Travel Manager – Pilgrimage Tours & Operations

Job Description: Travel Manager – Pilgrimage Tours & Operations Location: Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu Job Type: Full-time | Office-based Experience: Minimum 5+ years Working Days: Monday to Saturday Working Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Industry: Travel & Tourism – Pilgrimage Tours across India About the Role We are looking for an experienced, proactive, and well-organised Travel Manager – Pilgrimage Tours & Operations to manage and grow our existing pilgrimage tour business across India. The candidate will be responsible for end-to-end tour planning and execution, marketing and customer acquisition, travel arrangements, accounts management, and office administration. The ideal candidate should be capable of independently managing daily operations while ensuring a smooth, comfortable, and memorable pilgrimage experience for customers. Key Responsibilities 1. Pilgrimage Tour Planning and Operations * Manage existing pilgrimage tour packages covering religious destinations across India. * Make complete travel arrangements, including transportation, accommodation, meals, temple visits, darshan arrangements, local transfers, and sightseeing. * Coordinate with hotels, transport operators, tour guides, local agents, and other service providers. * Prepare tour itineraries, schedules, cost estimates, and travel documentation. * Ensure all bookings and arrangements are completed on time. * Handle customer queries, special requests, emergencies, and changes to travel plans. * Collect customer feedback and continuously improve tour quality. 2. Marketing and Business Development * Promote pilgrimage tour packages through telephone calls, WhatsApp, social media, email, and other marketing channels. * Generate customer enquiries and convert prospects into confirmed bookings. * Develop marketing initiatives to increase bookings, revenue, repeat customers, and referrals. * Build relationships with existing customers, religious associations, community groups, and potential customer networks. * Identify opportunities to develop new pilgrimage packages and destinations. * Prepare tour brochures, promotional content, quotations, and package details. * Follow up with prospective customers and maintain a database of enquiries and bookings. 3. Accounts and Financial Management * Maintain records of customer bookings, advances, receipts, refunds, and outstanding payments. * Track tour-wise expenses, supplier payments, operational costs, and profitability. * Prepare tour budgets, cost sheets, invoices, and financial summaries. * Reconcile customer collections, cash transactions, and vendor payments. * Maintain bills, vouchers, receipts, and other financial documents. * Coordinate with the accountant or external accounting professional for bookkeeping, GST documentation, and statutory compliance, as applicable. 4. Office Administration * Manage day-to-day office operations and maintain organised customer, booking, vendor, and tour records. * Handle customer calls, enquiries, reservations, and follow-ups. * Maintain customer databases and booking records using MS Excel or relevant software. * Coordinate tour schedules, operational requirements, and business updates with management. * Ensure timely communication with customers before, during, and after each trip. * Monitor pending tasks and ensure smooth coordination across all tour activities. Required Qualifications and Experience * Minimum 5+ years of experience in travel management, tour operations, or the travel and tourism industry. * Experience in pilgrimage tours, religious tourism, or group tour management is strongly preferred. * Proven ability to manage complete tour operations, from customer enquiry and booking to trip completion. * Experience in marketing travel packages and converting enquiries into bookings. * Working knowledge of accounts, billing, expense tracking, payment collection, and reconciliation. * Proficiency in MS Excel, email, WhatsApp Business, and basic computer applications. Language Requirements * Tamil – Mandatory * English – Mandatory * Hindi – Additional advantage * Telugu – Additional advantage Essential Skills * Strong communication and customer service skills. * Excellent planning, coordination, and organisational abilities. * Marketing and sales aptitude with a focus on increasing bookings. * Financial discipline and attention to detail. * Ability to negotiate with vendors and manage service providers. * Ability to work independently and handle multiple responsibilities. * Knowledge of Indian pilgrimage destinations, temple travel logistics, and regional travel networks is an advantage. Work Location and Travel Requirements * Primarily office-based at Mylapore, Chennai. * Limited travel for vendor meetings, tour coordination, or inspection of travel arrangements. * The candidate must be comfortable managing pilgrimage tours across various destinations in India. Key Performance Expectations * Increase in tour bookings and business revenue. * Effective marketing and conversion of customer enquiries. * Smooth execution of tours and timely completion of arrangements. * Accurate accounts, expense tracking, and payment reconciliation. * High customer satisfaction, repeat bookings, and referrals. * Efficient office administration and strong vendor relationships. Ideal Candidate Profile We are looking for a responsible, customer-focused, and business-oriented professional who can independently manage the complete pilgrimage tour business, including marketing, customer bookings, travel arrangements, accounts, and administration. How to Apply: Interested candidates with at least five years of relevant experience may submit their updated resume, highlighting their experience in pilgrimage tours, group travel operations, marketing, and administration.

Pay: ₹10,000.00 - ₹20,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person