NEWS SPECIAL REPORT 2023 TRAVEL


There are a lot of preconceived ideas about working in travel and tourism and many of them are wide of the mark. We asked people from across the industry to explain the reality behind the myths


“Travel is a hobby, not a career”


THE FACTS: Helen Roberts is sales director at Kuoni, a luxury tour operator that also has its own shops


Travel is a passion of mine and I am a backpacker at heart. Just because I’m doing what I love to do in my spare time, doesn’t mean I’m not in for the long- haul. In my role I’m driven to chase and smash targets, to create an incredible


travel retail experience that nobody can better. I lead a team, I strive to inspire them and we are a family. I started out working with the products we sell, but then realised sales was my thing and I’ve continued to progress. Members of my team have gone on to lots of different roles, such as programme managers, training executives and area sales managers. They’ve learnt how to build relationships, inyÕinVi «io«li] ni}oÌi>Ìi] time manage – oh, and see the world! To get in to a senior role it’s all about graft and trying new things, putting yourself out there, going to events, helping in other departments, building external and internal relationships and believing in yourself and your team. I can’t think of a better place to build your career.


world! To get in to a senior role it’s all b


10 takeoffintravel.co.uk 11


Good read: Abta’s Vicki Wolf says: ‘This year’s edition of Take Off in Travel is particularly important as recruitment and retention is a real challenge and priority for the industry’


ROUTES INTO


TRAVEL 30


Take Off in Travel does a great job showcasing that variety. “The pandemic hit the travel


industry especially hard, so it is important that we get the message out there that travel is back and that working in the industry will provide you with a great career no matter which area you wish to specialise in.” There are also 23 sponsored


company showcases in the guide, highlighting career opportunities and perks within specific travel businesses. Take Off in Travel 2023 was


officially launched at Travel Weekly’s first People Summit in London on Monday this week, where sessions included discussions about recruitment and retention of staff in the travel industry.


travelweekly.co.uk


travel roles within the industry, to emphasise the variety of careers available to new entrants.


•


Find your perfect role


Think there’s only a handful of job opportunities in the travel industry? Well think again, with the help of our handy A-to-Z guide


Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, chief operating officer, Hays Travel


20 20


Jonathon explains how he went from being an appren tice to running the UK’s biggest independent travel agency, which is the headline sponsor of Take Off in Travel


takeoffintravel.co.uk takeoffintravel.co.uk


Q: Talk us through your career? A: In 2004, I was studying international tourism in high school. I wanted to be a holiday rep, but I wasn’t old enough at the time, because you had to be 18. Instead I decided I wanted to work and earn, so I applied for a two-year apprenticeship programme. I completed it in 2007 and became a travel consultant. That same Þi>À] ÜinÌ on mÞ wÀÃÌ iÛiÀ educational – a seven-night cruise from Barbados. I spent wÛi Þi>ÀÃ in Ã>liÃ] LÕÌ m>`i the decision in 2008 to try something new. I moved across inÌo oÕÀ wn>nVi Ìi>m ÜiÌhin hi>` ovwVi Ìo LiVomi >n inÌiÀn>l auditor, which is very different. If I’d never made that move, I probably wouldn’t have achieved the position that I’m in today.


Q: How did your career progress? A: I did my accountancy µÕ>liwV>Ìionà Ühili Ü>à >Ì


They knew by investing in the people who worked for them that it would pay off in the long ÀÕn >n` LiniwÌ Ìhi LÕÃiniÃð Then back in 2020, Dame Àini


>ÞÃ >Ãki` mi iv ÜoÕl`


consider taking on the role of Vhiiv o«iÀ>Ìin} ovwViÀ° >lÜ>ÞÃ had an ambition to become a director of the business. I said to our apprentices, when I spoke to them on Zoom recently, it’s you guys who are the future of >ÞÃ /À>Ûil°


>Þð


Q: What do you love about the travel industry? A: Some people are put off by the rate of pay, but it’s the most exciting industry. What other industry allows you the opportunity to travel the world? 9oÕ½Ûi }oÌ Ìo Ì>ki Ìhi LiniwÌÃ that you get working in the industry as well – being able to see the world in a different way. When we get to travel, we enjoy it because we get to experience it how a customer would.


Q: Do you have a favourite trip that you’ve done? A: One of the highlights when I was in sales was winning a Virgin Atlantic competition to go to South Africa for 10 days; seven of the days we did work for a charity. I was so lucky. It was just knowing that the industry does more than just sell holidays, it has an impact.


