Tour Host & Partnerships Officer delivering guided studio sessions and developing a referral network across the Watamu and Malindi hospitality sector, requiring a diploma or degree in Tourism Management, Hospitality Management or Travel Operations, minimum 2 years experience in tourism or guest relations and professional fluency in English, in a tourism environment, on-site role in Watamu.
Job Purpose
The Tour
Host and Partnerships Officer is responsible for the delivery of the studio’s
guided sessions and for the development and management of a referral network
across the Watamu and Malindi hospitality sector. The officer serves as the
studio’s representative to hotels, resorts, accredited guides and tour
operators, and is accountable for guest volume generated through these
channels.
Key Responsibilities
Session
Delivery
Plan for
the guided sessions in Italian and English for groups and participants.
Present
each collection with accurate reference to the maker, place of origin, material
and production technique, in accordance with the studio’s approved interpretive
content.
Work in
line with the studio’s operating procedures.
Ensure
all sessions commence at the scheduled time.
Maintain
the presentation, cleanliness and security of the collection and studio
premises.
Partnership
Development and Management
Identify,
engage and secure referral partnerships with hotels, resorts, private villas,
accredited guides, marine excursion operators and tour organisers within Watamu
and Malindi.
Conduct
scheduled weekly visits to front office, concierge and guest relations
departments of partner properties.
Administer
the partner booking code system, including issuance, tracking and verification
of referrals.
Prepare
referral payment schedules for approval by the Marketing Director.
Communicate
session schedules, group rates and seasonal offers to all partners.
Maintain
an up-to-date partner register, including contact details, visit records and
referral performance.
Guest
Experience and Reputation Management
Manage
guest arrivals, bookings and enquiries
Request
post-session reviews on TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide and Airbnb Experiences.
Record
and escalate guest feedback to the Marketing Director.
Collect
guest contact information for marketing purposes, subject to guest consent and
the Data Protection Act, 2019.
Reporting
and Administration
Record
daily attendance, bookings and referral sources in the studio’s shared tracking
system on the day of each session.
Submit a
daily session report and a weekly partnership report to the Marketing Director.
Participate
in a weekly review meeting with the Nairobi team by video call.
Provide
photographic and written session content to the marketing team.
Key Performance Indicators
Performance
will be assessed monthly against the following indicators:
Number of
guests hosted per week
Number
and value of bookings generated through partner codes
Number of
active partner properties and guides
Volume of
new reviews and average platform rating
Session
punctuality rate
Timeliness
and accuracy of reports
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
Diploma
or degree in Tourism Management, Hospitality Management, Travel Operations or a
related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Minimum
of one (2) year of experience in tourism, hospitality, guiding, guest relations
or sales.
Professional
fluency in spoken English.
Residence
in Watamu or Malindi, or willingness to relocate before the start date.
Proficiency
in WhatsApp Business, Google Sheets and online booking platforms.
Desirable
but optional
Working
knowledge of the Italian language.
Established
professional contacts within the Kenyan coastal hospitality sector.
Accreditation
as a tour guide with a recognised Kenyan body.
Knowledge
of African material culture, craft or design.
Core
Competencies
Public
presentation and group facilitation
Relationship
management and negotiation
Punctuality
and operational discipline
Accurate
record-keeping and reporting
Independent
work with remote supervision
Cross-cultural
communication
Airi
Handmade Studio is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from
all qualified persons.
How to Apply
Interested
and qualified candidates should forward their CV to: info@airihandmade.com using
the position as subject of email.
