Fixed Term Travel Advisor (12 months) Part Time or On-Call January to December 2025 Contracts available (16 or 20 hours per week and On-Call) Based at Visit Belfast Welcome Centre and Belfast Grand Central Station Closing Date: 12 noon, Thursday 19th December 2024 Do you enjoy telling people about our amazing city and Northern Ireland? about the stories and the people? the things to see and do and even taste? Then this fixed role could be the new opportunity you are looking for. You will help signpost visitors and sell tickets for various attractions and give that big Northern Ireland welcome at both the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre and the new Belfast Grand Central Station which is an exciting new development for Visitor Servicing in the City. To assist in flexible working for both the post-holder and the organisation, contracted hours will be 16 or 20 hours per week, which will be discussed at interview based on 4-hour shifts, there will also be several zero-hour On-Call contracts. Having read the job description for the post please submit your CV along with a letter on how you feel you meet the essential criteria for the post, along with an indication if it is the contracted or On-Call hours post by the closing date. Job Overview Post-holders will provide an efficient and comprehensive tourist information and ticketing service for mainly for local tours, attractions, events and festivals for residents and visitors to Belfast and Northern Ireland. Excellent communication, interpersonal and customer care skills will be essential. A thorough knowledge of Belfast and Northern Irelands visitor attractions, tours, events and festivals, as well as an excellent local knowledge of Belfast and Northern Ireland as a holiday destination is required. Fluency in a European language is desirable. Your will be working over a 7-day rota to include weekends and bank holidays. Please see the full job description and specification for further details. Current opening hours for the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, which is based just opposite Belfast City Hall are: October to May Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm and 11am to 4pm Sundays and Bank Holidays, June and September Monday to Saturday 9am to 6.00pm and 11am to 4pm Sundays and July and August Monday to Saturday 9am to 6.30pm and 11am to 4pm Sundays (under review). The Co-share desk at Belfast Grand Central Station is staffed 7 days a week 9am to 5pm. Remuneration The hourly rate for these positions is £12.00 per hour. Location Post holders will be based in the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre (VBWC) and Belfast Grand Central Station with occasional shifts at the Belfast Cruise Hub or Belfast International Airport. Hours of Work This position is 16 or 20 hours weekly or on a zero hour contract on a rota basis. Which will require you to work weekends, Bank Holidays and occasional evenings as required. Annual Leave The leave year runs from 1 January to 31 December. Annual leave entitlement is 25 days per year pro rata, with an additional 11 customary public holidays pro rata. Pensions Visit Belfast is a member of the NI Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) pension scheme, with a 19.7% employer contribution. Other Benefits Visit Belfast participates in a number of HMRC approved salary sacrifice schemes which allow employees to benefit from goods and services through monthly payroll deductions which provide tax and national insurance savings. About Visit Belfast Visit Belfast (formerly Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau) is a public/private sector partnership funded and supported by Belfast City Council, Tourism Northern Ireland and the private sector. It is the official tourism marketing agency for the Belfast City Region, dedicated to promoting Belfast as a city break, conference and cruise ship destination. It is also responsible for the operation of three gateway tourist information centres, and the Visitor Information desk at the Cruise Welcome Hub. Visit Belfast represents more than 500 tourism businesses and services across the industry including accommodation providers, attractions, conference venues and services, tour operators, transport providers, entertainment venues, restaurants and cafes, pubs and clubs and event organisers. It provides an extensive range of marketing platforms for tourism businesses to promote their products and services to travel trade and consumers. In marketing Belfast as a world class destination, we are keen to work with businesses that reflect the best of what the city has to offer potential visitors. Visit Belfasts core purpose is to create and service visitors for Belfast and Northern Ireland in order to generate an economic benefit for the city region, creating jobs and wealth. More information about Visit Belfast can be viewed here Visit Belfast Company Values People centred - Our welcome is second to none and we embrace it. Our community, stakeholders, partners, visitors and staff are at the heart of everything we do. We strive for an inclusive, warm welcome. Our staff are proud to showcase the city of Belfast and we go the extra mile for visitors and for each other. Responsible - We champion the cities strengths and protect them for future generations. Our vision is clear, future proof our city for generations to come. We encourage our visitors to make sustainable travel choices, enjoy our green spaces and attractions, and support local businesses who are working hard to make Belfast a resilient city. Collaborative - Working together is in our DNA. We share a collective ambition to see Belfast flourish. Partnership is what sets up apart. We share information and insights to ensure our city provides the best offering to our visitors and communities. Influential - We have confidence and conviction to be the best. We lead the promotion of our