Senior Travel Specialist

About INCA For 50 years, International Nature & Cultural Adventures (INCA) has created extraordinary journeys connecting travelers with remarkable places, wildlife, cultures, and people. A small, family-owned and led company, INCA specializes in high-touch, content-rich adventure travel combined with truly personal service. INCA travelers enjoy authentic experiences, expert guidance, attention to detail, and the confidence that comes from traveling with people who genuinely know and care about the destinations. The Role INCA is looking for an experienced Senior Travel Specialist who excels at developing relationships with people and guiding them toward the right travel experience. This is a consultative sales role covering the journey from a prospective traveler's first inquiry through booking. Senior Travel Specialists work with direct travelers and travel advisors to understand their interests, expectations, concerns, travel style, and travel goals. Key elements of the role are educating clients about potential destinations and INCA, helping them choose the right experience, and developing personalized itineraries as needed. The Senior Travel Specialist is there to provide the expertise and reassurance people need to make confident decisions. Once a client has signed on for their travel, follow-up is handed to the operations team. Nonetheless, the Senior Travel Specialists remain connected to the client as a trusted resource, preserving the relationship established in the initial contact and through the booking process to provide a seamless experience. Responsibilities Develop relationships of trust with prospective and returning travelers and travel advisors, providing knowledgeable, responsive support throughout the sales process. Manage the sales cycle from initial inquiry through confirmed booking, with thoughtful follow-up at every stage. Ask perceptive questions to understand each client’s interests, priorities, expectations, concerns, and travel style, including needs they may not express directly. Educate clients and advisors about INCA’s destinations, experiences, and distinctive approach, and recommend the journey that best fits the traveler. Develop and refine high-value itineraries while balancing client wishes, logistics, destination realities, and INCA standards. Set clear expectations by communicating honestly about what we can—and cannot—provide. Maintain accurate, complete client communications, follow-ups, sales information, and booking records in our CRM and systems. Make a thorough handoff of confirmed bookings to Operations while remaining available to the client and supporting continuity of the relationship. Build strong travel advisor relationships and give advisors the knowledge and confidence to recommend INCA. Stay informed about INCA destinations and developments in high-end, meaningful and adventure travel, including representing INCA at client and industry events when appropriate. Collaborate closely with colleagues. At INCA, these are not \"my bookings\" and \"your bookings\" - they are our clients and our bookings . What We\'re Looking For You are an experienced travel professional who combines sales ability with genuine curiosity about people. You understand that successful luxury travel sales are built on trust, listening, expertise, and follow-through, not pressure. You enjoy getting beneath the surface of what a traveler initially requests to understand what they actually need. You are patient with discerning clients, comfortable when plans become complicated, and willing to dig into details rather than make assumptions. You communicate with warmth and polish while remaining straightforward and realistic. You also understand the discipline behind excellent sales and service: accurate records, timely follow-up, careful use of systems, and personal accountability. You work independently but think as part of a team. In a small, family-led company, you are flexible, willing to learn, receptive to feedback, and prepared to help beyond the boundaries of a narrow job description when needed. Qualifications 5+ years of successful experience in luxury travel sales, adventure travel, bespoke itinerary design, or a comparable client-facing travel role, with a demonstrated ability to build relationships and close high-value bookings. Strong firsthand knowledge of international travel, ideally including adventure, wildlife, cultural, or luxury experiences. Galápagos knowledge or firsthand experience is a significant plus. Exceptional written and verbal communication and relationship-building skills, with experience working with both direct travelers and professional travel advisors. A polished, professional, and patient approach suited to sophisticated and high-net-worth clients, including challenging or complex situations. Excellent organization, attention to detail, and follow-through, with the ability to manage multiple active prospects and bookings simultaneously. Strong judgment, resourcefulness, and creative problem-solving skills. Comfort with CRM, booking, communication, and other business technology, along with the willingness to learn new systems. Knowledge of travel industry practices and trends and genuine curiosity about destinations, cultures, wildlife, conservation, and the wider world. A collaborative, flexible mindset and comfort working in a small company where responsibilities sometimes overlap. Fluency in spoken and written English is essential. Strong spoken and written Spanish is a plus. Above all, we are looking for someone who loves connecting with people and helping them experience the world well, someone who can earn trust, communicate what makes an INCA journey special, and turn curiosity into a relationship that lasts well beyond a single trip. Location Northern California preferred but may be performed remotely, with regular cross-time-zone collaboration and occasional travel to INCA’s Oakland, California office. Compensation Competitive salary and benefits, with compensation based on experience, qualifications, and local market conditions. #J-18808-Ljbffr Adventure Travel Trade Association, Inc.