Travel Director Jobs (highest, visa, amex, companies)

[SiddharthaGautama]

Does anybody know of any companies that employ travel directors anywhere but specifically in southern California? It sounds like a job that I would like to have at this point in my life. I used to live in St. Louis Missouri for a few years and I know of the huge company that employs TDs called Maritz. The last time I talked to them they weren't hiring Travel Directors for another year or so. I knew a TD who worked there who got me a number to a hiring manager. But I know there has to be some other small or big companies that hire for these positions. Does anybody know of any?

[cybiz777]

Do you mean a travel agent? Travel director or travel manager, or coordinator are all senior positions with director usually being the highest. My wife applied for some positions as a travel director, but hasn't gottena response in this job market. One company asked her how much of a travel budget she managed which was 8 - 12 million a year. That was not sufficient to get the position. You should have many years experience as an agent, expert in Apollo or Sabre. Good knowledge of online booking tools, be familiar with ARC accredidations, large charters, visa requirements, entry points, incentive programs, hotel bookings, negotiations for hotels, rental cars, and air travel. You should also be ready to take calls from some executive stuck somewhere like Dubai at 3:30 am who can't check into their hotel because the hotel didn't accept their pre-paid reservation made on an Amex "ghost card" and they want a hard copy. You should probably start with a job as a reservation agent at a res center or at a hotel first. My wife started as a Pan Am flight attendant and then at Holiday Inn reservations center.