Travel Consultant

Location: Cumbria Employment Type: Full-time, permanent Working Arrangement: Office-based

Role Overview

A growing and well-established travel agency in Cumbria is looking to recruit an experienced Travel Consultant to join its friendly and professional team.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with previous travel agency or tour operator experience who is passionate about creating memorable holidays and delivering outstanding customer service.

The agency arranges a broad range of leisure travel, including UK and European package holidays, cruises, city breaks, family holidays, luxury escapes and long-haul destinations. The successful candidate will help customers find, plan and book holidays tailored to their individual requirements and budgets.

Key Responsibilities

• Handle customer enquiries in person, by telephone and by email.
• Discuss customers’ travel requirements, preferences and budgets.
• Recommend suitable destinations, resorts, accommodation and travel options.
• Arrange and book package holidays, flights, hotels, transfers, cruises, tours and ancillary travel services.
• Provide advice on European, worldwide and long-haul destinations.
• Prepare accurate holiday quotations and tailored travel itineraries.
• Process bookings through relevant reservation systems and tour operator platforms.
• Ensure all booking information and customer documentation are accurate.
• Advise customers on passports, visas, entry requirements, travel insurance and other important travel considerations.
• Promote additional products, including upgrades, excursions, airport parking, lounge access and travel insurance.
• Take payments and maintain accurate customer and booking records.
• Manage amendments, cancellations and post-booking enquiries.
• Build strong relationships with customers and encourage repeat business and referrals.
• Follow up enquiries and convert prospective customers into confirmed bookings.
• Work towards individual and team sales targets.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of destinations, travel products, industry developments and supplier offers.
• Resolve customer queries or concerns professionally and efficiently.
• Ensure all bookings comply with company procedures and relevant travel industry regulations.
• Support local marketing activity, promotional campaigns and customer events when required.

Essential Experience and Skills

Previous experience working as a Travel Consultant, Travel Agent or within a relevant tour operator environment is essential.

• Strong knowledge of package holidays and experience arranging travel to European and long-haul destinations.
• Experience using travel booking systems, reservation platforms and tour operator websites.
• Good destination knowledge and a genuine interest in travel.
• Proven ability to identify customer needs and recommend suitable travel products.
• Strong sales skills with the confidence to convert enquiries into bookings.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• A professional, friendly and approachable manner.
• Strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Good organisational skills with the ability to manage several bookings and enquiries simultaneously.
• Comfortable working towards sales targets and commercial objectives.
• Competent in the use of email, Microsoft Office and general computer systems.
• Able to work independently while contributing positively to a close-knit team.

Desirable Experience

• Experience arranging tailor-made, cruise, luxury or complex long-haul holidays.
• Familiarity with recognised travel reservation or back-office systems.
• Knowledge of travel insurance, visa requirements and foreign travel regulations.
• An existing customer following or strong relationships within the local community would be advantageous.
• Relevant travel and tourism qualifications.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will be:

• Passionate and knowledgeable about travel.
• Customer-focused and committed to providing a personal service.
• Commercially aware and motivated by achieving results.
• Confident, enthusiastic and persuasive.
• Calm and professional when managing changes or unexpected travel issues.
• Reliable, organised and attentive to detail.
• Keen to develop their destination and product knowledge.
• A collaborative team member with a flexible approach.

What Is on Offer

• The opportunity to join a growing and supportive independent travel business.
• A varied role arranging holidays across a wide range of destinations.
• A friendly, customer-focused office environment.
• Ongoing supplier, product and destination training.
• Opportunities to develop professionally as the agency continues to grow.
• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Additional incentives or travel-related benefits, where applicable.

Additional Information

This is an office-based position in Cumbria. Applicants must be able to commute reliably to the office and should be available to work the hours required by the agency, which may include occasional Saturdays.

Due to the nature of the position, applications can only be considered from candidates with relevant travel agency, tour operator or closely related travel industry experience.

Imperium Financial Recruitment is acting as the recruitment agency for this vacancy.