Allotment
An allotment is a block of rooms, seats, or spaces that travel providers (like hotels or airlines) reserve for travel agencies or tour operators to sell. It's like having a guaranteed inventory that travel professionals can offer to their customers. Think of it as a pre-arranged agreement where hotels or airlines say "we'll hold X number of rooms/seats for your company to sell until a certain date." This helps travel businesses ensure they have availability for their customers, especially during peak seasons. The term might also appear as "room allotment," "seat allotment," or "block booking" in job descriptions.
Examples in Resumes
Managed Allotment contracts with 50+ hotels across Europe, achieving 95% fill rate
Negotiated Room Allotment agreements resulting in 30% cost savings
Optimized Block Allotment management for peak season bookings
Typical job title: "Allotment Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Allotment Managers
Professional Networks
Industry Events
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle an oversold allotment situation during peak season?
Expected Answer: A senior manager should discuss contingency planning, relationships with alternative suppliers, customer communication strategies, and preventive measures for future seasons.
Q: What strategies do you use to optimize allotment utilization?
Expected Answer: Should explain monitoring booking patterns, release period negotiations, dynamic pricing strategies, and how to balance between different market segments.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you negotiate allotment contracts with hotels?
Expected Answer: Should discuss understanding of seasonal demand, pricing structures, release periods, and maintaining good supplier relationships.
Q: Explain your process for managing multiple allotments across different destinations.
Expected Answer: Should describe organization systems, tracking tools, deadline management, and coordination with various stakeholders.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is a release period in allotment management?
Expected Answer: Should explain that it's the deadline by which unused rooms must be returned to the hotel to avoid charges, and basic tracking methods.
Q: How do you monitor allotment usage?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic tracking methods, regular checking of booking levels, and communication with sales teams about availability.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of allotment contracts
- Monitoring booking levels
- Release period tracking
- Simple inventory management
Mid (2-5 years)
- Contract negotiation
- Relationship management with suppliers
- Booking pattern analysis
- Problem-solving with overbookings
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic allotment planning
- Revenue optimization
- Market trend analysis
- Team leadership and training
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of release periods or cancellation policies
- Lack of experience with seasonal booking patterns
- Poor communication skills
- No knowledge of travel industry booking systems
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