city. Tourism is a force for good, driving economic, environmental and social well-being. We are results-oriented and driven by our desire to do and be the best. Adaptable- We roll with the punches and punch above our weight Things change, and just like our weather, the world can be unpredictable. Were agile and fast moving, adapting to opportunities and dealing with challenges that lie ahead. No matter what comes our way, we ensure our visitors, staff and communities are front of mind. Honest- We are genuine and our passion for Belfast is real. We promote a city we love and believe in. We share authentic stories and are proud of our progress. We are honest with our communication and promotion, we do what we say and we say what we do. Job Description POSITION: Fixed Term Travel Advisors Part-time (16 or 20 hours per week and On-Call) Fixed Term (January to December 2025) DEPARTMENT: Visitor Servicing REPORTING TO: Acting Head of Visitor Services and supervisory team SALARY: £12.00 per hour. Reporting to the Acting Head of Visitor Services or the Supervisory Team at the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre (VBWC), Travel Advisors are responsible for the provision of an efficient and comprehensive information service primarily for visitors arriving in Belfast and Northern Ireland but also for Northern Ireland residents. Visit Belfast is looking for fixed term Travel Advisors based at the Welcome Centre opposite Belfast City Hall and Belfast Grand Central Station. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Provide an information service on attractions, transport, tours, events, places of interest etc. in Belfast and Northern Ireland for tourists and Northern Ireland residents. The booking of transport and tour tickets, sale of literature, other goods and services and associated cash handling. The daily servicing of email and postal enquiries by the selection of the appropriate literature and necessary correspondence. The selling, cross-selling, up-selling for events, tours, festivals through VBs ticketing system. Sales of gifts through the gift shop at the Welcome Centre, including reaching daily sales targets. Replenish stock levels when needed, making sure the full range is on the shop floor where possible. The daily recording and monitoring of all enquiries and sales from whatever source and completion of the required format. The daily maintenance of information files and records and racking of literature displays. Completion of Visitor Satisfaction Surveys to the required set targets. Procurement of up-to-date publicity and promotional material from all relevant sources for display in, and distribution from the VBWC. The provision of any other form of service with which the post holder may be charged in accordance with Visit Belfasts general activities. Occasional working off-site as required e.g. cruise ships, events etc. To communicate effectively with other Visit Belfast departments to ensure integrated activity across the organisation. Support the team in the development and maintenance of effective working relationships with Visit Belfasts partners, sponsors and the industry as appropriate. PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL Visit Belfast operates a system of performance appraisal set against a set of pre-determined targets and objectives. HOURS OF WORK Current opening hours for the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, which is based just opposite Belfast City Hall are: October to May Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm and 11am to 4pm Sundays and Bank Holidays, June and September Monday to Saturday 9am to 6.00pm and 11am to 4pm Sundays July and August Monday to Saturday 9am to 6.30pm and 11am to 4pm Sundays and Bank Holidays. In July and August in the Welcome Centre there are two shift patterns -9am to 5.30pm or 10.15am to 6.45pm and June and September 9am to 5.30pm or 9.45am to 6.15pm) The Co-share desk at Belfast Grand Central Station is staffed 7 days a week 9am to 5pm and there are two shift patterns 9am to 1pm and 1pm to 5pm. Evenings, weekends, bank & public holiday work will be a normal part of duties. UNIFORM Uniforms will be provided along with the Visit Belfast uniform policy. The VBWC uniform will consist of a branded polo shirt and fleece which should be worn along with plain black jeans and shoes. SMOKING POLICY Visit Belfast operates a no smoking policy, Smoking is strictly prohibited within Visit Belfast sites. Personnel Specification Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria Qualifications A minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade C or above, inc. English and Maths Third level qualification, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline (Travel/Tourism, Leisure/Hospitality, Business or Languages etc.) Relevant Experience Min one years customer service work experience, ideally in a Visitor facing /hospitality role. Proven and demonstrable experience in sales and selling skills. Cash handling / till handling experience. A working knowledge of Belfast and Northern Ireland as a tourist destination Work experience of ticketing systems. Experience of working in the tourist information service, visitor focused position, travel trade or similar Proven and demonstrable experience in sales and selling skills. Special Aptitudes Excellent written and spoken English. Excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills Excellent and demonstrable working knowledge and experience in working with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook (please specify clearly on your application form). Ability to work on own initiative, energy, enthusiasm and team player. Excellent customer care skills Smart appearance Fluency in one European language, in addition to English Circumstances Available to work outside normal hours, as required. Good flexibility and availability across the working week December 2024