The Travel and Tourism industry is full of opportunities for enthusiastic, energetic people who enjoy a challenge. Few industries present you with so many career options. Sales, marketing, customer care, overseas tour representative and product development are just a few of the careers open to you.
ABTA members alone employ over 130,000 people in the UK and the number of people travelling abroad increases every year.
Click on one of the links below to find information on the type of job in which you are interested or information on qualifications. The information below should serve as a general guide. Specific requirements may differ from one company to the next.
| Travel Agent | Customer Service and Complaints Consultant |
| Overseas Tour Representative | Contracts and Procurement |
| Marketing | Sales |
| Call Centres | Where to get information about Qualifications |
For tips on how to prepare for interviews and how to write a professional curriculum vitae visit the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's website and click on the section entitled Helpful Checklist of Jobseekers. http://www.rec.uk.com/looking-for-work-portal.htm
Travel Agent
Travel Agents are essentially sales people who advise travellers on the holiday and travel options available to them. This includes advising customers as well as selling and booking holidays and ticketing various travel itineraries including air, sea, rail, car and other transportation, accommodation, sightseeing and tours. Increasingly customers are requesting tailor made package tours which require the agent to organise the entire holiday. New joiners should be aware that working in a sales environment can be pressured. Concessions are available for personal travel.
Attributes:
- Friendly, outgoing personality
- A good eye for detail
- Numaracy
- Ability to use historical or geographical knowledge
- PC literacy essential
- Patience and the ability to deal with difficult customers
- Work well under pressure
- Able to deal with emergencies from time to time and not be easily flustered
- Enjoy selling and introducing different possibilities to customers
- Able to work with customers
- an ability to communicate well in both written and verbal form
- good interpersonal skills
- Function well as part of a team
- Work well under pressure
Qualifications for the above posts:
On the job training is usually provided. However, the following qualifications would be an advantage.
NVQ/SVQ in travel and tourism.
GNVQ/GSVQ in travel and tourism.
ABTA's Travel Agents Certificate (ABTAC)
Customer Service and Complaints Consultant
Job description:
Customer service and complaints consultants are responsible for responding to any queries, concerns or complaints from customers or members of the public. This involves investigating and responding courteously to all correspondence and telephone enquiries. In some cases you would be responsible for issuing compensation if necessary following company guidelines. You would have to ensure all letters and calls are correctly logged and bring any significant problems to the managers attention.
Qualifications:
No required qualifications for entry level positions although an N/SVQ in Customer Services would be an advantage. Companies often provide in-house training or send employees on a customer service course.
Attributes:
- Ability to communicate well in both written and verbal form
- Good interpersonal skills
- Function well as part of a team
- PC literacy essential
- Patience and the ability to deal with difficult customers
- Work well under pressure
- Enjoy working with and helping people
- Able to deal with emergencies from time to time and not be easily flustered
- Enjoy selling and introducing different possibilities to customers
- Able to work with customers most of the time
- Work well under pressure
Overseas Tour Representative
Job description:
Tour Representatives are responsible for ensuring that customers have a good holiday. It is their duty to deal with any problems that might arise once in resort. They are responsible for holding welcome meetings, handling complaints and resolving problems. Tour represetatives are often responsible for the sale of excursions and for acting as a guide on day and evening excursions.
Qualifications:
No required qualifications for entry level positions although a GNVQ/GSVQ
NVQ/SVQ would be an advantage. Tour representatives usually have to be over 18 years of age.
Attributes:
- Ability to use own initiative
- Prepared to travel within the UK and/or abroad
- Ability to relate to people of all kinds and nationalities
- Knowledge and interest in the arts and culture
- An interest in history and geography
- Enjoy working with and helping people
- Able to deal with emergencies from time to time and not be easily flustered
- Enjoy selling and introducing different possibilities to customers
- Able to work with customers
- Ability to communicate well in both written and verbal form
- Good interpersonal skills
- Function well as part of a team
- Work well under pressure
- A foreign language would be an added advantage.
Contracts and Procurement
Job description:
Contracts and procurement staff deal with major contracts in important locations. They are responsible for negotiating and contracting brochure accommodation, transportation and excursions. Part of the job is to identify suppliers of the goods/services at the right quality, quantity and price. The job requires travelling to locations to negotiate with suppliers.
Qualifications:
On the job training is often provided but a qualification is always an advantage. Qualifications suitable for contract and procurement are a business related Degree or Postgraduate qualification or an HND/HNC in business studies.
ABTA's Tour Operator Cetificate (ABTOC)
Attributes:
- Travel within the UK and abroad
- Ability to relate to people of all kinds and nationalities
- Numeracy
- Ability to use own initiative
- Enjoy selling and introducing different possibilities to customers
- Ability to communicate well in both written and verbal form
- Good interpersonal skills
- Function well as part of a team
- PC literacy essential
- Work well under pressure
- A foreign language would be an added advantage.
