Our Vision and Our Company Etiquette
Our vision is to be the world’s most thoughtful villa company. To achieve our vision, we are thoughtful, we work with integrity, and we take a principled, considerate, proactive, and passionate approach to what we do.
Every day.
Job Location: Valle d'Itria (Puglia), Italy
Job Type: Full-Time, Seasonal
Job Purpose: Our local teams are a fundamental part of our service. Equipped with a passion for our destinations, and unrivalled local knowledge, you will know the ins-and-outs of your region(s) like the back of your hand. You will use your love for your destination(s) to help our clients plan for their stays and ensure the smooth running of the itineraries on the ground, surprising them with thoughtful touches throughout. Much of your time will be in direct touch with our clients guiding them in their plans and assisting them on the ground whilst working alongside property owners, villa staff, suppliers. An important aspect of your role is ensuring quality across our properties and cultivating a network of specialist suppliers capable of providing our clients with access to our destinations that other operators just can’t match.
Reports To: Senior Local Manager
Working Partnerships: Local teams, Operations team, Sales team, external suppliers, Properties team, property owners and in-villa staff in your regions(s)
JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES
Client support
1. Arranging client calls in advance of their stays to discuss and fine-tune their itinerary, including suggesting experiences and services, making local bookings and organising special events.
2. Meet clients on arrival at the relevant property for a full check-in according to TTT procedures.
3. Should check-in time not be possible, contact the client to establish another time to meet them at the property, make necessary arrangements for a comfortable waiting time and smooth check in.
4. Be available to meet clients when required and throughout their stay to answer calls and messages, and to resolve situations promptly and in the interests of TTT.
5. Using TTT’s preferred suppliers, organise local activities, services and experiences for clients during and in advance of their stay, where needed.
6. Liaise with and support the in-villa team (property owner/caretaker/in-villa chef/cleaner etc.) regarding arrivals and clients providing them with training where necessary about TTT and client expectations.
7. Liaise with local providers to ensure that services booked are organised seamlessly.
8. Ensure that each arrival receives a welcome gift and toiletries and other indispensable items are available.
9. Providing all the support and information needed in the resolution of problems.
10. Where needed, providing cover for team members on their days off.
Seasonal preparation and quality audits
1. Having an encyclopaedic knowledge of all The Thinking Traveller’s properties in your designated area, in particular, establishing and maintaining good working relationships with the owners (and their staff) and ensuring that communication with them is always smooth and diplomatic.
2. Where required, and after training, conduct audits before, during and after the season to identify areas for improvement and ensure quality.
3. Prior to each client arrival, ensure the relevant property is fully-functioning and prepared for clients by liaising with the property owner/caretakers and/or visiting the Property before the arrival of the clients.
4. Supported by the Properties Team and your manager, ensure that all the information on TTT’s website, House Guides and internal documents is accurate, clearly explained and up to date.
5. Report any defects and/or concerns relating to any of the checks described in this clause to Properties as soon as made aware.
Client relations
1. Report any major issues raised or property damages and assist investigating the cause and relevant repair or replacement costs, keeping your Manager informed and following up to ensure resolution, to the clients’ satisfaction.
2. If any issue cannot be resolved, liaise with Senior Local Manager and Operations team to find an alternative solution.
3. Assist line manager and Client Relations team (where needed) in post-holiday client service issues, or post-holiday issue resolution where necessary.
Marketing & Sales
1. Assisting with marketing initiatives as required by the business, taking an active role in sharing your expertise with the team through regular updates, training and assisting in training trips to the destination.
2. Support TTT’s marketing activities such as hosted press trips for the international media or influencers, PR trips, occasionally helping with the planning and execution of press trips (journalists visiting and/or staying in The Thinking Traveller’s villas).
Property sourcing and portfolio development
1. Support the Properties Team with coordinating and assisting in photography shoots.
2. Keep the Properties Team up to date with any changes to the properties and ensure that the quality standards are defined and continue to meet the TTT standard.
3. Advise the Senior Local Manager if any information changes in relation to services or information for the villa on the website, villa services tables so they can be updated accordingly.
4. Work closely with the product development team, being proactive and actively seeking out business opportunities, useful contacts and suppliers capable of satisfying the requirements of The Thinking Traveller’s high-end, demanding clientele.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
1. Impeccable English language skills (both written and spoken), fluent in Italian, and another European language would be advantageous.
2. A confident and articulate communicator with a love of travel.
3. Friendly and professional manner in person and over the phone, with fantastic listening skills.
4. Highly organised with great attention to detail and always diplomatic.
5. Ability to prioritise and multi-task, whilst being mindful of business needs.
6. Team player but also able to work on your own initiative.
7. A quick thinker and an excellent problem-solver, remaining calm under pressure.
8. Be a resident of the destination you apply for, own a driving licence and a car (where needed).
9. Excellent writing skills to compose emails, guides and letters to excite and inspire our clients.
10. Computer literature (Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, etc).
11. Experience with customer care of high-end clients would be an advantage.
12. An agile ability to adapt to new processes and procedures within a dynamic environment.
13. Availability to work on weekends, as well as flexibility within working hours.
Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
At The Thinking Traveller, we value and prioritise diversity and inclusion within our workplace, recognising the importance of ongoing improvement in this area. Our goal is to cultivate a thoughtful culture where every individual feels genuinely appreciated, respected, and included.
We firmly believe that by attracting a diverse group of talented individuals, we can benefit from a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and ideas. This diverse tapestry of Thinkers enables us to deliver exceptional results to our esteemed clients. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability.
If you are considering joining our team, we encourage you to apply and inform us if any adjustments are required during our recruitment processes. Your unique perspective and potential contributions are valued, as we strive to create an environment that is inclusive and supportive to all.
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