Business Travel Consultant

The main role of a Business Travel Consultant is to build relationships and understand the needs of our clients whilst delivering a ‘high-touch’ service that saves clients time and drives down their total cost of travel.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

SERVICE

• Provide a dedicated, consistently high level of service to all travellers & travel bookers tailored to their individual requirements, with a desire to always exceed client expectation by going the extra mile
• Effectively manage your workload to meet all deadlines as required, internally or client driven

• Demonstrate an excellent understanding of various account processes and policies, and can adapt quickly to any necessary changes to these, as and when they arise

• Work directly with the client’s Global Travel Manager, for guidance on policy matters that require escalation

• Pre-trip approval knowledge will be an advantage

• Demonstrate proactive thinking and provide a consultative approach to all travel requests providing an end-to-end solution for all clients

• Advise proactively on relevant Passport and Visa requirements and procedures for all destinations

• Always apply Quality Control procedures and processes in line with ISO27001 (data security certification) and PCI compliance

• Recommend and procure ancillary products as required i.e., car rental, ferry, etc.

Good knowledge of high-speed intercontinental rail options required

SAVINGS, PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE & OPTIMISED VALUE

• Deliver cost effective solutions across all aspects of travel

• Proactively identify and implement opportunity to add value to each booking through specialist supplier relationships

• Utilise detailed understanding of the client policy to drive compliance for the client while maximising opportunity to enhance traveller experience

• Knowledge and ability to apply a variety of fare types and contracts to air bookings, including private contracted fares, round the world fares, air passes, creative fares and published fares

• Qualify opportunity for and proactively deliver split and combination fare ticketing where appropriate

• Proactively identify cross market and local inventory differences, and when these should be taken advantage of

• Look at alternative airports/routings for the client which could offer better convenience and/or cost savings to clients, this should also include Low-Cost Carriers where appropriate

• Procure the best hotel rates for clients utilising GDS and non GDS channels

• Monitor all bookings for fare/rate saving opportunities up until completion of the trip

CONTINUAL DEVELOPMENT

• Have an enthusiastic and willing to learn attitude, attending all relevant training / coaching as required
• Achieve individual and team-based objectives through the annual Performance Development Review (PDR)

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• Develop and maintain multi-level client relationships
• Manage and administer commercial models according to clients’ needs that meet R&M’s corporate objectives
• Develop client focused solutions that respond to the clients’ changing needs
• Introduce solution innovation to improve end to end processes
• Energized and comfortable with a fast-moving, sometimes ambiguous, environment
• Provide formal strategic reviews of the programme performance
• Drive a common service delivery to the client in accordance with agreed Service Level Agreement
• Drive contract renewal and ultimately client retention
• Develop as a thought leader
• Exceptional organization and project management skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across all levels
• Strong business and operational sense
• Confidence, opinions, good judgement, and an inclination to action
• Ability to adapt and thrive in a hyper-growth environment
• Industry experience preferred: adequate experience in working within a corporate environment or online travel agency

KEY ATTRIBUTES:

• Manage your own tickets issuance for both Air and Eurostar

• Calculate your own reissues and changes in a timely manner, working in liaison with the Ticketing Department.

• Exceptional telephone manner and good written skills

• Demonstrate ability to make effective use of resources available to complete tasks to agreed deadlines

• Has achieved a continuous record of experience in a core business travel environment

• Minimum qualification level to Fares & Ticketing VAII (formally BA2)

• Fully conversant with one or all GDS systems; Sabre, Galileo, Amadeus

• Fully conversant with Evolvi rail booking system

• Good knowledge of European rail provider frameworks and reservation systems.

• Comprehensive knowledge of the travel industry and products in the market including different aircraft types and cabins.

• Knowledge of Low-Cost Carriers in the market and their different products available.

• Experience of mixed mode booking tools, and how to support both offline/online bookings.

• Have a ‘team player’ approach to an office environment

• Experience in using MS Word and Excel software packages

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Good attention to detail.

• Ability to work well in a highly pressurised environment, and ability to adapt quickly to increases in travel request volumes.

• Flexible approach to working environment and willingness to work on at different office locations.

• Ability to build a good rapport with all clients