Reservations Careers

Job Title: Reservation Agent

Wages: Starting at $18 per hour

Dates/Hours: March through October, 25-40 hours per week

Location: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington, USA

Reservation Agent Job Description

Engage with people from around the world while working in the heart of Friday Harbor! Reservation Agents are vital conductors of our daily operations, facilitating smooth and welcoming beginnings to whale watch and kayak tours. As the first point of contact, Reservation Agents set the high standard of customer service that San Juan Safaris provides. They are responsible for selling tours, checking in guests, communicating tour information, and supporting the greater San Juan Safaris team. Reservation Agents oversee, support, and coordinate the daily operations of whale watch tours, hourly kayak rentals, and guided kayak tours. This includes responding to emails, managing phone inquiries, engaging customers in person, and becoming an expert on internal booking systems.  

The Reservation Agent position is an integral part of all daily processes and procedures. Staff are expected to understand the functions of other coworkers and assist where necessary. Reservation Agents are of utmost importance as they allow Marine Naturalists and Expedition Guides to focus on executing safe, informative, and fun tour experiences. This position is a contributor to the overall success of the company and works alongside the Reservations & Marketing Manager and Operations Manager. Our goal is to ensure excellent service standards and maintain high customer satisfaction while working in a fun, exciting, team-oriented, and fast-paced environment. 

Major Duties

• Effectively manage large amounts of incoming calls and emails 
• Generate sales in person and over the phone
• Utilize an online reservation system effectively and efficiently
• Operate a cash register and handle money 
• Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction 
• Provide accurate, valid, and complete information by using the provided resources
• Follow communication procedures, guidelines, and policies 
• Complete daily office tasks/procedures 
• Directing coworkers/guests and daily operations  
• Assisting guides and dock staff   

Qualifications

• Customer Service Experience 1+ years
• Strong phone handling skills and active listening 
• Engaging and outgoing personality 
• Ability to adapt/respond to different types of characters 
• Excellent communication and presentation skills 
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time effectively 
• Able to work long hours with some physical activity 

Preferred Skills

• Hospitality or sales education
• Previous work in outdoor recreation
• General knowledge of marine mammals and marine ecosystems

Benefits & Compensation

• Compensation - Wages starting at $18 per hour
• San Juan Island - San Juan Island is one of the few places in the world where you can see killer whales on a regular basis.  Enjoy living on an island where you get the chance to view orcas from shore and join whale watch tours and kayak tours. The islands are beautiful and lend themselves to biking, hiking, birding, boating and kayaking. There is also easy access to mainland Washington and Canada.  Enjoy a summer exploring the islands and all the PNW has to offer.
• Learning Opportunities - Employees have the opportunity to cross-train and learn new skills. Training for your selected position is robust and continual throughout the season. Staff are encouraged to increase their level of professional training outside of work and our professional community supports continued learning. 
• Pro Deals - Employees can apply for discounts on industry gear from top outdoor brands.
• Family & Friends Policy - Family and friends of employees can join whale watching tours at a discounted rate or for free depending on the tour and space availability.
• Equipment Use & Tour Participation - Employees have the opportunity to join any day tour for free on a space available basis throughout the duration of their employment. Employees are also able to use equipment on their own such as SUPs, sit-on-top kayaks, and sea kayaks with the necessary training. 

To Apply

All interested applicants, please include a PDF cover letter, resume, and the contact information for three professional references.  Applications may be addressed to Capt. Brian Goodremont [Owner/Operator] and Bethany Ness [Operations Manager] and sent to info@sanjuanislandoutfitters.com and brian@sanjuanislandoutfitters.com    

All new hires will be expected to be in Friday Harbor, WA, at the latest, April 2026 for training, and work through October. Firm start dates will be discussed with each hire.  

Housing

Staff are required to live on San Juan Island during the tenure of their employment. SJS/SJO will assist seasonal employees in finding summer housing by either renting a room to the employee in the company’s employee housing complexes or assisting in the process of finding a seasonal rental. SJS/SJO is dedicated to ensuring each seasonal staff member has a quality living situation during the duration of their employment. 

Company Mission & Overview

San Juan Safaris is a whale watch and wildlife tour company based in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA. Founded in 1996, San Juan Safaris provides tours focusing on respectful wildlife viewing, education, and conservation efforts. San Juan Safaris offers whale watch and wildlife tours by motorized vessel from March through October. Our sister company, San Juan Island Outfitters, founded in 2008, offers three and five-hour professionally guided sea kayak tours, overnight kayak-camping expeditions, and hourly kayak rentals.

On all tours, an emphasis is always placed on safety, guest service, and respecting the environment. Our goal is to provide a personal, inspiring, and educational experience to each of our guests, while fostering a sense of connection with the marine ecosystem. We hope that our guests will return home with lifelong memories and a new appreciation for the environment.   

San Juan Safaris and San Juan Outfitters are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, veteran or disability status, or genetic information.