Villa Specialist

The Company

This well known and respected brand operates independently under one of the worlds most well known travel organisations. From their origins in Corfu, this company offer handpicked villas across Europe and the world, with many properties exclusively available through them. With a dynamic team of 20 based in central London this is a fantastic place to work with a real community spirit.

The Role: Villa Specialists

We have TWO extremely exciting roles for personable, hardworking and diligent Villa Specialists to enhance our clients customer experience by putting together unforgettable villa holidays and keeping 5* service at the very centre of their day to day work. The successful, vibrant, sales driven humans will be required to use their industry experience and product knowledge to tailor each holiday, listening to client needs, wants and requirements to build the perfect holiday package and organise all elements of this holiday until the client is handed over to the resort teams. As a Villa Specialist the successful candidates will be asked to meet agreed sales targets by converting initial web and telephone enquiries into firm sales. 

The Opportunities

In addition to the core purpose of sales and business development, there are broader areas of the business which you are likely to be involved with, including:

• Domestic and international trips to meet with existing and potential new partners
• Attend consumer events, trade shows, networking & training events 
• Fostering positive relationships with clients 
• Making yourself a key person to know in the travel industry
• Identifying new business opportunities to generate revenue

The Skills Required

• Previous experience of achieving personal sales targets within a call centre or retail environment
• Relationship management skills and openness to feedback
• Excellent selling, communication and negotiation skills
• Prioritising, time management and organisational skills
• Knowledge of both long-haul & short-haul travel destinations
• A working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• Knowledge of another European Language (desired but not essential) 
• Amadeus/Galileo proficiency (desired but not essential) 
• Highly motivated and target driven with a proven track record in sales 
• In-depth knowledge of the travel and tourism industry 

The Day to Day

• Prioritise the needs of the potential or existing client at all times
• Answer incoming telephone calls; in addition to handling all web generated, direct and other written enquiries from potential customers relating to new bookings
• Use industry and product knowledge to turn the clients’ requirements into their ideal holiday package, thinking outside the box to offer the very best suggestions
• To attend and make the very best out of all familiarisation trips abroad. Making notes and taking photographs to ensure maximum product knowledge and retention
• Answer incoming telephone calls; in addition to quickly and efficiently responding to, email enquiries and requests from existing customers relating to existing bookings
• Build strong relationships with your clients to increase their likelihood of returning to the company year on year
• Follow up all leads in order to confirm the maximum number of potential bookings in accordance with company procedure
• Pay close attention to detail with all aspects of bookings in order to minimise errors, client dissatisfaction and lost revenue to the company
• Generate and Provide appropriate documents (including invoices, and travel documentation for ‘last minute bookings’ to the customer within agreed timescales)
• Contribute to the customer’s complete satisfaction with the company. Aim to resolve all issues as far as possible within limits of authority and escalate complaints to more senior staff and the customer service department when appropriate. Give correct resolution timeframes for any call backs required
• Achieve and constantly strive to beat agreed sales targets both monthly and annually
• Achieve and constantly strive to beat monthly incentive sales targets
• Maximise revenue potential by up-selling on all bookings and identify opportunities for additional product sales
• Process re-bookings, changes, cancellations & additions in relation to existing bookings informing the correct other departments within the company if action is needed
• Provide accurate advice to correctly and honestly inform customer decision making
• Make outbound follow up calls to the company client base following a marketing campaign to encourage upsell
• Adapt quickly and easily to any new company policies introduced or widespread changes within the company, group or travel industry

The Fine Print

Reporting to: Sales Team Leader and Head of Sales

Start Date: ASAP

Location: London

Basis: Full time (Monday - Friday with rotational Saturdays) 

Salary: £25,000 - £30,000 PA, dependant on experience.