Masterclass - Tour Operator

For nearly 30 years, Masterclass has been delivering events across the UK and Europe to over 3,000 students annually. From high calibre coaching sessions to tournaments and local fixtures, they have the expertise to create a truly exceptional sports festival experience. Whether it’s netball in Spain, football in Holland or one of their many other events, the Masterclass team makes sure everything runs smoothly. Every aspect of a Masterclass event is designed for total peace of mind and to create memories that will remain long into the future.

The Role

Reporting to the Senior Tour Operator and operating as part of the Masterclass Sports Tours operating team, this role will be responsible for organising seamless tour experiences for our customers. Our Masterclass Events take place across the UK and Europe throughout the year, and you will be responsible for the end‑to‑end delivery of these. The role exists to ensure that the customers receive a high level of personalised service, which is key to maintaining the brand’s unique experience. The role requires you to develop outline tour itineraries into detailed, often complex, itineraries with accurate information. You will be part of the team that looks to exceed the customers’ expectations. These tours require logistical planning and preparation, as you balance the needs of the customer with key business targets. Attention must be given to the commercial and safety requirements of the business along with management of supplier and customer relationships being key to this role.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Work closely with the Tour Manager and administer their expectations from the moment a new tour is agreed, through to the post‑tour follow‑up by taking full ownership of the tour’s delivery and outcomes.
• Book and organise all individual components of a tour including transport, accommodation, fixtures, excursions, meals and kit.
• Book and organise all event components including sports venues, sports coaches, tournament schedules and reps.
• Lead our Masterclass Events at one of our key European destinations for up to two weeks at a time, three times a year.
• Plan detailed and complex itineraries for each group.
• Ensure all final itinerary details are prepared and given to the group at least two weeks in advance of travel.
• Work alongside local agents across the portfolio of destinations.
• Use our existing contacts or source new accommodation, excursions and other tour elements.
• As required negotiate rates with suppliers and ground service agents.
• Attend interim meetings over the pre‑tour period to develop the tour.
• Work with overseas suppliers and internal staff to ensure that all Health & Safety Audit requirements are complete and accurate.
• Responsibility for checking payments to suppliers, working within the tour budget.
• Liaise with other departments to maintain credit control with both internal and external customers.
• Work closely with the Sales team to ensure that Tour requests are handed over accurately.
• Occasionally be part of the internal on‑call rota system.

What we are looking for

• Have a good understanding of UK and worldwide sports participation and the various needs of each sport, across a broad range of sports including one or more of: Rugby, Netball, Cricket, Hockey and Football.
• Knowledge or experience of Group Travel is advantageous.
• Well‑travelled, ideally with a knowledge of sport participation needs.
• Ability to quickly learn systems, processes and procedures.
• Excellent communicator with the ability to deal directly with customers and suppliers by email and phone in a professional manner.
• Ability to work under own initiative and prioritise workload.
• Excellent organisation, prioritisation and administration skills.
• High level of numeracy and accuracy ensuring attention to detail.
• A methodical and analytical approach to work.
• Enjoys working with technology and problem solving.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Desire to meet and exceed deadlines.
• Strive to provide an excellent service to the client and all internal departments.

Some of the benefits

• Hybrid working pattern between our office and homeworking.
• Annual Bonus scheme.
• Opportunities to travel overseas on familiarisation trips.
• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays and a bonus day off for your birthday; we also have a tenure‑based annual leave benefit, up to a maximum of an additional 5 days depending on length of service.
• Global recognition and reward programme.
• Access to extensive online learning resources.
• In‑house training opportunities.
• Regular social events.
• Various employee discounts and offers, including discounted trips with our brands.

Diversity and inclusion

We believe that people are happier and perform best when they are able to be their true selves and that diverse teams deliver better results. We are committed to building an inclusive culture and embracing diversity in all its dimensions. This includes inspiring change through increasing awareness of unconscious bias. Together we will cultivate a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment, where everyone can flourish.