Siobhan Askham
Melbourne,Australia
Summary
Highly seasoned travel professional with over a decade of experience in customer service & sales. Proven expertise in curating exceptional travel experiences, managing client relationships, and exceeding sales targets. Seeking to leverage extensive industry knowledge and outstanding customer service skills into a new role in the travel and events industry.
Adept at nurturing client lists and fostering strong, lasting relationships, with a passion for delivering tailored travel and event solutions. Eager to bring a track record of success and dedication to a new role.
During the pandemic I ran my own events business Goldies Event Services. This business offered customers a mobile bar and coffee van, event styling, event coordinator on the day of event and photobooth services. Goldies serviced the corporate, leisure and wedding market. This business was sold in 2023.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Groups Travel Leader
Verve Travel Management
03.2024 - Current
- Leading a small team in a boutique groups agency
- Training established and novice agents
- Fostering strong working relationships with clients and suppliers
- Implementing structure and setting up procedures for a team in its infancy
- Running and delivering domestic and international group travel
- Building and implementing a robust sales pipeline across multiple industries
- Appointment setting for National Sales and Account Manager and myself
- Ordering of office supplies
- Offering assistance to wider team during busy times
Groups Travel Manager
FCM Meetings & Events - Flight Centre Group
04.2022 - 03.2024
- Proficiently quote, sell, and oversee group travel bookings for parties of 10 or more
- Foster and maintain robust client and supplier relationships
- Expertly manage all aspects of the booking process, from client quotations to execution
- Collaborate seamlessly with a high-performing groups team and various FCM M&E departments to coordinate events flawlessly
- Prioritize strategic partnerships with preferred vendors to enhance profitability and seize opportunities
- Directly arrange travel for prominent sports organizations, encompassing group logistics for training, competitions, and specialized sports equipment handling
Assistant team leader
Campus Travel - Flight Centre Group
05.2017 - 08.2018
- Held the position of Assistant Manager, actively supporting the team leader in all business decisions
- Arrange travel for universities and schools
- Proficient in utilizing online booking tools like Concur and Locomote
- Responsible for managing university travelers, including VIPs and groups, ensuring comprehensive trip planning, including complex flight itineraries, accommodations, and transfers
- Conduct mid-month one-on-one meetings to review individual and team performance and provide necessary support
- Foster relationships with internal and external suppliers and procurement managers from the universities we serve
- Effectively handle client complaints and resolutions.
VIP/Executive Team, Business Travel Consultant
Egencia UK
12.2014 - 04.2017
- Proficient in booking and advising on complex global trips, encompassing flights, hotels, car rentals, and train reservations
- Assumed unofficial leadership roles for two accounts since December 2014, serving as the main point of contact for both existing and new clients, ensuring a personalized 1-2-1 service, and fostering strong working relationships within client companies
- Commenced my role at Egencia as a consultant, managing large accounts for 18 months, and later transitioned to the VIP team in April 2015, assuming a more hands-on role with clients
- In the VIP team, established robust client relationships with a focus on understanding and meeting their travel preferences and needs
- Recognized as a valuable team member, relied upon by colleagues for assistance with system and client inquiries
- Additionally, responsible for coordinating office social events and managing birthday gifts
- Provided support to office manager during times of their absence. Managing diaries, reception duties and overall office management duties.
Recruitment Consultant
C & M Travel Recruitment
01.2014 - 12.2014
- Specialized in recruiting for major airlines, business travel, holiday, and ancillary companies in the travel industry
- Conducted in-depth discussions with clients to understand job descriptions, company benefits, and fee negotiations for non-contracted placements
- Proactively generated new business for the company by making daily outbound calls to travel companies, assisting them with their recruitment needs
- Apart from securing new clients, also expanded opportunities within existing clients by identifying new roles or new office openings
- Established and nurtured strong client relationships to instill confidence in my recommendations for temporary staff, ultimately facilitating exclusive contracts and effectively resolving any post-placement candidate issues
- Booking appointments with new client prospects for office manager
Senior Travel Consultant
Flight Centre, Flight Centre LTD
05.2011 - 12.2013
- Actively promoted and cross-sold products to customers
- Maintained regular communication with customers to stay up-to-date on flight schedule changes, cancellations, and necessary itinerary amendments
- Initiate phone contact with suppliers to make and modify product bookings
- Ensured timely ticketing of flights based on their Time to Live (TTL)
- Conducted systematic analysis of figures
- Promptly followed up on customer inquiries and quotes within a two-day timeframe
- Analyzed personal and team performance figures for weekly and monthly business meetings
- Cultivated relationships with external suppliers to organize training sessions and competitions for our store and region
- Achieved a top-10 ranking in selling hotel and car hire services
- An expert in selling travel destinations such as Australia, Asia, Europe, and the USA.
Education
Certificate 3 - Travel And Tourism
William Angliss
12.2007
VCE -
John Paul College
12.2005
Skills
- Amadeus / Sabre / Galileo
- Events Air
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Goal Orientated
- Excellent Communicator
- Strong Interpersonal Skills
- Effective Listener
- Team Orientated
- Quick Learner
- Adaptable
- Dependable
- Dedicated
- Contracting with clients and suppliers
Timeline
Groups Travel Leader
Verve Travel Management
03.2024 - Current
Groups Travel Manager
FCM Meetings & Events - Flight Centre Group
04.2022 - 03.2024
Assistant team leader
Campus Travel - Flight Centre Group
05.2017 - 08.2018
VIP/Executive Team, Business Travel Consultant
Egencia UK
12.2014 - 04.2017
Recruitment Consultant
C & M Travel Recruitment
01.2014 - 12.2014
Senior Travel Consultant
Flight Centre, Flight Centre LTD
05.2011 - 12.2013
Certificate 3 - Travel And Tourism
William Angliss
VCE -
John Paul College
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