Tourism in the UK - Term Paper Example

Introduction As one of the fast growing industry, tourism strongly supports the British economy. Composed of 10.1% of UK’s 2010 gross domestic product (GDP), tourism industry is circulating a total of £140 billion worth of wages, salaries, profits, and taxes in UK economy (World Travel and Tourism Council 2010). Given that tourism economy’s share in the GDP has increased from 9.2% to 10.1% in 2009 and 2010 respectively (World Travel and Tourism Council 2010); it is clear enough that tourism industry in UK would generate more employment opportunities in this particular business sector. General Discussion on Employability The word “employability” is simply pertaining to each individual’s capabilities of being able to be hired for the job post a person wishes to apply. The concept of employability does not necessarily stop with the idea of being hire but also a person’s ability to maintain his/her competitiveness in order to maintain such employment for a long period of time. Considering this point-of-view, employability would somehow indirectly refer to the qualities and skills each person has in order to be able to outstandingly perform a particular task. Globalization has somehow triggered the market competition within the labour market. In order to compete effectively with other small and medium enterprises (SMEs) or large multinational companies, HR managers are being challenged to maintain a number of self-efficient employees who are capable of multi-tasking in order to keep the overhead or cost of labour as low as possible. Considering the tight competition in the labour market today, the qualification requirement from each job post has become more complex in the sense that job applicants who were able to acquire multiple skills and has the ability to easily cope with the continuously changing demand in the labour market are the ones who could easily be hired for their preferred job post. For this reason, each person has to consider the knowledge, skills, and attitude (KSAs) they have acquired over the years in order to learn more about their individual employability for a potential employment. Employability of each individual is more than the academic backgrounds they have acquired from school and universities. Specifically the knowledge of each person outside the scope of academic subjects and attitude are equally important to enable a person be hired or be able to maintain their preferred employment. For example: The job of a bar tender does not stop with having knowledge about mixing cocktail drinks. In most cases, it also requires special skills like juggling some empty bottles as a form of entertainment to their customers. Therefore, it is crucial on the part of each person to learn more about the special skills requirement of each job they wishes to apply. In line with this, each person should consider taking additional training and development courses as a way of improving the skills they already have in response to their employment preferences. Introduction to the Sector of My Preferred Employment The specific sector in tourism that I am considering for future employment is a part of the UK’s tourism services particularly the business travel sector. Despite the recent global economic recession, the business travel sector in UK had been continuously going through the process of developing new business strategies that will encourage more foreign businessmen to invest in the United Kingdom. In general, the business cycle is composed of the peak and trough. Once the UK economy has reached its peak, recession is likely to occur. Once the UK economy has reached the trough level, economic recovery is likely to happen. In line with this, the overall UK economy and the global economic condition have a significant impact over the fluctuations in the demand and supply for business travel consultant. In preparation for the recovery period, new employment opportunities in the UK tourism services are expected to grow because of the possible increase in demand for the services of business travel consultant. Since I was a young child, I have always wanted to entertain and serve people of different race and culture. Because of my personal interest in business, I managed to acquire and develop my knowledge and skills in business not only from a local university but also from my group of friends who are successful young business people. Other than my interest in business, my strong desire to be acquainted with foreign people has always been one of my reasons for enrolling in a tourism course. By knowing some prospective clients who will be in need of my service as a business travel consultant, I will be able to have the opportunity to learn more about other countries’ businesses, their cultural background, unique business ethics, and language spoken. Three Identified Business Travel Firms As a common knowledge, business travel agencies are known for catering services related to business management events like product launching, hosting an award ceremony, business travel conferences, and other related corporate event management services aside from having the expertise in suggesting affordable luxury business holiday itineraries, a business travel that is composed of sports activities like golf or bowling, the search for an affordable and comfortable venue for business conferences among others (TMG Corporate 2010 a). The only difference between a local business consultant and business travel agencies is that the local business consultant firms does not provide business services related to travelling. In line with this, the services offered by business travel agencies include the booking of flight, hotel accommodation, and visa and passport services. With first mentioned business travel firm as my first choice, the three identified business travel firms in UK that I wish to apply include the Travel Management Group (TMG) Corporate, The Travel Counsellors, and the Wayte Travel Management. Specifically the Travel Management Group (TMG) plc is one of the most successful independent travel management companies that offer business services to foreign business people. Established in 1986, TMG Corporate managed to expand its business to three major locations in UK (TMG Corporate 2010 b). Similar to the services offered by TMG Corporate, the Travel Counsellors is another competitive travel management companies in UK that was once featured in the Business Travel World magazine. Since 1994, the company has been a part of the Britain’s top 100 companies that has shown fast business expansion within a short period of time (Travel Counsellors 2010 a). Since the Travel Counsellors is currently operating in seven (7) countries around the world, the company is offering 24-hour customer service support (Travel Counsellors 2010 b). Located in Staffordshire, Wayte Travel Management started offering a comprehensive and independent travel advice to foreign business people since 1980 (Wayte Travel Management 2010 a). Although Wayte Travel Management started offering business travel services in 1980, the company has