Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Expedition Consultant

🎯 Role Definition

Are you a seasoned travel professional with an insatiable passion for exploration and adventure? As an Expedition Consultant, you will be the primary architect of dream expeditions for our clients. This pivotal role involves much more than just sales; you are a trusted advisor, a creative itinerary designer, and a logistical mastermind. You will leverage your deep knowledge of destinations like the Polar regions, the Galapagos, African safaris, and other remote locales to consult with high-net-worth individuals, understand their unique travel aspirations, and translate them into flawlessly executed, bespoke journeys. Success in this position requires a blend of sales prowess, unparalleled customer service, operational excellence, and a genuine love for creating unforgettable travel memories.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Luxury or Adventure Travel Advisor
Senior Sales Consultant (Travel/Hospitality)
Tour Operations Coordinator or Manager
In-field Expedition Guide or Leader

Advancement To:

Senior or Principal Expedition Consultant
Expedition Product Development Manager
Director of Sales (Travel)
Head of Expedition Operations

Lateral Moves:

Luxury Travel Designer
Corporate Travel Manager (High-End)
Yacht Charter Broker

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Engage in in-depth, consultative conversations with prospective clients via phone, email, and video calls to deeply understand their travel style, interests, and objectives.
Conceptualize, design, and meticulously craft bespoke, multi-stage itineraries for discerning clients, integrating complex logistics, exclusive experiences, and personalized elements.
Present compelling and detailed travel proposals, articulating the value and unique aspects of the proposed itinerary to secure client commitment and drive sales.
Manage the entire client lifecycle from initial inquiry and qualification through to booking, pre-departure preparation, in-travel support, and post-trip follow-up.
Actively cultivate and manage a robust sales pipeline using CRM software, ensuring timely follow-up and consistent progress towards individual and team sales targets.
Develop and maintain an expert-level knowledge of our core expedition destinations, including ships, lodges, guides, routes, and seasonal variations.
Liaise directly with global suppliers, ground handlers, and operators to negotiate rates, confirm availability, and secure all components of a client's itinerary.
Prepare and deliver comprehensive pre-travel documentation for clients, including detailed itineraries, packing lists, visa/medical information, and final travel documents.
Proactively handle and resolve any client issues or travel disruptions that may arise before, during,or after the trip with a calm and solution-oriented approach.
Accurately price complex, multi-component custom trips, ensuring adherence to margin policies while delivering exceptional value to the client.
Maintain precise and organized client files, ensuring all communications, bookings, and financial transactions are accurately recorded in the company’s systems.
Actively seek client feedback and testimonials post-travel to drive service improvements and generate referral and repeat business.
Collaborate with the marketing team to contribute to content creation, such as blog posts, travel guides, and social media updates, based on your destination expertise.
Achieve and exceed quarterly and annual sales goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) related to conversion rates, trip value, and client satisfaction.
Stay abreast of geopolitical events, travel advisories, and environmental conditions that could impact travel to our expedition destinations.
Participate in familiarization (FAM) trips to new and existing destinations to gain firsthand product knowledge and strengthen supplier relationships.
Serve as a brand ambassador, representing the company with professionalism and passion at trade shows, industry events, and client functions.
Provide detailed and constructive feedback to the product development team on supplier performance and new travel opportunities.
Handle all financial aspects of bookings, including taking deposits, processing payments, and issuing invoices in a timely and accurate manner.
Mentor and provide guidance to junior members of the sales and operations team, sharing best practices and destination knowledge.
Proactively generate new leads through networking, client referrals, and strategic partnerships within the luxury travel community.

Secondary Functions

Assist the marketing team by providing expert insights and content for destination-specific campaigns and promotional materials.
Represent the company at consumer travel shows, industry networking events, and virtual webinars to promote our expedition offerings.
Participate in the evaluation and testing of new booking systems, CRM features, or itinerary-building software.
Contribute to internal training sessions, helping to upskill new team members on product knowledge, sales techniques, and operational procedures.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Destination Expertise: Deep, firsthand knowledge of one or more key expedition regions (e.g., Antarctica, the Arctic, Galapagos Islands, Patagonia, African safari circuits).
CRM Proficiency: Extensive experience using a CRM system (e.g., Salesforce, Zoho) for pipeline management and client communication.
GDS Knowledge: Familiarity with Global Distribution Systems (e.g., Amadeus, Sabre) for flight reservations is highly advantageous.
Itinerary Design Software: Proficiency in using specialized software to create visually appealing and detailed client itineraries.
Complex Trip Costing: Demonstrated ability to accurately price and budget complex, multi-component international travel.
Sales & Negotiation: Proven track record in high-end sales, with strong negotiation skills for dealing with both clients and suppliers.
Contract Analysis: Ability to read, understand, and explain complex supplier terms and conditions to clients.
Geopolitical Awareness: Understanding of global affairs, travel safety protocols, and visa requirements.
Microsoft Office Suite: High proficiency in Word, Excel, and Outlook for creating documents, managing budgets, and communication.
Multilingual Abilities: Fluency in a second language (e.g., Spanish, German, French) is a significant asset.

Soft Skills

Consultative Sales Acumen: The ability to listen, ask insightful questions, and guide clients to their ideal trip rather than using a hard-sell approach.
Exceptional Communication: Articulate, persuasive, and empathetic verbal and written communication skills tailored to a sophisticated audience.
Meticulous Attention to Detail: An obsession with accuracy and detail in itinerary planning, booking, and documentation.
Problem-Solving & Composure: The capacity to think critically and act decisively under pressure to resolve complex logistical challenges.
Relationship Building: A natural ability to build rapport and establish long-term, trust-based relationships with clients and partners.
Adaptability & Resilience: Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and can pivot quickly when travel plans change.
Storytelling: The ability to passionately and vividly describe destinations and experiences to inspire and excite potential travelers.
Self-Motivation & Drive: A proactive, goal-oriented individual who can manage their own time and sales pipeline effectively.
Emotional Intelligence: High degree of empathy and intuition to understand unstated client needs and motivations.
Passion for Travel: A genuine, infectious enthusiasm for exploration and a commitment to responsible, sustainable tourism.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent professional experience in a related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Tourism, Hospitality, Geography, or International Business.
Professional certifications from recognized travel industry bodies (e.g., CLIA, The Travel Institute).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Tourism & Hospitality Management
Geography or Environmental Science
International Business & Marketing
Communications

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7+ years of experience in the travel industry.

Preferred:

Direct experience in a sales role for a luxury or adventure tour operator.
A proven track record of consistently meeting and exceeding sales targets in a high-value sales environment.
Extensive personal travel experience to the key destinations sold, particularly polar or remote expedition-style travel.
Experience managing a portfolio of high-net-worth clients with a focus on delivering exceptional service.