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Travel Designer Job in Nairobi, Kenya

Travel and tourism professionals with strong experience in inbound travel can apply for a Travel Designer position based in Nairobi, Kenya. The position is centred on sales, itinerary development, supplier relationships and customer service, with the Travel Designer expected to turn requests from Sales agents into carefully planned journeys.

This is not a role where product knowledge can be treated as an afterthought. The person handling bookings needs to understand Southern and East Africa in detail, including destinations, regional logistics, accommodation, suppliers and the practical arrangements that connect different parts of a trip.

The position also involves working under tight deadlines. A Sales agent may need a quotation or alternative itinerary quickly, meaning the Travel Designer must be able to make decisions, communicate clearly and maintain accuracy even when several bookings are being handled at the same time.

The Work Starts With the Sales Agent

The Travel Designer works closely with Sales agents throughout the booking process. When a new travel request comes in, the responsibility is to understand what the agent and their client are looking for, develop the journey, calculate the costs and present the available options.

Speed is important, but the information provided must also be accurate. The Travel Designer needs to understand the urgency attached to each request and respond accordingly. Where an email does not provide enough clarity, the role involves speaking directly with the Sales agent rather than allowing uncertainty to delay the booking.

Building long-term relationships with agents is another important part of the work. Regular communication and dependable service help strengthen the working relationship between the two sides. The position may also involve joining familiarisation trips with agents when required.

The Travel Designer will liaise with the Reservations Manager about sales potential and developments in relationships with agents connected to individual bookings.

From Quotation to Provisional Booking

Once an agent submits a request, the Travel Designer manages the booking through the quotation and provisional stages until it is ready for confirmation.

This involves aligning the proposed journey with the client's requirements while keeping the booking accurate in the relevant systems. Quotes need to be prepared on time and should take into account strategic and preferred African partners.

There is also room for sales development within the process. Where appropriate, the Travel Designer should identify opportunities to upsell products that provide additional value while contributing to the commercial performance of the booking.

The position involves working with supplier reservation teams and developing strong professional relationships with them. These relationships can be useful when securing information, accommodation space and other arrangements needed to put a journey together.

Special offers, deals and packages available through the relevant systems also need to be identified and applied correctly. The Travel Designer must make the required notes and follow the procedures established by the applicable suppliers.

Managing the Details Behind Every Journey

A travel itinerary can involve accommodation, flights, transfers, activities and several different suppliers. Keeping these elements properly coordinated is therefore a major part of the job.

During the provisional stage, the Travel Designer follows up on outstanding bookings with Sales agents and keeps track of space being held. Daily expiry reports on the relevant booking dashboard also need to be monitored so that bookings are properly managed and are not automatically released without the necessary follow-up.

The provisional booking file should contain the relevant documents and information about the guest. Where space needs to be held with suppliers, the Travel Designer communicates with those suppliers about room types, flights and other requirements.

Online facilities should be used where available to improve response times.

Changes to provisional bookings must also be dealt with efficiently. Sales agents need to be kept informed about the status of open bookings, particularly when there are changes or delays involving suppliers.

Once the client has paid the required deposit, the Travel Designer checks the provisional booking against the relevant details before handing it over to the Journey Specialist for confirmation. This includes checking that special offers have been applied correctly and that the room types and flights held are accurate.

Handling Problems Before They Affect the Journey

The role involves more than putting together attractive itineraries. The Travel Designer must also notice and address problems during the booking process.

If rates, accommodation, transit points or activities have not been correctly loaded or linked in the booking system, the issue should be raised with the appropriate team. Technical problems involving the booking platform should be directed to the relevant integration specialist.

Supplier service issues may also need to be escalated to Reservations Managers or Product Managers.

Special-needs and high-risk guests require additional attention. Concerns must be flagged with the appropriate incident management team, with the required procedures followed to ensure that the planned journey can be undertaken safely.

Problem-solving ability is therefore important because delays, incorrect information or unavailable arrangements can affect several parts of an itinerary.

Deep Knowledge of Southern and East Africa

The geographical knowledge expected for this position is extensive.

The Travel Designer should have an intimate understanding of Southern and East African destinations and stay informed about regional logistics and changes within the travel industry. This knowledge helps when an original option is unavailable and an alternative needs to be presented quickly.

Knowledge of suppliers is equally important. The person should be familiar with Wilderness products as well as third-party products and understand how these are booked through the relevant operating systems.

There should also be a strong understanding of strategic and preferred suppliers, including their specials, deals and packages. The Travel Designer needs to know how these benefits can be used when developing a quotation or negotiating rates while still maintaining the expected guest experience.

Knowledge of Mozambique, Mauritius and Seychelles would be an added advantage.

Personal or educational travel experience is also considered advantageous.

What Experience Is Required?

Applicants should have at least a tertiary certificate in Travel and Tourism or Hospitality.

The position calls for 4–5 years of experience, including senior-level experience in handling customer relationships, developing and promoting travel products and building journeys within the inbound travel industry.

A strong understanding of Southern and East Africa is essential because the work depends heavily on being able to recommend suitable destinations, products and alternatives without spending unnecessary time researching basic information.

The successful applicant should also be comfortable using Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Teams, Excel and Word.

Working knowledge of TourPlan and WETU, or a similar booking and operating system, is required. Familiarity with these types of systems is particularly relevant because the position involves managing detailed booking information and coordinating multiple parts of a journey.

Excellent attention to detail is another key requirement. A small mistake in a room type, flight or special offer can affect the wider itinerary, so information needs to be checked carefully before a booking moves forward.

A Fast-Paced Sales Environment

The Travel Designer needs to be dynamic, creative and organised. Communication skills are important because the position involves constant interaction with Sales agents, suppliers, managers and other teams.

The working environment can be demanding, with tight deadlines and competing priorities. The person needs to remain productive under pressure without allowing speed to compromise accuracy.

Problem-solving is also part of the daily work. When a preferred option is unavailable, the Travel Designer should be able to find alternatives using their product knowledge and present them quickly enough to keep the sales process moving.

Strong financial skills are required as well. Costing journeys accurately, understanding rates and making commercially sound decisions are all connected to the sales side of the position.

The role also calls for a self-starter with a high level of integrity and ethical conduct. Travel bookings involve financial information, supplier arrangements and client requirements, making professional judgement and responsible handling of information important.

Keeping Product Knowledge Fresh

Travel products and industry practices continue to change, so maintaining current knowledge is part of the job rather than something done only during induction.

The Travel Designer will be expected to participate in training, research, industry events, trade shows and familiarisation trips where required. These activities can help strengthen knowledge of destinations and products while keeping the person informed about developments within the industry.

The position also requires keeping up with company policies, procedures and system updates.

For an experienced inbound travel professional based in Nairobi, this Travel Designer position brings together sales, destination expertise, itinerary planning and relationship management. The work demands someone who can move quickly when an agent needs an answer, while still checking the financial and operational details that determine whether a journey can run smoothly.

With 4–5 years of relevant senior experience, a Travel and Tourism or Hospitality qualification, strong knowledge of Southern and East Africa and experience with booking systems such as TourPlan and WETU, candidates can bring the technical and commercial skills needed to manage journeys from the first enquiry through to the confirmation stage.

Application

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