Q: Do you have a career highlight from the last 18 years? A: When I was head of VommiÀVi>l] >vÌiÀ


livÌ wn>nVi


and moved into the commercial team, I felt responsible for some of the successes we were having as a business. You could see the difference that that deal had on the overall business. The most recent highlight is actually being given the opportunity to become Vhiiv o«iÀ>Ìin} ovwViÀ° čÌ Ìhi >}i of 32 I was appointed to run the largest agency in the UK. And I love just being able to bring people on in the business.


A


Account management Represent a company or clients to grow awareness and sales in the travel industry


Advertising Creative and business- focused roles booking and developing TV, newspaper or online campaigns for a travel company or in an advertising agency


Airlines


Pilots and cabin crew staff the aircraft,


supported by colleagues in customer service, sales, technology, engineering and manufacturing


Airports VIEW FROM THE TOP Associations


Membership rganisationso g i«ÀiÃinÌ Ã«iViwV ÌÀ>Ûil sectors, offering training,ining, consumer guidance and government o


consumer guidance and government lobbyingl bbying


Membership or anisations Ài«ÀiÃinÌ Ã«iViwV ÌÀ>Ûil sectors, offering tra


takeoffintravel.co.uk takeoffintravel.co.uk


Q: What tips do you have for those applying for a job in travel? A: From a sales point of view, we look at personality, and it’s >LoÕÌ Vonw`inVi° nÌiÀÛiiÜà can be quite nerve-wracking, so the advice I would give is to just show your true personality. It’s good if you can demonstrate skills and be ambitious as well. But personality is what really counts. In travel, people buy from people. We always say that if you’re approachable, and you can maintain a good relationship, then you should be able to yoÕÀiÃh ÜiÌhin oÕÀ LÕÃiniÃð


Q: What’s the best thing about your job? A: It’s the people I work with – that’s what makes me get up in the morning and go to work. And the industry – every day is different. I know that seems a bit of a cliche. It never gets boring; it’s really exciting.


The next generation


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+ CNUQ NQXG JGNRKPI YKVJ VJG EQOOWPKV[ RCTVPGTUJKR s QWT DTCPEJ QTICPKUGU DWU VTKRU VQ VJG 'FKPDWTIJ %JTKUVOCU OCTMGVU CPF YG FQPCVG VJG HWPFU TCKUGF VQ C FKHHGTGPV EJCTKV[ GCEJ [GCT 6JG DGUV VJKPI CDQWV DGKPI CP CIGPV KU UGGKPI EWUVQOGTUo UOKNKPI HCEGU YJGP VJG[ IGV VJGKT JQNKFC[ DQQMGF Jessica Evans, assistant manager, Cramlington


Security guards, special assistance teams, baggage handlers and ground staff work with senior managers to keep airports ÜoÀkin} ivwViinÌlÞ


B Business travel


Arrange business trips from within a company’s travel department or in an external travel agency


C Call centres


Sell holidays by phone or online and deal with customer enquiries or feedback after a booking is made


Campsites and holiday parks Work directly with guests taking bookings or running activities, or behind the scenes in maintaining the site and its facilities


Car hire


Help get travellers where they need to go with jobs in sales, administration, accounting, marketing and servicing vehicles worldwide


Coachoper Drivers and tour guides help run holidays by coach, as well as reservations staff, operations managers or itinerary planners


Coach operators


Drivers and tour guides help run holidays by coach, as well as reservations staff, operations managers or itinerary planners


Conference, meeting and incentive bookers Work with hotels and resorts around the world to organise big events and exhibitions that bring business people together


photos or stories that showcase a destination or brand for use on social media, websites, marketing and brochures


Content creator Create inspiring videos, photos or stories that showcase a destination or brand for use on social media, websites, marketing and brochures


Cruise lines


This dynamic sector includes a variety of sales, commerce and management positions as well as jobs on board, from entertaining guests as cruise director to captaining the ship


g


as well as jobs on boar from entertaining gues as cruise director to captaining the ship


´ 21


31


WHAT’S INSIDE?


O MYTHBUSTING: Young people may have pre-conceived ideas about what working in the travel industry entails. We speak to experts to dispel these myths and to present a more realistic view of what it’s like to work in the industry.


A-Z: We present an A-Z of


biggest sectors to highlight their importance within the travel industry. We also speak to those in work across a wide range of jobs.


SECTOR IN FOCUS


O SECTORS IN FOCUS: From aviation and cruise to selling travel and travel technology, we take an in-depth look at some of the


We outline some of the ways that people can enter the travel industry, including university


• •


and college qualifications and apprenticeships, and outline the benefits of each.


VIEW FROM THE TOP: Hays


Travel’s chief operating officer, Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, reveals how he rose through the ranks after starting at the company as an apprentice.


ROUTES INTO TRAVEL:


17 NOVEMBER 2022


17


PICTURE: David Armour


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