Head of Revenue & Reservations

About the role

A leading safari and adventure group in East Africa is recruiting a Head of Revenue & Reservations to manage its entire booking operation. The role leads the Central Reservations Office, optimizes multi-channel distribution and aligns sales, revenue management and property operations. It covers room inventory, rate integrity and the full guest acquisition journey, and requires prior East African market experience.

Key responsibilities

• Manage room inventory across properties, ensure rate integrity, minimize overbooking risk and apply yield and pricing strategies to maximize RevPAR.
• Optimize performance across OTAs, GDS, DMCs, tour operators, MICE and direct channels while keeping rates and selling strategy consistent.
• Monitor demand trends and competitor pricing and produce actionable insights.
• Lead, mentor and develop centralized and remote reservations teams, drive a sales-through-service and upselling culture, and set and track conversion, upsell and efficiency KPIs.
• Oversee PMS/ResRequest and AI tool implementation and optimization.
• Manage key trade relationships and personally oversee VIP, HNW and sensitive bookings, including escalations and disputes.
• Develop and enforce SOPs, ensure data accuracy, policy compliance and quality controls across the reservations lifecycle.
• Work with Operations and Finance and deliver regular forecasts and performance reports on pickup, pace and channel results.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Business Administration or a related field.
• 5+ years in senior reservations and at least 2 years in a multi-property or group-level role.
• Proven track record in senior reservations or revenue leadership in luxury hospitality or lodge environments.
• Strong understanding of the East African tourism and safari lodge sector, including DMCs, seasonal cycles and luxury lodges in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.
• Experience managing centralized, multicultural teams, building training manuals and mentoring staff.

Required skills

• Advanced proficiency in ResRequest and revenue management software, PMS (ResRequest/Opera), CRS and channel managers such as SiteMinder.
• Ability to turn complex data and demand trends into practical sales and revenue strategies.
• Strong communication with international partners, DMCs and internal stakeholders.