Location: Johannesburg or Cape Town
Reports to: Reservations Manager
Company: Wilderness

Are you passionate about luxury travel, conservation, and designing exceptional group journeys? Wilderness is seeking a Senior Groups & Incentives Travel Designer with a strong MICE and specialist group focus to curate extraordinary incentive and group travel experiences across Southern and East Africa.

About the Role

As a Senior Groups & Incentives Travel Designer, you will play a key role in designing, coordinating, and delivering high-end MICE, incentive, and specialist group travel within the Wilderness portfolio. You will work closely with trade partners, DMCs, and internal sales and operations teams to create seamless, bespoke group journeys that align with Wilderness’ luxury standards, conservation ethos, and commercial objectives.

This role requires a consultative mindset, strong logistical capability, and the ability to manage complex group movements while maintaining exceptional service levels and margin integrity.

MICE & Group Travel Design

• Design and deliver bespoke group, incentive, and MICE itineraries, tailored to client objectives, budgets, and guest profiles.
• Translate client briefs into creative, well-structured programs that showcase Wilderness camps, experiences, and conservation initiatives.
• Identify and implement value-adds and upselling opportunities that enhance group experiences while protecting margins.

Service Excellence & Stakeholder Management

• Provide prompt, professional, and solutions-driven service to trade partners, incentive houses, and internal stakeholders.
• Communicate clearly and proactively, managing expectations across multiple touchpoints.
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with key agents and MICE partners.

Operational & Logistical Coordination

• Manage complex group logistics including rooming lists, movements, activities, and special requirements.
• Collaborate closely with Operations Specialists to ensure flawless on-the-ground execution.
• Maintain accurate and detailed booking files to ensure seamless delivery from confirmation through travel.

Commercial & Performance Focus

• Quote accurately and timeously, ensuring pricing integrity and commercial viability.
• Monitor margins and performance metrics, contributing to overall departmental targets.
• Support Sales and Reservations leadership with insights into group trends and opportunities.

Product & Systems Expertise

• Maintain in-depth knowledge of Wilderness camps, regions, and experiences across Southern and East Africa.
• Confidently position the Wilderness brand within the MICE and incentives space.
• Leverage systems such as Wilderness Window, WETU, Smartbox, Tourplan, and Microsoft Office to streamline workflows and enhance service delivery.
  

Qualifications and Experience

• Matric with Mathematics (Standard Grade or higher).
• Tertiary qualification in Travel & Tourism, Hospitality, or a related field (advantageous).
• 6–10 years’ experience in a senior Groups, Incentives, or MICE travel design / reservation’s role.
• Proven experience managing group logistics, complex itineraries, and high-value clients.
• Strong working knowledge of Tourplan and Microsoft Office.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills (English essential; European languages advantageous).
• Confident in consultative selling, personalisation, and upselling within a luxury context.
• Ability to manage pressure, deadlines, and multiple group files simultaneously.

Personal Attributes

• Creative, proactive, and solutions-oriented.
• Service-driven with a strong client-centric mindset.
• Passionate about wildlife, conservation, and sustainable tourism.

Why Wilderness?

• Work with a passionate team dedicated to conservation and luxury travel.
• Deepen your destination expertise through ongoing training and familiarisation trips.
• Be part of a company that values creativity, initiative, and going the extra mile.

Interests:                                                              

A passion for wildlife and a commitment to sustainability and conservation.

Apply for this position with us on WhatsApp. Simply send the word ‘Hi’ to +260761166303