters.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, handle and prioritize simultaneous requests.
• Creative and analytical thinking with strong problem-solving and consultative skills.
• Demonstrates calm under pressure – is a proactive contributor and eager to learn.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to do basic math.
• Ability to read and interpret information.
• Attention to detail.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standard situations.

Benefits

We provide competitive and comprehensive benefits programs, tailored to each part of the globe our people work in. From walking and fitness challenges to volunteer experiences, flexible work environments, generous leave programs and retirement plan options, we offer ways to support you in every stage of living your best life.

• Company Paid Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• Company Paid Short-Term Disability
• Voluntary Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Roadmap to Wellness Program with incentives available to save money on your medical insurance premiums.
• Supplemental Life; Accident; Cancer; Critical Illness; Identity Theft Protection and Legal Coverage
• Dependent Care Savings Account
• Dental Insurance Plan
• Vision Insurance Plan
• 9 Company Paid Holidays including the day after Thanksgiving.
• Generous paid time off programs for vacation and sick days
• Employee Assistance Plan with access to Talk Space Therapy
• Family Medical Leave
• Paid Parental Leave (4 weeks)
• Bereavement Leave
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with a generous match per pay period

Pay

USD $40,000.00 - USD $60,000.00 /Yr.