Global Travel Manager

Outbound Travel ManagerLocation: Ras Al Khaimah, UAEIndustry: Travel & TourismRole OverviewWe are looking for a commercially driven Outbound Travel Manager to lead and grow the outbound travel business in Ras Al Khaimah.The business primarily serves UAE National clients, who represent approximately 95% of the existing customer base. The successful candidate should therefore have a strong understanding of the travel preferences and service expectations of Emirati and GCC travellers.This is a hands-on role for someone who understands the outbound travel market, can independently create attractive and profitable holiday packages, identify the right destinations and suppliers, negotiate strong commercial deals, and convert market opportunities into revenue.Key ResponsibilitiesOutbound Travel & Package Development- Design and develop complete outbound holiday packages for individuals, families and groups.- Build packages from scratch, including flights, hotels, transfers, tours, activities, experiences and other destination services.- Develop customised and premium itineraries based on client requirements.- Identify destinations and experiences that appeal particularly to UAE National and GCC travellers.- Continuously introduce new destinations, seasonal packages and exclusive travel experiences.- Ensure packages are competitively priced while maintaining healthy margins.Supplier & Vendor Management- Research the international market to identify the best suppliers, DMCs, hotels, airlines, tour operators and ground-handling partners.- Negotiate directly with suppliers to secure competitive rates, preferential terms, upgrades, value-added benefits and exclusive deals.- Build and maintain a strong international network of travel partners.- Regularly benchmark supplier pricing and packages against the wider market.- Evaluate suppliers based on pricing, reliability, service quality and customer experience.- Develop strong commercial partnerships that improve both profitability and the overall client offering.Commercial & Market Development- Monitor travel trends, emerging destinations, seasonal demand and competitor offerings.- Understand the preferences and buying behaviour of Emirati travellers and translate these insights into relevant travel products.- Identify opportunities to improve margins and increase outbound travel revenue.- Track the commercial performance and profitability of individual packages and destinations.- Recommend pricing strategies and promotional packages based on demand and market conditions.Client Experience- Ensure a high standard of personalised service throughout the customer journey.- Support the team with complex, VIP or high-value travel requirements.- Handle escalations and ensure issues are resolved quickly and professionally.- Build long-term relationships with repeat and referral clients.Team & Operations Management- Lead and support the outbound travel team and ensure smooth day-to-day operations.- Set clear sales, service and profitability targets.- Coach team members on destinations, packages, client handling and sales.- Ensure quotations, bookings, itineraries and travel documentation are accurate and delivered on time.- Establish efficient processes for enquiries, quotations, bookings, supplier coordination and post-travel support.Candidate Profile- Proven experience within outbound leisure travel and tourism, ideally within the UAE or GCC- Previous managerial, team leadership or supervisory experience within a travel agency or tour operator.- Strong hands-on experience in building and costing outbound holiday packages is essential.- Strong knowledge of international destinations, hotels, DMCs, airlines, tours and travel products.- Existing supplier/DMC relationships across popular outbound destinations would be highly advantageous.- Strong commercial and negotiation skills with the ability to secure competitive supplier rates.- Good understanding of the travel preferences of UAE National and GCC clients.- Arabic-speaking candidates are strongly preferred.- English communication skills required.- Knowledge of GDS/reservation platforms such as Amadeus, Galileo or Sabre would be advantageous.- Confident, proactive and commercially minded personality.- Strong client-facing skills with the ability to manage demanding and high-value customers.- Comfortable taking ownership and building new products rather than simply selling existing packages.What Success Looks LikeThe successful candidate will be someone who can spot an attractive destination or travel trend, find the right suppliers, negotiate the best deal, build a compelling package, price it profitably and successfully bring it to market.This role offers significant ownership of the outbound business, with the opportunity to directly influence its product portfolio, supplier network, customer experience and profitability.