Global Operations - Travel Manager

CAA Club Group•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$111,000 - $145,000•Onsite

About The Position

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) is seeking a Travel Manager to join the CAA Travel team. This individual will be responsible for supporting CAA’s Travel Program in partnership with the international travel lead and supporting all related travel activities. The Travel Manager will be required to partner closely with the various stakeholder teams to understand their unique travel needs and be able to manage the travel tools, services, partners, and resources with a strong customer experience mindset. The Travel Manager will be dedicated to promoting & driving travel adoption domestically, sourcing small group movements as needed, and provide on-going training and support to CAA’s domestic travelers and their assistants. They are fiscally minded and aware of the cost implications of decisions. They actively review and seek opportunities for process improvements and cost savings. The role will report into the Travel Director with alignment to the Global Business Services office.

Requirements

5+ years of corporate travel experience at a global company, preferably entertainment/production and high-touch travel program experience required
Ability to work well under pressure; meet tight deadlines; manage multiple projects and expectations; and maintain a sharp focus while managing competing priorities
Attention to detail, strong organization, and problem-solving skills are a must
Experience in handling hotel group contracts that include knowledge of cancellation and attrition clauses and basic corporate legal protections
Strong knowledge of online book tools and the ability to do website administration
Ability to show technical expertise in all related categories, as well as regional markets
Strong leadership skills and confidence to manage the department in the absence of a manager
Must have the ability to review and comprehend travel reporting
Able to function effectively as part of a loosely coupled but highly aligned team
Flexible, with the ability to pivot and adjust to the needs of the department
Excels in internal customer service
Able to anticipate potential problems and know when to ask for assistance and escalate issues when needed
Aware that the world of travel is not a 9-to-5 job, and be prepared to do what it takes to complete tasks and get the job done
Creative and out-of-the-box thinking is required, as well as a “yes” attitude for our employees and clients

Responsibilities

Assist domestic travelers with online travel booking tool implementation, administration, troubleshooting, and training globally
Provide back-up support to the international travel lead by approving trip proposals, managing out-of-policy travel requests, and handling accounting/T&E questions for travelers
Maintain local & regional relationships with CAA preferred suppliers and actively pursue savings and cost reduction opportunities
Be the subject matter expert with regard to CAA’s T&E policies and partner with travel leadership to discern what constitutes a reasonable out-of-policy travel request
Partner with Travel leadership to establish efficient workflows to achieve and maintain operational excellence
Assist with the monitoring of non-refundable ticket and credits inventory to ensure all tickets on file are exchanged in a timely manner
Document all Travel Department savings from various sources (TripActions, vendors, non-refundable reuse, agent-assisted bookings, and meetings and events)
Manage travel related to small meetings and events; must have strong knowledge of hotel room block, contract cancellation, and attrition clauses, as well as basic legal protections for CAA
Document all meetings and events booked within the Travel Department or outside, while creating and maintaining an annual calendar to better manage future booking needs
Maintain notes for all travel meetings
Assist travel leadership with approving and monitoring all vendor-related funds and document any perks or offerings given to CAA travelers as soft savings
Partner with travel leadership and CAA Security on duty of care, reporting (ad-hoc or ongoing)
Assist travel leadership with all travel and vendor-related meetings, events (Travel Fair), and overall vendor relations