Travel Counselor - Part Time

Description

As a leader in small group travel, Odysseys Unlimited designs and operates exceptional guided tours around the world, giving guests the opportunity to experience the rich cultures, history, and people of the places we visit. We are committed to a culture of excellence, career growth, and fostering an inclusive environment at our headquarters in Newton, Massachusetts and wherever our travels take us. We value diverse perspectives and believe that solutions can, and should, come from everyone. Our team is made up of adventurous, dedicated individuals who take pride in helping our guests realize their travel dreams. Our employees are part of a company committed to making a positive impact by giving back both locally and to the communities we visit abroad. We are an equal opportunity employer, offering a collaborative and supportive environment where you can discover all the travel industry has to offer.

Location: Part-time employees in this position must work remotely from the state of Massachusetts. This is a fully remote position.

Expected to pay hourly rate: $25.49 - $26.82 / hour

Title: Travel Counselor – Part Time

Reporting to: Supervisor, Reservations and Customer Service

Working in a professional environment as part of the Reservations and Customer Service team, this position requires an articulate candidate who will be committed to the highest level of customer service and possess excellent listening, communication, and telephone skills. We are looking for a positive individual with contact center or customer service experience who will enjoy assisting mature guests in making travel plans and provide an exceptional level of personal attention and care to them before, during and after the tour. 

Requirements

Responsibilities:

• Provide professional assistance for incoming customer telephone calls for service and sales.
• Maintain the highest degree of telephone etiquette on all calls taken.
• Conduct outbound calls as needed (collections, date consolidation, requested call-backs).
• Update and maintain reservation information in accordance with company guidelines.
• Administrative responsibilities including data-entry and quality assurance.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with co-workers to achieve departmental goals and foster a positive work environment.
• Make and take calls with colleagues to cultivate a better understanding of departmental processes and policies.
• Assume responsibilities for other projects as assigned.

Must be available to work:

• August 24 through October 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
• October 5, and onward: a minimum of 15 hours per week is required within the parameters below. 
• Monday: any hours between 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
• Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: any hours between 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.
• Thursday: any hours between 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.

Once a schedule is agreed upon changes will be on a request basis.

• Additional hours may be available for up to a maximum of 29 per week.

Qualifications:

• Minimum two years in a customer service environment.
• Exceptional communication skills (both verbal and written).
• Ability to communicate with mature guests in a courteous, calm, and empathic manner.
• Excellent organizational skills with high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Computer literacy including MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced, team environment.
• International travel experience (outside of North America) preferred.
• Call/contact center experience a plus . 

Odysseys Unlimited’s Benefits for Guest Services Part-time Employees (eligibility for most benefits is date of hire):

• 401(k) plan with generous company match.
• Discretionary financial performance bonus.
• Paid time off:
• Vacation time (accrue based on hours worked up to 37.5 hours per year).
• Sick time (accrue based on hours worked up to 40 hours per year).
• Holidays & bereavement leave (based on regular scheduled hours).
• MA Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) based on state plan.
• 100% remote work and training plus flexible work hours (depending on position).
• International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN) Membership (20+ hours weekly required).
• Familiarization training trips for most positions (after 1 year of service and 1,000 hours worked eligible for participation).
• 25% Employee Discount on Odysseys’ Tours (after 1 year of service and 1,000 hours worked).
• Opportunities to participate in Odysseys’ company and wellness events.
• Charitable donation program and fundraising events including sponsored Walk for Hunger Team and more.
• Employee-led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.

The above benefits are current as of this posting. These benefits are subject to change and may have additional eligibility requirements. Odysseys Unlimited’s Human Resources department can answer any questions a candidate may have.

Odysseys Unlimited is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by law. All employment decisions are based on individual qualifications and business needs to further the principle of equal employment opportunity.