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Travel, Tourism And Hospitality Careers
If you enjoy travelling, meeting new people, working closely with others, and performing a wide variety of tasks at work, then a career in travel, tourism and hospitality might be the ideal choice for you.
Some of the career opportunities you can pursue in the tourism and hospitality industry include:
- Barista
- Bartender
- Catering Manager
- Chef
- Event Planner
- Flight Attendant
- Food and Beverage Manager
- Hotel Manager
- Hotel Receptionist
- Lodge Manager
- Reservations Clerk
- Restaurant Manager
- Rooms Division Manager
- Spa Manager
- Theme Park Assistant
- Tour Guide
- Travel Agent
- Waiter
As you can see from this list, the field of travel, tourism and hospitality presents you with a wide range of exciting career opportunities to choose from.
So What Is It Really Like To Work In Travel, Tourism And Hospitality?
A career in travel, tourism and hospitality can be both exciting and fulfilling, as well as demanding and stressful. Some of the key elements of a career in this industry include:
- Working closely with many different types of people.
- Placing a strong focus on customer service and customer satisfaction.
- Working long and irregular hours.
- Taking responsibility for a wide variety of tasks and activities.
- Having access to opportunities to travel or to work overseas.
Keep in mind that working conditions may vary greatly from one job to another. A travel agent, for example, may be office-based (and work regular office hours), while a restaurant manager may work long shifts that are mostly spent on the restaurant floor. When you choose a career path, you should keep these differences in mind, as they may affect your job satisfaction and your chances of success in your future career.
What Do I Need To Do If I Want To Pursue A Career In Travel, Tourism And Hospitality?
You don’t need any special qualifications to work in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. There are many entry-level jobs that will enable you to gain experience and to work your way up the ranks in your chosen career. There are also a number of internships and in-house training opportunities that you can apply for.
That being said, however, many employers will give preference to candidates who are able to include relevant training and qualifications on their CVs, particularly when it comes to filling more senior and more lucrative positions.
It is therefore a good idea to study a relevant course in tourism and hospitality, even if you choose to do so on a part-time basis while you work to earn money and to gain experience.
In addition to relevant training and experience, you will also need the following skills and characteristics if you want to succeed in a career in the tourism and hospitality industry:
- Customer service orientation
- Knowledge of relevant computer systems
- Business and financial skills
- Communication skills
- Leadership and teamwork skills
- Strategic thinking skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Well-groomed appearance
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Attention to detail
Want to know more about specific jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry?
Read this article: Top 10 Careers in Tourism and Hospitality
