Travel and Tourism

What are the career opportunities in travel and tourism?
There are a variety of jobs within different segments of the industry such as airlines, cruises, tour companies, travel agencies, convention centers and visitor’s bureaus, hotels, car rental agencies, and incentive travel companies to name just the most obvious. Within these, jobs can include flight attendant, tour escort, reservations agent, cruise director, hotel front desk, travel consultant, convention center manager, airline gate agent, group travel coordinator, and all aspects of sales and marketing for the different types of companies. Also consider a career as a travel videographer or photographer, a cartologist, travel writer, inn-sitter, tour guide at various types of destination attractions, and theme park employee. There are travel trade organizations with entry-level positions as secretary, receptionist and membership representative and career advancement to marketing director, executive director and research and analysis director. Due to an increase of positions in internet companies, many of the reservations as well as design input careers are geared to the web. If you are interested in the challenge of learning about the world, its destinations, and culture and helping people fulfill their dreams, this is an exciting industry. Analysts predict that by the year 2010, one in nine people on the planet will be involved in some form of hospitality and tourism.

What’s in it for YOU?
If you enjoy change, challenge, helping people and seeing the world, it’s an exciting industry. The benefits that can be enjoyed are opportunities to travel at reduced rates for transportation, accommodations, tours, and cruises as well as on-the-job variety.

Why choose a school with a Travel & Tourism degree program?
Students with the competitive edge of having studied the basic theory of travel and the skills of a travel professional can be employed in various parts of the industry. Salaries vary from segment to segment of the industry, but can range from entry level (national averages of $13,000 to $18,000 per year) to sales and management (averages of $35,000 to $100,000 plus, per year).

Employers have a comfort level of knowing that the student has participated in practical exercises, which simulate real work experience, and have gained an understanding of world-wide destination geography and cultures; domestic and international travel; airline reservations; air tariffs; fare construction; airline documentation; travel salesmanship; accommodations and car rentals; cruises; tours; hands-on airline computer training; marketing; and management.

It is important that the degree program has an on-line computer classroom, so that students can gain hands-on, live airline reservations computer training, focusing on airline computer fundamentals, building reservation records, airline seat availability, hotel and car rental bookings, fare quotes and pricing, client preference profiles and auxiliary services.

Accreditation by leading industry associations, as well as accredited lecturers, is important to both the student and the employer. Faculty members should be qualified professionals in the travel industry. An advisory committee should be comprised of well-respected travel industry professionals who, on a regular basis, share with the faculty the latest needs of the industry. Internship programs should provide students with an opportunity to gain on-the-job experience and knowledge prior to graduation.

What are the characteristics of a successful travel professional?
A professional business image and a focused, travel and tourism degree are advantages in this “glamorous” career. However, because of the “glamour” associated with the wonderful word of travel, it is important to be people-oriented and patient, detail-oriented, accurate, sales-minded, versatile, able to deal with constant change, open-minded, knowledgeable in geography, and have a desire to travel and learn about destinations.

Editorial provided by Julie M. Saluke, CTC, Travel and Tourism Program Coordinator at Sinclair Community College in Dayton.