Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Accomplishments
References
Continuous Professional Development
Timeline
Generic
JUDE ARAFIENA

JUDE ARAFIENA

Lagos

Summary

Experienced travel and immigration specialist with over 20 years of professional experience in the Nigerian travel sector, including 10 years providing Nigerian immigration and travel services to Shell Nigeria. Proven expertise in visa procurement, client advisory, flight itinerary organization and leadership of cross-functional teams within a high-volume travel agency environment. Adept at managing complex immigration processes, coordinating with embassies and VACs, and ensuring full compliance with national and international travel regulations.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Managing Director

TRAVEL TRIBE LIMITED
Lagos
10.2016 - Current
  • Company Overview: TRAVELTRIBE.NG
  • End to end birds eye view of the entire travel business
  • Sourcing and acquisition on Corporate Travel Contracts – Oil & Gas
  • Maintenance and sustenance of corporate travel
  • Overview and management of business finances
  • Business and corporate liaison.
  • Provided specialized Nigerian immigration services (STR, TWP, residence permits) to international organizations including NGOs, embassies, and multinational firms
  • Negotiations and renegotiations on corporate travel contracts – Oil & Gas
  • TRAVELTRIBE.NG

Business Travel Manager (Shell)

SHELL NIGERIA EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION COMPANY
12.2013 - 10.2016
  • Company Overview: SNEPCo
  • Facilitated expatriate entry/exit clearance and residence permit processing through liaison with the Nigerian Immigration Service.
  • Delivered internal staff training on evolving immigration policies and embassy-specific requirements.
  • Maintained a tracking system for all visa, travel, and residency-related processes of expatriates workers.
  • Coordinated with Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and diplomatic missions to resolve visa or travel documentation issues.
  • End to end supervision and management of the Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) corporate travel account
  • The deployment of an OBT (online booking tool) and support for the tool; customized as the Shell Business Traveler (SBT)
  • Supervision and managing of the different units of Shell corporate travel; local and international flights, hotel accommodation, immigration services, vendor services invoicing, overseas travel allowance (OTA) and airport protocol services
  • Different smart data collation monthly, quarterly and year-to-date (YTD); analysis and reporting
  • Managing the Shell travel policy and ensuring execution and compliance
  • Negotiations and renegotiations of discounted airline fares and hotel accommodation rates
  • Managing the provision of ancillary and value-added services.
  • Provided customers with accurate information regarding visa application, requirements, deadlines and procedure.
  • Maintained updated knowledge of changes in immigration policies and procedures.
  • SNEPCo

Sales Manager

The Staff Company
07.2012 - 12.2013
  • Company Overview: MJRTOM Limited, London, United Kingdom (London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games)
  • Providing public relations and customer service to the general public with high interpersonal and communication skills
  • Sales management and distribution of Coca Cola and Heineken brands
  • Sales report and reconciliation
  • Administrative duties, staff resourcing and welfare
  • Advertising, communications and promotions of Coca Cola, Heineken and other new brands
  • MJRTOM Limited, London, United Kingdom (London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games)

Business Travel Consultant

SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
08.2005 - 05.2008
  • Company Overview: SPDC, NIGERIA
  • Advised clients on border entry requirements and ensured their compliance with international travel protocols to facilitate seamless travel.
  • Built strong relationships with airlines, embassies, and immigration authorities to resolve client travel issues swiftly.
  • Supported international Shell staffs in obtaining Nigerian visas, including protocol liaison with the Nigerian embassy/consulate.
  • Handling the Shell corporate travel account, Shell travel process, negotiating corporate deals and achieving cost savings
  • Flights, hotels and car hire bookings/reservations, confirmation, tickets issue and reissue
  • Proactively make reservations and bookings using Amadeus GDS which is in line with the Shell travel policy in anticipation of travel request approvals
  • Profiling, record keeping, data entries and updates of company profiles into the data base for customers and clients
  • Protocol services, customer services and passenger/baggage handling
  • SPDC, NIGERIA

Travel Consultant

SENTINEL TRAVELS AND TOURS LIMITED
01.2000 - 01.2005
  • Company Overview: LAGOS, NIGERIA
  • Processed immigration documentation for employees of international organizations operating in Nigeria.
  • Handled escalation cases requiring special clearance from Immigration HQ
  • Coordinated travel arrangements for international and domestic trips.
  • Acted as liaison between field teams, Nigeria Immigration Service and senior management, facilitating efficient project communication.
  • Assisted customers in making changes to existing itineraries or canceling trips.
  • Developed strong relationships with vendors to enhance service offerings for clients.
  • Marketing of travel products and services
  • Attend to travel requests by telephone, e-mail and walk-in customers with a view to meeting their travel needs
  • Flight and hotel bookings and reservations on Galileo GDS
  • Protocol services, baggage handling and ensuring timely job completion and customer satisfaction
  • LAGOS, NIGERIA

Education

MA - Airline & Airport Management

University of West London
02.2013

PG. Dip - Airline & Airport Management

University of West London
02.2013

International Diploma Certificate - Travel and Tourism

University of Cambridge
03.2005

International Foundation Diploma Certificate -

International Air Transport Association (IATA)/UFTAA
03.2005

B.Sc. - Geography and Regional Planning

University of Benin
01.1998

Skills

  • Team management
  • Passport checks
  • Immigration application review
  • Data analysis and reporting
  • Corporate travel management
  • Diplomatic skills
  • Immigration case file strategies
  • Visa processing
  • Itinerary development
  • Business development

Affiliations

12/01/07, ITT (Institute of Travel & Tourism), FULL MEMBER, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Accomplishments

  • 05/01/14, The deployment of the Shell Business Traveler (SBT). Pioneering the online corporate booking tool in the Oil & Gas industry in Nigeria.
  • 05/01/09, Shell commendation, recommendations and appraisals on the implementation of company Travel Policy and work operational guidelines through proactive and efficient use of initiative with attention to details.

References

Available on request

Continuous Professional Development

  • 07/01/12, Security Industry Authority (SIA) Door Supervisor License G4S Pedestrian Screening Area/ Occupant Screening Area Screener Training
  • 10/01/10, The Business Travel Conference (TBTC 2010) London. United Kingdom
  • 03/01/08, Amadeus Training on Electronic Ticketing, Sales returns and Refunds
  • 08/01/05, Certificate on Amadeus reservation systems (Basic functionalities)

Timeline

Managing Director

TRAVEL TRIBE LIMITED
10.2016 - Current

Business Travel Manager (Shell)

SHELL NIGERIA EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION COMPANY
12.2013 - 10.2016

Sales Manager

The Staff Company
07.2012 - 12.2013

Business Travel Consultant

SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
08.2005 - 05.2008

Travel Consultant

SENTINEL TRAVELS AND TOURS LIMITED
01.2000 - 01.2005

MA - Airline & Airport Management

University of West London

PG. Dip - Airline & Airport Management

University of West London

International Diploma Certificate - Travel and Tourism

University of Cambridge

International Foundation Diploma Certificate -

International Air Transport Association (IATA)/UFTAA

B.Sc. - Geography and Regional Planning

University of Benin

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