Travel Advisor

AAA • Auburn, ME

3d

About The Position

The Travel Advisor sells travel agency products and services and provides travel-related member entitlement services to members and non-members. The role supports sales goals through outbound calls as needed, lead management, repeat-business development, member education, cross-selling, and participation in the club’s social media programs. Advisors are trained to handle multiple transactions to reduce handoffs and maintain a high level of service quality.

The position sells and advises on domestic and international travel products, services, requirements, protection plans, and trip advisories. Advisors research and compare supplier rates, recommend trips suited to clients’ experience preferences, budgets, and needs, and provide air, car, hotel, rail, cruise, and tour reservations and ticketing. They also issue international driving permits and passport photos. The work requires accurate transaction processing and documentation, compliance with organizational policies and applicable confidentiality requirements, current product and industry knowledge, and achievement of sales and service-quality objectives.

Travel Advisors independently analyze cruise and tour packages and providers, anticipate potential issues, and resolve difficult situations, consulting branch management when escalation is needed. They document files and decisions thoroughly and explain write-offs or shortages to management. The role also includes administrative compliance, scheduled duties, training and meeting attendance, and may require educational trips and attendance at offsite events.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Four to six years of travel agency or sales experience.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills.
• Moderate analytical and time-management skills.
• Ability to create and deliver presentations.
• General typing skills and proficiency with Windows, Outlook, Word, and Internet/Intranet access.
• General knowledge of club systems, including TSTApollo, Viewpoint, and preferred-vendor websites used for cruise and tour packages and travel insurance.
• Proven track record in travel sales.
• Ability to maintain systems knowledge for airline, cruise, and rail ticketing.
• Flexibility to work weekends and flexible hours and to attend offsite training and events.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and accurately document transactions.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of a variety of the organization’s operating areas, products and services, and branch-operations delivery channels is desirable.
• Advanced knowledge and training on computer systems used to fulfill member travel requests and travel-agency accounting systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Sell foreign and domestic travel-related products and services to members and non-members.
• Use lead-management tools and resources to cultivate new business and build repeat business, entering all quotes in club technology.
• Advise clients on domestic and international travel requirements, protection plans, and related trip advisory information.
• Follow organizational policies and procedures and accurately document transactions.
• Maintain knowledge of preferred suppliers, club products and services, member-value offers, industry trends, and travel products; achieve established sales and cross-sell goals.
• Issue international driving permits and take passport photos.
• Provide air, car, hotel, and rail reservations and ticketing.
• Use appropriate computer systems to fulfill travel requests and maintain accurate transaction records and supporting documentation, including payment, signature, and travel-document requirements.
• Protect confidential client and member information in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and club policies.
• Maintain service-quality standards to meet or exceed branch and corporate objectives.
• Identify cross-sell and up-sell opportunities, diversify members’ use of products and services, and provide sales leads to other departments as appropriate.
• Meet administrative requirements, including wage-and-hour compliance, expense reporting, meeting and training attendance, and assigned schedules and activities.
• Independently research and analyze cruise and tour packages and providers, assess client expectations, and recommend suitable options.
• Anticipate and avoid errors and delays in cruise and tour service; resolve problems independently and seek branch-management support when escalation is required.
• Thoroughly document files, actions, and decision rationales, and explain write-offs or shortages to management.
• Make outbound calls as needed to support goals and participate in club social-media programs as applicable.
• Attend offsite training and events and potentially take educational trips for job knowledge.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) savings plan with company match
• Pension
• Tuition assistance
• Floating holidays
• Paid time off for community volunteer programs
• Paid parental leave
• Wellness programs
• Employee discounts on membership, insurance, travel, entertainment, services, and more

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED