Job Overview
Southern Cross International (S) Pte Ltd is seeking a resourceful, service-oriented and highly organised Travel Designer Executive to manage inbound travel arrangements from initial enquiry through to post-trip financial closing.
The successful candidate will be responsible for designing customised itineraries, preparing quotations, managing reservations, coordinating suppliers and providing operational support throughout each traveller’s journey. This is a hands-on position that requires close attention to detail, strong communication skills and the flexibility to respond to operational matters outside standard office hours.
Key Responsibilities
1. Sales, Quotations and Itinerary Planning
- Respond promptly and professionally to enquiries from overseas travel agents, corporate clients, educational institutions and other business partners.
- Understand each client’s requirements and design suitable, creative and practical travel itineraries.
- Prepare accurate quotations, proposals, confirmation documents and other travel-related correspondence.
- Source and compare rates for accommodation, transportation, attractions, restaurants, tour guides and other travel services.
- Ensure all quotations are commercially viable, accurate and prepared according to company procedures.
- Follow up on proposals and maintain clear communication with clients throughout the quotation and booking process.
- Maintain complete and properly organised records for every enquiry and confirmed booking.
- Obtain the Company Director’s approval for all quotations and bookings before they are finalised, confirmed or sent to clients.
2. Reservations and Supplier Coordination
- Arrange and manage hotel accommodation, transportation, tour guides, restaurants, attractions, event venues and other travel services.
- Liaise closely with suppliers to confirm availability, rates, booking conditions, special arrangements and service requirements.
- Prepare and issue booking orders, service vouchers, rooming lists, movement charts, itineraries and operational documents.
- Monitor confirmation deadlines, payment schedules, cancellation conditions and amendment charges.
- Communicate all booking changes promptly and accurately to clients, suppliers, tour guides and internal departments.
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with hotels, transport companies, guides, attractions, restaurants and other industry partners.
- Ensure that confirmed services are delivered according to the agreed itinerary and required service standards.
3. Tour Operations and Service Delivery
- Manage each confirmed booking from pre-arrival preparation through departure and post-trip completion.
- Review flight schedules, arrival and departure arrangements, meal requirements, rooming lists, special requests and other operational details.
- Brief tour guides, drivers and suppliers clearly before the group or traveller’s arrival.
- Monitor ongoing tours and maintain regular communication with clients, tour guides and service providers.
- Anticipate potential operational difficulties and take appropriate action to minimise disruption.
- Ensure that all services are coordinated accurately, efficiently and in accordance with the confirmed itinerary.
- Handle itinerary amendments, flight delays, cancellations, missed connections, medical situations and other unexpected developments calmly and professionally.
- Escalate significant operational, financial or service-related matters to the Company Director promptly.
4. Onsite Coordination and Field Support
- Attend onsite assignments whenever operational support is required.
- Carry out hotel pre-check-ins, collect room keys and verify rooming arrangements before guests arrive.
- Conduct restaurant, hotel, attraction or venue inspections when necessary.
- Support group arrivals, departures, attraction admissions, meal arrangements and other scheduled activities.
- Coordinate directly with tour guides, drivers, suppliers and clients to ensure smooth service delivery.
- Resolve onsite issues promptly while protecting the interests and reputation of the company.
- Verify service quality and report any supplier or operational concerns to management.
- Be prepared to perform onsite duties after office hours, during weekends or on Public Holidays, depending on traveller arrival times and programme schedules.
5. After-Hours and Emergency Support
- Remain contactable through the assigned work phone or mobile device after standard office hours when responsible for active bookings or ongoing tours.
- Act as a point of contact for travellers, overseas agents, tour guides, drivers and suppliers when urgent operational assistance is required.
- Respond promptly to flight disruptions, last-minute amendments, guest complaints, supplier issues and emergency situations.
- Make practical and timely arrangements to minimise inconvenience to travellers and disruption to the programme.
- Keep the Company Director informed of serious incidents, major changes, additional costs or decisions requiring management approval.
- Document significant incidents, actions taken and their outcomes for internal reporting and follow-up.
6. Cost Control and Financial Administration
- Maintain accurate costing sheets and ensure all services are correctly included in each quotation and booking.
