Junior Travel Consultant

About us

LNZ International Travel Service Limited is a New Zealand Qualmark accredited and ADS-licensed inbound travel and tourism company, specialising in serving both domestic travellers and international tour groups. Our clients come predominantly from China and other Asian countries, and the vast majority of our clients communicate with us in Mandarin Chinese. We operate a fleet of tourism vehicles and provide comprehensive ground-handling services across New Zealand. As an active industry participant, our team also attends offshore trade shows, business meetings and major industry events organised by Tourism New Zealand each year.

We are now entering a new stage of growth. We are investing in brand promotion to reach more travellers, expanding our cooperation with study-abroad and education agencies in China, and developing student winter and summer camp (study tour) programmes in New Zealand.

About the position

To support this growth, we are seeking a Junior Travel Consultant to join our Auckland-based consulting team. Working alongside our experienced Travel Consultants, you will advise Chinese-speaking clients and partners on New Zealand travel options, plan and arrange their itineraries, and make and manage all related bookings from first enquiry through to the end of the trip.

This is an entry-level consultant role. We value what you know and what you can do over formal qualifications or length of employment. If you have solid knowledge of New Zealand travel products, are comfortable working with industry-specific systems, and can communicate confidently in both Mandarin Chinese and English, we would like to hear from you. Your knowledge may have been gained through tourism study, industry training, work or practical involvement in travel. Training on our in-house processes and systems will be provided.

Summary of key information

·       Nature of employment: Permanent full-time

·       Remuneration: $25.00 to $28.00 per hour

·       Overtime rate: at the rate of normal salary for any time worked in addition to an ordinary work week.

·       Minimum guaranteed hours of work: 30 hours per week

·       Maximum hours of work: 40 hours per week

·       Location of work: Auckland

Summary of key responsibilities (including but not limited to):

·       Respond to travel enquiries from clients, travel partners and individual travellers, mainly in Mandarin Chinese.

·       Identify each client’s travel objectives, group profile, budget and special requirements, and recommend suitable New Zealand travel products, destinations, routes and activities.

·       Design and cost tailored itineraries for tour groups, independent travellers and student groups, taking into account route feasibility, seasonality, operational constraints and client budgets.

·       Liaise with our partner study-abroad and education agencies in China, respond to their enquiries, recommend suitable programmes and itineraries, and convert enquiries into confirmed bookings.

·       Coordinate student winter and summer camp (study tour) programmes, including planning age-appropriate activities, school and educational visits, accommodation, transport and supervision arrangements, and liaising with agencies, parents’ representatives, suppliers and guides before and during each programme.

·       Offer advice on local attractions, cultural experiences, sightseeing opportunities and tour options.

·       Receive detailed traveller information and booking requirements from clients, and make all bookings for accommodation, attractions, restaurants and activities in accordance with each traveller’s requests, using the company’s Tour Soft reservation system.

·       Communicate with New Zealand suppliers, including hotels, transport operators, attractions, restaurants and activity providers, in English to check availability, arrange group bookings, confirm rates and resolve changes.

·       Process and manage bookings received through third-party booking platforms such as FareHarbor and Rezdy and through the company’s own online booking platform, and respond to client questions arising from these bookings.

·       Brief our Mandarin-speaking driver-guides on confirmed bookings, itinerary details and each group’s specific service requirements, so that every tour is delivered smoothly and to the client’s expectations.

·       Coordinate the allocation of company tour vehicles to bookings and keep vehicle servicing and maintenance records up to date in the PeopleSafe health and safety system, so that tour arrangements are safe and compliant.

·       Provide clients with essential pre-departure information such as travel schedules, connection details, baggage rules, and relevant health or entry requirements.

·       Provide guidance on travel insurance matters and keep clients informed of important regulatory considerations, including customs and biosecurity requirements.

·       Maintain accurate booking records, manifests and supplier confirmations within company systems.

·       Perform other duties as assigned.

Key requirements

To be successful in this role, you will have:

·       Language skills: fluent Mandarin Chinese (spoken and written) to advise our Chinese-speaking clients and brief our driver-guides, and good English (spoken and written) to communicate with New Zealand suppliers.

·       Destination and product knowledge: sound knowledge of New Zealand destinations, attractions, accommodation, activities and seasonal travel considerations.

·       Systems knowledge and skills: Confident in using industry-specific software and systems, such as Tour Soft, FareHarbor, Rezdy or PeopleSafe.

·       Good understanding of student travel and youth activities, and of the needs of student groups and their families, is highly regarded.

No specific formal qualification or minimum number of years of work experience is required for this junior role. Applicants will be assessed on their demonstrated knowledge and skills.

Why join us

·       Be part of a reputable Qualmark accredited and ADS-licensed company with strong industry connections.

·       Learn from experienced Travel Consultants

·       Opportunities to participate in brand promotion, international conferences and tourism promotion events.

·       Supportive team environment with room for professional growth.