Group Air Travel Advisor – University Groups

Christopherson Business Travel•Flexible, UT

1d•Remote

About The Position

The University Group Travel Advisor is responsible for coordinating and managing complex group travel for university clients, including academic departments, athletic teams, student groups, recruiting programs, conferences, and other university-sponsored travel. This position manages both traditional airline group blocks and individual reservations associated with a larger group or event. The University Group Travel Advisor works closely with university travel arrangers, coaches, administrators, travelers, airline partners, and internal teams to ensure travel is coordinated accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with university policies and contractual requirements. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple groups, deadlines, travelers, and client priorities simultaneously.

Requirements

5+ years of full-service travel agency or corporate travel experience preferred
2+ years of recent working experience in Sabre
2+ years of experience coordinating group travel and complex multi-passenger travel
Previous experience supporting university or higher-education travel preferred
Familiar with group airline contracts
Strong knowledge of airline reservations, pricing, ticketing, exchanges, refunds, voids, and cancellations
Comfortable communicating with clients and being on camera for meetings as needed
Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Google Docs, and Smartsheets
Ability to stay organized and prioritize is essential
Must be comfortable with and have experience with booking complex travel itineraries, split tickets, split forms of payment, exchanges, and manual pricing when necessary
Excellent attention to detail and grammar
The ability to accept coaching, apply feedback, and work within an established process
Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a team environment
Comfortable with change and working in a fast-paced environment that requires multitasking and calmness
Self-motivated with a desire to positively influence others
Adaptable to change and comfortable with new technologies

Responsibilities

Coordinate domestic and international group travel for university clients including individual reservations when travelers are part of a university program or event
Manage travel for academic groups, athletic teams, student groups, recruiting programs, conferences, meetings, and university-sponsored events
Coordinate traditional airline group blocks when appropriate
Serve as primary point of contact for assigned university group clients
Research and recommend the most efficient and cost-effective travel options based on the client's needs
Manage multiple active university groups and events simultaneously while meeting established service expectations and deadlines
Guide clients confidently through recommendations and important travel decisions
Provide excellent customer service and has a good understanding of geography and travel destinations to provide informed advice
Review airline group contracts for pricing, deposits, utilization requirements, ticketing deadlines, name deadlines, cancellation terms, and other conditions
Clearly communicate group contract terms and requirements to university clients
Track deposits, payments, name lists, ticketing deadlines, and other contractual obligations.
Coordinate name changes, substitutions, cancellations, and schedule changes
Work proactively to minimize financial exposure resulting from missed deadlines, unused seats, cancellations, or other contract requirements
Maintain accurate documentation of client approvals and contractual decisions
Handle end-to-end booking of air, car, hotel, and rail travel
Utilize advanced knowledge of the GDS and booking platform Sabre to facilitate efficient travel arrangements
Must be customer service focused with excellent problem-solving skills
Manage Excel, Google docs and Smartsheet documents for tracking workflow
Interpret and enforce university travel policies
Participate in trainings having a high level of industry knowledge
Maintain a positive attitude with travelers and coworkers
Ability to handle high-volume email requests and telephone calls with clients, maintaining SLA requirements
Assist other team members when workload permits
Develop and manage strong, long-term client relationships
Familiarity and understanding of the transactional process from all perspectives, including GDS and mid-office systems
Comfortable thinking outside of the box
Always be available and responsive to our clients during normal operating hours to handle any request, including emergency and complex situations
Work collaboratively with University Group team members, Team Leads, account management, and other internal departments.
Respond to client and traveler inquiries promptly and professionally