LUXURY TRAVEL MANAGER / SENIOR TRAVEL CONSULTANT
CAPE TOWN — HYBRID | 3 DAYS HOME, 2 DAYS OFFICE
BASIC + COMMISSION — MARKET RELATED
Luxury Travel Manager job in Cape Town within the luxury safari and bespoke travel industry, offering a basic salary plus commission, market related. This is a senior, client-facing role managing complex FIT and small group itineraries end to end, from initial enquiry through to reservations, documentation and invoicing.
▌ Do you?
Do you have at least five years’ experience creating and selling bespoke luxury travel experiences across Southern and East Africa, with the confidence to manage high-value clients from initial enquiry through to travel?
Do you thrive on designing exceptional tailor-made itineraries, converting enquiries into confirmed bookings, and delivering the kind of personal, responsive service that discerning travellers expect?
Are you commercially driven, highly organised, and equally comfortable managing complex reservations, costings, documentation, supplier relationships, and profitability, while maintaining exceptional attention to detail?
If you’re looking to join a boutique luxury travel business where your expertise, creativity, and client focus will be genuinely valued, this could be the ideal next step in your career.
▌ Our Customer
Our client is a boutique, owner-managed luxury travel specialist, designing bespoke, high-end journeys across Southern and East Africa. Known for deep destination expertise and a genuinely personal approach, they build itineraries that connect clients with the people, places and experiences that make African travel unforgettable.
They are now looking for a Luxury Travel Manager to independently manage a portfolio of complex FIT and small group clients — converting enquiries into sales, designing bespoke programmes, and overseeing every stage of the booking from first contact to close of file.
▌ The Role
In this role, you will independently manage complex clients from enquiry through to departure, taking full ownership of bespoke itinerary design, reservations and administration.
– Convert enquiries into confirmed sales
– Independently manage complex, high-value clients
– Create bespoke itineraries and design programmes for special-interest groups
– Manage the full booking cycle — opening file, costings, quotations, travel documentation, invoicing and close of file
– Maintain constant, timeous telephonic and email contact with clients and suppliers
– Coordinate all travel documentation and invoicing
– Manage credit control on outstanding payments
– Update operational systems and produce weekly reports
– Maintain strong, positive relationships with suppliers
– Keep up to date with property and product knowledge and the latest industry trends
– Ensure the ongoing profitability of every booking
▌ Experience Required
– At least 5 years’ experience in a consulting capacity within the luxury tourism market
– Direct-to-customer (B2C) experience, plus high-end agent (B2B) experience
– 5-star luxury product knowledge across Southern and East Africa
– Strong understanding of the inbound/outbound tourism market
– Excellent multi-tasking and administration skills, with the ability to manage large volumes of information
– Excellent communication skills and strong command of English
– Numeracy and basic accounts skills
– Computer literacy, with the ability to prioritise under pressure to meet deadlines
– Own reliable vehicle and a valid driver’s licence
▌ Benefits
– Hybrid working — 3 days from home, 2 days in the Cape Town office
– Basic salary + commission, market related
– Income Protection Plan
– Ongoing educational and product training
– Collaborative, growth-focused culture with regular staff outings and experiences
▌ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for a Luxury Travel Manager in Cape Town?
This role offers a basic salary plus commission, market related. Ambitions Travel Recruitment will share the full package details with shortlisted candidates.
What does hybrid working look like in this role?
Three days working from home and two days in the Cape Town office each week — structured and specific, not subject to change at short notice.
Is luxury travel industry experience required?
Yes — this role requires at least 5 years’ consulting experience within the luxury tourism market, along with strong product knowledge of Southern and East Africa. Ambitions Travel Recruitment will fully brief all shortlisted candidates before interview.
What does a Luxury Travel Manager do?
A Luxury Travel Manager independently manages complex FIT and small group clients, designing bespoke itineraries and overseeing the full booking cycle — from enquiry and costings through to travel documentation, invoicing and close of file.
How do I apply through Ambitions Travel Recruitment?
Apply via this page. Ambitions Travel Recruitment reviews every application personally — no automated screening. Register at ambitionstravelrecruitment.com to be considered for future roles.
Who are Ambitions Travel Recruitment?
Ambitions Travel Recruitment is the leading global recruitment agency dedicated exclusively to leisure travel. We place exceptional professionals at every level, from entry-level roles to C-suite appointments, across tour operating, luxury and tailor-made travel, safari, expedition and adventure travel, ocean and river cruise, ski, and UHNW concierge businesses. Our specialist leisure travel recruitment services cover the UK, South Africa, the GCC, Asia and North America.
Click here to apply for this Luxury Travel Manager job, which is being recruited by Ambitions Travel Recruitment.
Ambitions Travel Recruitment places professionals across all areas of leisure travel, including tour operators, tailor-made travel, safari companies, expedition and adventure travel, ocean and river cruise lines, ski operators, and UHNW concierge businesses, in the UK, South Africa, GCC, Asia, and North America. With over 100 combined years of industry experience, we are trusted by global corporations, independent travel businesses, and growing operators to source hard-to-find specialists through a headhunting approach that reaches candidates who never appear on job boards.
▌IMPORTANT
– If this role ticks your boxes and you’ve got the relevant experience, then click and apply
– If this role isn’t for you but you’d be keen to receive suitable job alerts, then register with us now www.ambitionstravelrecruitment.com
– Due to the massive number of applications, we receive, we’re usually only able to reply to candidates whose requirements meet our customers’ needs. We’re super grateful that you take the time to apply, and we will save your CV and be in touch for other suitable roles
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