Marketing
Job description:
The marketing department is responsible for marketing the companys brand and products to maximise revenue and sales volumes. This includes formulating the advertising campaigns and ensuring that the web site transmits correct messages. Part of the job is to review the cost of current distribution channels and identify new channels of distribution. Members of the marketing department are responsible for maintaining effective communication and working relationships with external suppliers, including direct marketing and design agencies, translation and typesetting, printers and other suppliers.
Qualifications:
Educated to degree level. Most universities and colleges offer courses in marketing. Professional qualifications are an advantage. For more information contact the Chartered Institute of Marketing (www.cim.co.uk).
Attributes:
- Good organisational skills
- An excellent understanding of marketing principles
- Computer Literacy
- Excellent communication & presentation skills
- Outgoing personality
- Ability to coordinate projects
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and cope well in a pressured environment
- Good interpersonal skills
- Function well as part of a team
- PC literacy essential
- Enjoy selling and introducing different possibilities to customers
Sales
Job description:
The sales department is responsible for producing detailed sales plans and is responsible for achieving sales targets. The sales department works closely with the marketing department with regard to target setting. They are responsible for liaising with other departments to determine the range of goods and services offered to the market.
Qualifications:
A degree is not essential but may be an advantage. Many companies will provide training. If you are considering a degree, choose a vocational or commercial subject as this will provide you with suitable skills for sales.
Attributes:
- Enjoy selling and introducing different possibilities to customers
- A friendly, outgoing personality
- Good telephone skills
- Compute literate
- Skilled in sales techniques
- Outstanding communication skills and customer focus
- Ability to engage and manage a diverse range of clients and prospects and consistently out perform operational and financial targets
- Able to work in fast paced environment
- Enjoy working with and helping people
- Able to deal with emergencies from time to time and not be easily flustered
- Able to work with customers
- Function well as part of a team
Call Centres
Job description:
The main part of the job entails dealing with telephone queries from potential customers in a friendly and efficient manner. An ability to convert calls into sales is essential. There is no face to face contact with customers making good telephone skills essential. Call Centre Agents are required to understand the companys products and campaigns and be expected to achieve sales targets. Part of the job is to maintain records of sales calls, both manually and computerised.
Qualifications:
A degree is not essential and many companies provide training. If you are considering a degree, choose a vocational or commercial subject as this will provide you with suitable skills for sales.
Attributes:
- Enjoy selling and introducing different possibilities to customers
- A friendly, outgoing personality
- Good telephone skills
- Compute literacy
- Skilled in sales techniques
- Outstanding communication skills and customer focus
- Able to work in fast paced environment
- Enjoy working with and helping people
- Enjoy selling and introducing different possibilities to customers
- Able to work with customers
- Good interpersonal skills
- Function well as part of a team
Where to get information about Qualifications
Career advice at schools and colleges
Most schools and colleges provide careers advice. It is always useful to use your school and local colleges facilities as a starting point for research into career options.
There are a number of options open to you if you are interested in a career in travel. Many of the top executives working in the travel industry have started from scratch and worked their way up in the industry on the basis of their experience and ability. This is still a popular and credible route. However, these days you also have the option of gaining a qualification while you are working. This could be through NVQ's/SVQ's or Modern Apprenticeships. You can also gain qualifications through a part-time college course or through distance learning.
Modern Apprenticeships are aimed at 16 to 24 year olds who are looking for a career in travel. A useful starting point for information about these entry routes into the industry is Springboard UK which is dedicated to providing information about careers in the Tourism and Hospitality industry.
The SpringboardUK website provides information about all entry routes into the industry and a useful tool for all age groups. Go to http://www.springboarduk.org.uk/careers/entry.asp .
People 1st is the Sector Skills Council for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry www.people1st.co.uk
TTC Training also has a very useful website which will provide you with a list of companies in your area that are currently offering Modern Apprenticeships. Visit www.ttctraining.co.uk for further information or call 01483 727321.
Those wishing to obtain a Higher Education qualification should contact UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Services for the UK). They will be able to provide you with a list of colleges and universities offering the tourism or hospitality course that you are interested in. Visit www.ucas.co.uk or call them on 01242 222444.
The Department for Education and Skills is the government department responsible for education, training and lifelong learning. Here you will find advice on funding and financial support.
It should be noted that ABTA itself is not a training provider other than in its role as an organiser of seminars and skills training courses for members. Details of the ABTA Seminar programme can be found at www.abtamembers.org/seminars . In addition, it recognises excellence in training and career development within the ABTA membership through the Gold Award scheme. Details of this scheme can be found at www.abtamembers.org/goldaward
Click here for current job vacancies within ABTA member companies
Click here for any current vacancies at ABTA.