Reservation agents, actually, work directly with those wishing to purchase tickets for a cruise or some other type of holiday. Experience in the travel industry and accreditation or agent licenses can be very helpful in this case. It is known that there are not as many opportunities for reservations jobs in business as one might expect. Agents are trained to answer questions about the company and to provide consumers with all the details.
Many front of house, concierge and reservations positions, in everything from hotels, lodges, resorts, guest houses and bed & breakfasts are available now.
As part of the front of house team, you will ensure that the front desk offers a warm and friendly welcome and a speedy, efficient check-in and check-out. In many hotels, lodges and resorts, you may also be responsible for telephone sales.
The concierge is there to help the guests and be their point of information on the hotel, lodge or resort. From a concierge it is required to be familiar with all the facilities and be able to answer any guest queries. What is even more important, a decent concierge must be the guests' source of information on local travel, entertainment, restaurants, clubs and tourist attractions.
Reservations jobs in a hotel, lodge or resort will involve dealing with guests over the phone. The main duties will include taking and inputting reservations, negotiating rates and "upselling". For reservations jobs a good telephone manner is essential to deal with reservations accurately and efficiently. Strong administrative skills are also required. In today's world many hotels, lodges and resorts use a central computer for reservations. It means computer skills are important to have.
Reservations jobs are not very simple to carry out. They include shift work, rota planning, dealing with emergencies and dealing with customers, when they come to the desk to complain, all make front of house positions both demanding and rewarding. There is nothing horrible because many hotel companies offer training programs for reception staff, which help them to gain the specific skills they will require. These may include telephone skills and handling complaints.
A key skill for a reservations jobs to have is ability to sell, as "upselling", which is required to a successful reservation agent, involves persuading a guest to take a better, more expensive room, to stay longer or to eat in the hotel's restaurant.
One type of reservations jobs, a reservations sales agent begins with an intensive five-week training program during which the employee is paid full wages. After successful completion of training, the employee will be assigned a 40-hour work week. Individuals must be flexible and able to work day and evening shifts including weekends. To successfully complete reservations training, employees must maintain a 90% average or better on tests throughout the training program. The primary function of a reservations sales agent is to answer incoming calls from travel agents regarding new and existing bookings. Everyone who wants to apply for one of reservations jobs must have excellent English verbal communications skills, and an outgoing and enthusiastic phone manner. Very heavy phone work is inevitable part of this position. High school diploma or equivalent work experience is also required.
Another kind of reservations jobs, a reservations supervisor consists of monitoring, evaluating and developing vacation planners. Reservations supervisors are in charge of communicating new procedures and enforcing adherence. The supervisor handles communicating on a continual basis with their subordinates as well as the manager and director of reservations. Strong coaching, motivational and team building skills required. Excellent customer relations and communication skills are also crucial.
Reservations supervisor usually deals with a full remit of travel bookings from flights, package holidays to insurance, inside your scope will be the day to day running of the office and staff.
So, as many reservations jobs are available, one can find something that suits him/her best.