Tour Planning / Client Relations
Image Tours, a Grand Rapids based company operating escorted tours of Europe since 1939, is looking for team members with a passion for the Travel Industry, Event Planning, Hospitality, and Customer Service, who aspire to fulfill a department management or project management role. On-the-job training provided. Team members will specialize in one of the areas outlined below while providing team support and collaboration in the other areas.
TOUR PLANNING: Includes planning tour schedules, researching hotels, negotiating service rates, tour budgeting, preparing client documents, organizing tour manager materials, supporting tour managers while on-tour, reconciling financial information, troubleshooting concerns, and implementing improvements. Planning associates also contribute to writing, proofing and editing of documents, brochures and promotional materials.
RESERVATIONS & TICKETING: Processing reservations, providing trip preparation materials, researching flight schedule options, and booking air reservations. Communication includes incoming calls and emails as well as follow up to verify information, confirm reservations, convey flight details, and address questions. Reservations & Ticketing associates will be responsible for scheduling projects and reviewing materials.
CUSTOMER SERVICE: Assist travel agents nationwide who are calling Image Tours about reservations for escorted tours of Europe. This includes answering questions about tours, checking availability, quoting pricing, making reservations, recording passport information, and addressing special requests. Customer Service associates will also provide project support.
REQUIREMENTS: Image Tours is particularly interested in candidates with a BA degree or four+ years full time job experience. Travel experience in Europe is helpful but not required. The successful candidate will demonstrate the following skills/qualities:
- Able to work independently and also contribute positively to a team environment
- On-time, dependable, organized, self-manages, and tracks personal progress
- Proficient in multi-tasking, problem solving, attention to detail, and accuracy
- Capable of researching, mapping out travel itineraries, and managing a budget
- Comfortable with a diverse group of customers
- Presents ideas in an effective manner over the phone, in person or in writing.
WAGE: $18 to $20 per hour to start. $37,000 to $45,000 during first year based on full-time.