Students should obtain as much professional experience as possible during their college years.
Students majoring in travel and tourism can enhance resumes with professional experience from working at semester long internships during the summer or in seasonal positions. Jobs in travel and tourism vary from resorts, travel bureaus, national parks to event management agencies. Position wages may vary from hourly, monthly stipend or unpaid work. Applying the tools that are learned in the classroom aids the student with practical knowledge and prepares the student for an entry-level position upon graduation.
Hospitality Internships
The hospitality industry is a major aspect of tourism employing thousands of people world-wide.
The hotel industry features a variety of specialized areas, some examples are: sales, finance, human resources, marketing and human resources. Gaining experience with internships or seasonal positions is an effective way to get "the foot in the door" and obtain networking skills. Hilton hotels offers the Hilton Worldwide College Portal which provides students with a minimum of junior status internship opportunities. Limited seasonal positions are available for freshman and sophomores. Recent graduates can explore entry level opportunities in areas of revenue management, front office, housekeeping, sales or finance within Hilton vacation resorts or full-serviced hotels.
Travel Agencies
Students can gain valuable experience coordinating and promoting travel agencies.
Students who want a career working in travel without being an actual travel agent can find "other" summer or semester internships with national travel agencies. Most of these positions are unpaid but provide a knowledgeable experience. STA Travel provides two opportunities for current students and recent graduates. Students can either apply for marketing and public relations internships or become a brand ambassador with the promotion of STA Travel through outreach programs. Contiki Travel also offers group internships including tour planning, operations, marketing and sales with compensation for travel and university credit. (See reference 3)
Tour Companies
Work and play in Alaska for the summer with Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Seasonal positions or internships are available within tour companies. Most companies operate in high tourist areas and provide hourly pay or stipend along with food and housing. Alaska Wildland Adventures provides eco-tourism tours and lodging within Denali and the Kenai Peninsula. In 2007, The Wall Street Journal recognized AWA as "one of the Nation's Top 15 Winning Workplaces". ( See reference in comment box). Opportunities include management, hospitality, driving, outdoor leadership and adventure programming internships.
Tourist Bureaus
Travel bureaus provide valuable experience to understand how local tourism operates.
Tourist Bureaus across the United States offer internships or part time positions for students at local colleges. Basic office duties, marketing and event planning are some of the responsibilities of the student employee. Students can also find employment with local travel bureau shops to provide maps and travel information for incoming tourists.
National Parks and Resorts
Students can spend the summer in Yosemite National Park with a seasonal position as a tour guide.
National Parks, beach or ski resorts provide internships and seasonal experiences for students or recent graduates. Hospitality, tour guide, recreation, management or travel agent positions are just a few areas of operations. Coolworks.com displays hundreds of positions available for students in the seasonal months. With positions located across the globe, students can find positions within the United States or as far as Antarctica.
Tags: Alaska Wildland, Alaska Wildland Adventures, human resources, internships seasonal, National Parks, positions available