Senior Manager, Destination Services

The World, Residences at Sea, is the largest privately owned residential yacht on earth. At The World we are one team, we are always passionate and caring and we support one another in mutual respect. We believe in our mission and drive for continuous improvement by challenging each other to be better and by measuring and benchmarking against the best. We take ownership and hold ourselves accountable. We have a unified, empowered, and strong team culture that values diversity and recognizes, develops and retains talent.

The Senior Manager, Destination Services serves as a key liaison between the Director of Destination Services and the Destination Services Planning team, overseeing the review and audit of programs such as Destination Experiences, Hospitality & Port Lecturer Services, Private Transportation & Shuttle programs, and Captain’s Choice Ports. Utilizing in-depth destination knowledge and strategic planning, they ensure the delivery of distinctive, high-quality experiences for Residents and Guests. They also support budget planning, audit and analyze offerings, and implement standard operating procedures. Additionally, they manage product handovers between the Destination Planning Managers and the onboard Concierge Team, ensuring smooth daily operations and timely delivery of all Destination Experience products.

The Senior Manager, Destination Services oversees the Destination Services Planning team and acts as a liaison between the Concierge Manager and Destination Services Planners to ensure smooth handover and execution of shoreside programming. They also manage end-of-month financial reporting, support the Director in creating the annual budget, and provide IT support for Destination Services projects.

Essential Functions, Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee the Destination Services Planning team, refining processes, and managing deadlines.
• Manage product and cost comparisons for Destination Experiences, Hospitality, Transportation, and Captain’s Choice Ports.
• Train and ensure compliance of new team members with standard operating procedures.
• Create and maintain departmental documentation, ensuring manuals and SOPs are current and compliant.
• Audit and review Destination Experiences, recommending enhancements and optimization to the Director.
• Provide performance and development feedback of the Planning Team to the Director.
• Support departmental systems such as Vendor Database, AI, and Content Management.
• Ensure Resident Preferences are considered in all planning efforts, delegating relevant suggestions.
• Oversee cost comparisons, vendor contract management, and payment schedules.
• Stay informed on global destination experience trends and attend industry trade shows.
• Conduct weekly 1:1 meetings with team members and update the Director on projects.
• Present budget reports monthly, facilitate team meetings, and conduct yearly appraisals.

Qualifications, Education and Experience

• Minimum 6 years’ experience in five-star/luxury Shore Excursions, International Tour/Travel Operations, International Group Travel Operations, Resort or Cruise Line, Private Travel Company, Event Management with experience in creating unique and authentic programs.
• Strong global destination experience from a luxury travel perspective.
• Strong world-wide knowledge of geography and Destination offerings.
• BA/BS 4-year degree or foreign equivalency.
• Excellent research skills.
• Strong analytical skills with extreme attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• Ability to solve problematic situations in a quick, efficient manner.
• Proficient in MS office to include, Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook.
• Must have superior command of the English language, both verbal & written.
• Must be able to travel based on job demands and requirements (Approximate yearly travel time is estimated to be 8-10 weeks).
• Proven ability to create evocative and noteworthy travel experiences including such things as media accolades.
• Extensive destination knowledge from living/studying in foreign countries.
• Product development background with extensive industry connections.
• Copywriting qualifications a plus.

Please note that all candidates must complete an online employment application before being considered for any open position. Interviews will only be arranged after receipt and review of such online application and are ‘by appointment only’. Qualified candidates will be contacted by a representative of the Human Resources Team.