Most jobs in the travel & hospitality industry are challenging, exciting, and satisfying. Because of the 24-hour nature of the business, positions can also be exhausting, stressful, and intense. Travel careers are for individuals who enjoy working with people and welcome daily challenges. The industry is also an avenue for people who love the excitement of travel.
Some of the abilities and traits necessary for a successful career in the tourism industry include: interpersonal skills, communication skills, sales and marketing techniques, empathy, perhaps being multi-lingual, computer literacy, office technology, and a sincere desire to continue learning after formal schooling.
Training Programs
Travel & Hospitality schools are available around the world, and range in scope from certificate, associate, and bachelor's degree programs, to master's and certified travel specialist programs.
Course Structure
Typical travel program courses could include:
- Introduction to the Travel Industry, which would explain the jargon of the industry, introduce career opportunities, and focus on future career choices.
- Tourism Geography, the study of world geography as it pertains to travel and tourism.
- Reservations, a study of the terminology and methods necessary for implementing and designing itineraries.
- Travel Operations, an in-depth look at all the material available to the tourism industry to facilitate explaining and selling different modes of travel.
- Sales & Marketing Skills
- Computer Skills, including data processing, letter writing techniques, and airline/hotel computer usage.
- Tourism, a capstone course combining previous course work to summarize and understand the tourist and defining the current trends in the tourism industry.
- Other course work could include specialization in destinations, modes of transportation (tours, cruises,etc.), and higher level computer courses.
Salary Potential
Salaries will vary with starting positions, however, travel school graduates generally advance very quickly. Since this is the tourism industry, there are many perks for the travel professional. Free or discounted rates are available for airlines, major hotels, sightseeing tours and cruises around the world.
Job Opportunities
Your resume for success includes opportunities in the following areas:
TRAVEL AGENCIES - accounting assistant, accounting supervisor, agency manager, corporate account manager, corporate travel counselor, cruise sales manager, cruise salesperson, customer service agent, database administrator, group agent, group sales manager, leisure travel counselor, leisure travel counselor international, marketing assistant, marketing director, meeting planner, outside sales agent, quality control agent, receptionist, ticket control clerk, and webmaster.
AIRLINES - account executive, accountant, administrative manager, crew scheduler, customer service rep, dispatcher, district sales manager, groups sales support manager, marketing manager, rate desk agent, regional sales manager, reservationist, sales rep, sales support manager, ticket agent, and tour and convention sales manager.
HOSPITALITY - property manager, sales department, accounting, automation, concierge, food and beverage, front desk, group sales coordinator, and reservation clerk.
According to Bill Connors, CTC, Senior VP, Meetings, Education, Member Services at ASTA, "ASTA believes that the travel agent community will grow and prosper. Business models will shift, but personal, unbiased travel advice will continue to be in demand and that demand will grow. There are tremendous opportunities in this business, and it still is one of the most exciting industries to work in anywhere!"
The opportunities available to you are almost endless.
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