Global Destination Specialist at Central Holidays in Hackensack, New Jersey

Global Destination Specialist

Central Holidays, established in 1972, offers a wide range of affordable luxury travel experiences including escorted tours, independent travel, customized group trips, cruises, and niche vacations such as honeymoons, culinary journeys, and religious pilgrimages. The company's travel professionals are passionate explorers who design meticulously planned programs to destinations across the globe, providing authentic and enriching experiences for travelers. Customized group travel is a core focus, with dedicated destination specialists tailoring itineraries to match each group's interests and budget. Central Holidays' luxury brand, Journeys, serves discerning travelers seeking upscale, tailor-made itineraries. Across all offerings, the company is committed to superior service, reliability, and deep destination expertise.

The Global Destination Specialist is a full-time remote role responsible for designing and managing customized travel programs to a variety of international destinations. This role includes consulting with travel advisors and clients to understand interests, budgets, and preferences, then crafting tailored itineraries that align with Central Holidays' standards for affordable luxury and authentic experiences. Day-to-day tasks involve researching destinations, selecting and coordinating suppliers and local partners, preparing detailed proposals and travel documents, and ensuring all arrangements are accurate and on schedule. The Specialist collaborates closely with internal teams to optimize pricing, monitor bookings, and resolve any trip-related issues before and during travel. The role also involves maintaining up-to-date knowledge of global travel trends, regulations, and products to continually enhance the company's offerings and client experience.

Qualifications:

• Strong destination and travel industry knowledge, with experience planning international itineraries and customized group travel.
• Customer service and consultative skills, including the ability to understand client needs, manage expectations, and build long-term relationships with travelers and travel advisors.
• Organizational and project management abilities, such as managing multiple bookings, coordinating suppliers, and meeting deadlines with attention to detail.
• Communication and collaboration skills, including clear written and verbal communication and effective teamwork in a remote environment.
• Proficiency with travel booking systems, CRM tools, and standard office software; ability to quickly learn new platforms and processes.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, adaptability to changing travel conditions, and sound judgment in resolving client or operational issues.
• Prior experience in tour operations, travel agencies, or destination management is highly beneficial.
• Relevant education in tourism, hospitality, business, or a related field is preferred, or equivalent professional experience.