Travel Manager
Tier One Holdings
Total years of experience :22 years, 6 Months
Brought in as Travel Manager to set up the Travel Department and
Centralise the travel and accommodation requests for the entire group (Three separate Companies). Set up and implement procedures and processes to streamline the travel processes, financial billing and ensure cost savings. Implement a Travel Policy and set up Corporate Contracts with the relevant Airline and Hotel suppliers. Process flight and accommodation requests as well as revalidations, refunds, STPC, Marhaba, UAE visa requests and VIP terminal requests on a daily basis. Reconcile and keep records of all travel transactions and monitor payments with Suppliers. Basic Amadeus.
Audit fares provided by the Travel Agents to ensure no overcharging.
Responsible for the appointment of a new TMC and the implementation
process.
Due to the nature of our Operations in challenging destinations, always on standby to assist with emergency situations to ensure that passengers travel as arranged or rebooked as soon as possible to avoid disruption to the project or employees leave rotation.
Played an integral role in a major Corporate event in May 2014 for 500 + international guests and VIP’s. Negotiated cost savings of USD200 000 on group fares.
The Travel Manager of a 40 million dirham Corporate travel account and managing a Travel Department of 15 Travel Co ordinators. Providing cost effective, knowledgeable and timely travel solutions to Supreme employees in accordance with the Company Travel Policy who travel to remote and challenging destinations.
Assess and evaluate data, continually striving to reduce travel costs, monitor and challenge non compliance.
Duties Include:
Contract Negotiation with Suppliers, Charter flights, Overseeing the day to day operations, recruitment and selection, performance reviews, review of travel policy and processes, monitoring compliance with the travel policy, identify and appoint hotels and other suppliers, maximize savings and efficiencies, regular supplier meetings, monitor travel costs, team meetings and problem solving. Manage Travel Agent to ensure that service received is as per SLA and regularly review and audit of options provided.
Responsible for the RFP process in identifying, appointing and implementing a new TMC (Travel Management Company
as an Administrator. Then moved into the role of Sales Executive and Key Account Manager for the last three years.
Duties included: Typing, Travel Insurance, Personnel records, Marhaba, Complaints, relief reception, filing, hotel bookings, PRO, Advertising, Leave applications, Office co-ordination/rosters, Promotions, Stationery, Maintenance, Office Equipment. Basic Sabre, Company profiles. Calling on new prospective and existing Corporate Clients. Road Shows and Promotions. Networking Events. Hosting Corporate Events. Finalising new contracts. Assisting Companies with any queries regarding their travel requirements and liaising with the reservations team. Established good connections and relationships with Airlines and Suppliers. Problem Solving. Leading weekly Sales/Reservations meetings. Analysing monthly sales reports.
Connection in March 2005 which is a travel agency specialising in travel to and from Africa. Airfares, safaris, car hire, hotels etc
Duties included: Airline reservations, ticketing, fare quotes, travel insurance, car hire and hotel bookings and updating fare sheets. As well as general travel advise to passengers travelling to Southern Africa.
Emirates in July 1998 in the Customer Affairs Department which handles all passenger queries and complaints for every aspect of this airlines operation.
Duties included: Investigating and assessing all written, verbal, personal complaints and queries. Responding to the passengers appropriately and offering compensation when necessary.
I joined Thompsons in January 1996 in the Airlines Department. Thompsons is one of the larger tour operators in South Africa and this period was very valuable to me for the experience that I gained.
Duties included: Administrative Duties, Ticketing and Allocations
While at Thompsons, I completed the Worldspan Reservation and Ticketing course.