Longing for a life in the sun? Consider a career in the travel industry

Alongside the cabin crew and travel agent roles that make up the face of travel and tourism, the industry opens up a world of career paths perfect for graduates to explore. Whether you want to get into management or a career in digital technology, Peter Jenkins owner and managing director of Sun-hat Villas & Resorts, a specialist in Algarve villas, takes us through five big industry roles.

Hotel management

If you have a talent for working with others and an unrivalled skill for organisation, then you could be suited for a career as a hotel manager. With a degree in hospitality, you will be able to take on the responsibility of a hotel overseas, managing the reception, catering and cleaning staff as well as working with suppliers and guests. Alongside management, this role also involves a great deal of financial accountability, so you will need to be able to handle budgets for a range of services – all to deliver impeccable customer service.

As a hotel manager, you will find that the majority of your day will be spent out of the office working with your staff or speaking to guests. Graduate schemes for hotel management positions are common, so it can be easier to get into than other positions.

Travel videographers

For those with a creative flair, a travel videographer career offers graduates opportunities to combine work with travel. This does not mean that you’ll simply be lounging on beaches every day; in fact, the job can be quite demanding as it calls for long hours on location which can be far from home. On the upside though, you may end up filming for shows ranging from A Place In The Sun to adventure shows with Bear Grylls.

Since the job requires you to work in a studio, it is important to have experience working with the latest editing software packages.

Travel writer and journalist

Similar to videographers, travel writers have the brilliant opportunity to take their career to the skies. With a journalism degree and work experience with a magazine or blog in the UK, you can gain some valuable journalism training and experience, teaching you how to negotiate with editors and how to pitch in features when abroad.

The role can be difficult to get into, so it is worth starting a blog in your own time and building an online presence using social media. Getting your work noticed is one of the most important aspects of this career, so begin picking up freelance opportunities as soon as possible and network with journalists in the industry.

Like any travel role it is crucial to understand that it is not a holiday, and you must be prepared to do your research on the destination, carry out interviews and go to places you wouldn’t usually choose.

Teaching overseas

While a degree is not always needed to teach English language overseas, it is a popular choice for young people, so the more experience and qualifications you have helps you stand out against the crowd. Those interested in this career path will first need to do some research in the country they want to work in and find out the specific requirements needed to apply.

The best way to get into teaching English language overseas is through a TEFL course, which will teach you how to break down the language barrier, create assessments and exercises and how to organise lessons.

Web developer / digital marketing

Of course, not every role in travel deals directly with the customer or the day-to-day running of a hotel or range of villas.

Digital degrees allow graduates to enter almost every industry with ease, taking on roles such as web developer, technical support and digital marketing. With a degree in web design or computer science, you could take on the responsibility of designing and building a travel provider’s website and ensuring it responds well to customers. An English or marketing degree on the other hand could place you in a digital marketing role where you would create targeted media adverts to attract guests and customers to book a holiday.

In web development, experience is essential so it is important for graduates to take opportunities in relevant roles while at university, whether this is through internships, placements or just coding in their spare time. Alongside this, a successful developer should have a keen eye for detail and the ability to prioritise and work on multiple jobs with different deadlines.