- Verify supplier rates, additional charges and applicable taxes before confirming services.
- Obtain approval before committing the company to any additional or unbudgeted expenses.
- Collect and organise supplier invoices, receipts, supporting documents and operational records.
- Check supplier invoices against confirmed bookings and agreed rates.
- Coordinate with the Accounts Department regarding client invoicing, supplier payments, outstanding documents and financial discrepancies.
- Monitor payment and billing progress until all financial matters relating to the booking have been fully completed.
7. Post-Trip Reporting and Closing
- Prepare and submit post-trip reports within the required timeframe.
- Record service issues, guest feedback, itinerary changes, additional expenses and incidents that occurred during the trip.
- Follow up with suppliers regarding billing discrepancies, service complaints or outstanding documents.
- Work closely with the Accounts Department until all client billings and supplier payments are fully reconciled and completed.
- Ensure every booking file contains the required confirmations, invoices, receipts, reports and supporting documents before it is closed.
- Recommend improvements based on operational experience, client feedback and supplier performance.
8. General Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate information within the company’s filing, booking and operational systems.
- Protect confidential client, supplier and company information.
- Support colleagues during busy periods and assist with other operational or administrative duties when required.
- Participate in supplier meetings, inspections, training sessions, travel fairs or company events when assigned.
- Keep up to date with Singapore attractions, hotels, restaurants, transportation services and tourism developments.
- Represent the company professionally in all communications and business interactions.
- Perform other reasonable duties related to travel operations as assigned by the Company Director.
Requirements
- Diploma or relevant qualification in Tourism, Hospitality, Business Administration or a related field is preferred, but not required.
- Previous experience in inbound travel operations, tour planning, reservations, hospitality or destination management is an advantage.
- Fresh graduates with strong organisational and communication skills may also be considered.
- Good written and spoken English is required.
- Japanese language ability would be a strong advantage due to the company’s extensive work with the Japanese market.
- Proficiency in Email.
- Strong numerical ability and attention to detail when preparing quotations, checking costs and reconciling invoices.
- Ability to manage multiple enquiries and bookings while meeting deadlines.
- Good knowledge of Singapore’s hotels, attractions, restaurants and transportation services is preferred.
- Comfortable communicating with overseas agents, travellers, suppliers, tour guides and internal departments.
- Able and willing to travel to hotels, venues, attractions and other locations for onsite assignments.
- Able to remain contactable and provide operational support outside standard office hours when required.
Personal Attributes
The ideal candidate should be:
- Responsible, dependable and able to take ownership of assigned bookings.
- Highly organised, accurate and attentive to detail.
- Calm and practical when handling pressure, emergencies or last-minute changes.
- Service-oriented and committed to delivering a positive traveller experience.
- Resourceful and confident in resolving operational problems.
- Professional when communicating with clients, suppliers and colleagues.
- Able to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Flexible and prepared for the irregular operational demands of the inbound tourism industry.
- Commercially aware and mindful of costs, profitability and company procedures.
- Willing to learn, accept feedback and continuously improve.
Working Hours and Operational Flexibility
- Standard working hours are Monday to Friday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Due to the operational nature of inbound tourism, work may occasionally be required outside standard office hours, including evenings, weekends and Public Holidays.
- After-hours duties may include responding to urgent calls and messages, monitoring active tours, attending onsite assignments or resolving operational issues.
- Applicants must understand that flexibility and after-hours availability are essential requirements of this position.
- Any time off in lieu for approved work performed outside standard working hours must be authorised in advance and will be granted at the Company Director’s discretion, subject to company policy and the employee’s applicable employment terms.
What We Offer
- Exposure to inbound travel operations and destination management.
- Opportunities to design customised programmes for international leisure, educational and corporate groups.
- Practical experience working with hotels, attractions, restaurants, transport providers and tourism professionals.
- A multicultural working environment with opportunities to develop industry knowledge and business relationships.
- The opportunity to contribute ideas and help create meaningful travel experiences for visitors to Singapore and the region.
- Salary is negotiable based on experience.
To Apply - Please send your CV to *************