Travel Services Specialist

Job Purpose

To facilitate timely and efficient travel arrangements (travel and hotel bookings, reminders, follow ups, etc.) by building long term and fruitful partnerships with major vendors (airliners, hoteliers, charter companies, travel agents, car rentals etc.) to ensure cost-efficient and trouble free business travel services to the IsDB Group staff and VIP visitors.

Key Accountabilities
- Propose, develop and promote business travel policies and guidelines for IsDB's headquarter and regional hubs to ensure efficient and cost effective travel related services to the staff and visitors.
- Assist in the preparation of department's annual budget based on the travel plans and other related activities providing accurate inputs to ensure availability of funds and prevent any travel interruptions due to shortage of funds.
- Contribute to the Budget and all travel related matters for the BOG and BED meetings.
- Provide efficient and cost effective travel arrangements, according to the travel plans and based on internal requests for the President of IsDBG, for his participation in high-level meetings organized by the IsDB Group, other MDBs, Institutions and Organization etc., and other staff of IsDB at the HQ and Hubs ensuring compliance with the IsDB Group business travel policies and procedures to maximize client satisfaction.
- Participate in the procurement process by giving required technical inputs for preparing RFP's, contributing in assessing the bids and to choose the best-fit contractors and suppliers to provide the requisite services at the HQ and Regional Hubs.
- Monitor and follow up for travel related payments to ensure that such disbursements are within the deadline of Amex CTA and other vendors.
- Collaborate with Division Manager and Regional Hub Managers in negotiating local and global corporate deals with the commonly used airlines and hotel chains.
- Prepare and present regular management reports and the annual travel compliance report covering areas like; number of tickets issued, processing time, changes in bookings, travel costs etc. and discuss the same with the respective Director, Senior Management and Managers to highlight any areas of concern and take necessary corrective actions to keep the travel function operating at its optimum level and continuously improve the processes.
- Contribute to the implementation, enhancement and customization of SAP travel management system and roll out to Hubs.
- Ensure to update the latest fare data on the system to facilitate timely and accurate payment / reimbursement for leave ticket, excess baggage, emergency travel, relocation and child education tickets for IsDB staff.
- Ensure timely validation and processing of reimbursements to the BOG's and BED's.
- Stay abreast with the best practices, assess current practices, and recommend new methodologies and processes where needed to continuously improve the quality and efficiency of travel related services.

Academic and professional qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in hospitality or travel related field.
- 5 years of experience in the travel industry or travel related services in large global organizations.

Skills & Necessary Knowledge
- Strong technical knowledge of the Travel Systems (SAP, online Booking Engine - Getthere)
- Knowledge of Global Distribution System
- Knowledge of IATA procedures and systems
- Vendor management skills
- Planning and organization skills
- Negotiation Skills
- Problem-solving
- MS Office Skills
- SAP ERP
- GDS
- Corporate Deals Knowledge