Tour Host and Partnerships Officer

Airi Handmade is a pioneering digital platform dedicated to discovering, celebrating, and amplifying the rich tapestry of niche African businesses. We serve as a curatorial bridge connecting exceptional African creative innovators with global audiences who value authenticity, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. Through thoughtful storytelling and strategic...

The Tour Host and Partnerships Officer is responsible for both conducting guided sessions and building a robust referral network across the hospitality sector in Watamu and Malindi. This position acts as the primary representative for Airi Handmade Studio to hotels, resorts, accredited guides, and tour operators, with a key objective of driving guest volume through these established channels. The role encompasses planning and executing guided sessions, fostering and managing partnerships, ensuring an excellent guest experience, and maintaining accurate records and reports.

1. Plan and conduct guided sessions in Italian and English for various groups and participants.
2. Present each collection with precise details regarding the maker, origin, material, and production technique, adhering to approved interpretive content.
3. Operate in accordance with the studio's established procedures.
4. Ensure all guided sessions commence punctually.
5. Maintain the presentation, cleanliness, and security of the collection and studio premises.
6. Identify, engage, and secure referral partnerships with hotels, resorts, private villas, accredited guides, and tour organisers in Watamu and Malindi.
7. Conduct regular weekly visits to front office, concierge, and guest relations departments of partner properties.
8. Administer the partner booking code system, including issuance, tracking, and verification of referrals.
9. Prepare referral payment schedules for approval by the Marketing Director.
10. Communicate session schedules, group rates, and seasonal offers to all partners.
11. Maintain an up-to-date register of partners, including contact details, visit records, and referral performance.
12. Manage guest arrivals, bookings, and enquiries efficiently.
13. Request post-session reviews on platforms such as TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide, and Airbnb Experiences.
14. Record and escalate guest feedback to the Marketing Director.
15. Collect guest contact information for marketing purposes, ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2019, and obtaining guest consent.
16. Record daily attendance, bookings, and referral sources in the studio's shared tracking system on the day of each session.
17. Submit a daily session report and a weekly partnership report to the Marketing Director.
18. Participate in weekly review meetings with the Nairobi team via video call.
19. Provide photographic and written session content to the marketing team.

1. Hold a Diploma or degree in Tourism Management, Hospitality Management, Travel Operations, or a related field, or possess equivalent professional experience.
2. Have a minimum of two (2) years of experience in tourism, hospitality, guiding, guest relations, or sales.
3. Demonstrate professional fluency in spoken English.
4. Reside in Watamu or Malindi, or be willing to relocate before the start date.
5. Be proficient in using WhatsApp Business, Google Sheets, and various online booking platforms.
6. (Desirable) Possess a working knowledge of the Italian language.
7. (Desirable) Have established professional contacts within the Kenyan coastal hospitality sector.
8. (Desirable) Hold accreditation as a tour guide with a recognised Kenyan body.
9. (Desirable) Have knowledge of African material culture, craft, or design.
10. Exhibit strong public presentation and group facilitation skills.
11. Demonstrate excellent relationship management and negotiation abilities.
12. Show punctuality and operational discipline.
13. Possess accurate record-keeping and reporting skills.
14. Be capable of working independently with remote supervision.
15. Have effective cross-cultural communication skills.