been established back in 1903 making the company one of the pioneers in travelling services (Wayte Travel Management 2010 b). Discussion with the Personnel of the Three Business Travel Firms A semi-structured questionnaire will be used as a guide when asking significant questions from the HR personnel of each firm. (See Appendix I – Semi-Structured Questionnaire on page 15) Travel Management Group (TMG) Corporate Trisha Watton – the HR personnel of Travel Management Group (TMG) Corporate revealed that the company is always searching for young and talented individuals to join the team in strengthening the commercial division of the business group. As part of the skills, knowledge, and competencies the company is looking for, the job applicant should have competitive expertise when it comes to travel, tourism, and hospitality management. Aside from having the skills on how to build good business relationship with prospective clients, other soft skills which include the ability of the job applicant to communicate well, a good leadership skills, and interpersonal skills are among the common qualifications for the job as business travel consultant. Since a business travel consultant would discuss simple or complex business matters with each of the prospective clients, it is important for the job applicants to have an expertise in the arrangement of business travel programs. It is also crucial for the job applicants to have a good marketing management background since the ability of the job applicant to market the company’s business travel services including the selling of holiday or business travel products would increase the chances wherein the job applicant could maintain the trust and good business relationship with the company’s prospective customers. Managing a business event can cause complicated business problems when mismanaged. Therefore, part of the core competencies that the company is looking for includes not only the expertise in travel and tourism management but also in event management and hospitality management. Likewise, it is also important that the job applicant has already more than five (5) years of work experience as a business travel consultant from other similar and highly reputable business travel companies as this criteria would increase the possibility that the job applicant would be considered for the said job post. Since there will be some occasions wherein the job applicant would be requested to accept direct payment coming from the company’s customers, it is important for each of the job applicant to be trustworthy. Aside from having a degree in travel and tourism and/or certificate as travel consultant, the job applicant should have information technology (IT) skills such as competitive knowledge on computer management, ability to use the internet, and office software like MS-Word, MS-Excel and MS-PowerPoint which are all important when the job applicant would be requested to discuss in public the business travel services that the company is currently offering to its prospective customers. The Travel Counsellors I was told by the HR manager that the business travel consultants of Travel Counsellors can have the opportunity to work at home. For this reason, part of the qualification that the company is searching for from a job applicant includes not only having a competitive knowledge and skills on how to be a successful business travel consultant but also in terms of self-sufficient. By being self-sufficient, Travel Counsellors would provide each of the job applicants the opportunity to establish their own corporate travel business in partnership with the Travel Counsellors. As one of the biggest business travel companies around the world, the top management of Travel Counsellors strongly believes in the importance of have competitive workforce who are capable of taking advantage of their leadership skills, communication skills, and interpersonal skills aside from the technical expertise in managing business travel plan. Similar to the work expectations from other business travel companies, Travel Counsellors require each of the job applicants to have at least five years of working experience as a business travel consultant. Knowledge in the use of information technology such as the internet is crucial part of the job qualification requirements since the job applicant will be expected to not only a wide network of online airfares but also monitor and access the 24/7 online reservation and ticketing on behalf of the client. The job applicant should also possess competency over the use of computer software like MS-Word, MS-Excel, and MS-PowerPoint since the job applicant is expected to properly handle the documentation of the business travel agreement between the company and the customers. In some cases, the job applicant would be required to conduct PowerPoint presentation to target customers. Since the company would require all business travel consultants to attend the annual regional mini conference, the job applicant is expected to be able to properly manage their time between their commitment to the customers and the company. For this reason, job applicants are expected to work flexibly based on the time requirements of their individual work demand. Aside from having a positive attitude when dealing with prospective customers, business enthusiasm coming from the job applicants is equally important since the job would require each of the job applicant to work for a minimum of 35 hours each week (Travel Counsellors 2010 c). Given that business travel consultants are expected to close a business deal with each of the prospective customers, knowledge on marketing and sales management, interpersonal management, travel and tourism management are important factors that could enable the job applicant to become a successful business travel counsellor. The Wayte Travel Management After speaking with the HR manager of Wayte Travel Management, I was told that soft skills like communication skills, leadership skills, self-awareness, interpersonal skills, commitment in work goals, flexibility in managing complex work-related problems, ability to work in team, and knowledge in information technology are among the basic skills and knowledge requirements for job applicants who are dreaming of becoming a successful business travel consultant. Aiming to persuade the target customers to patronize the business travel services offered by Wayte Travel Management, communication skills include not only the ability of the job applicant to communicate verbally but also in the form of writing. Since there would be occasional situations whereby the business travel consultant will have to provide small-group presentation and discussion about the different travel management services offered by the company, the job applicant is expected to create their own documentation and PowerPoint presentation to enable them fulfil their responsibility as a business travel consultant. Although the work of business travel consultant requires self-sufficiency, there would still be cases wherein the business travel consultant would be requested by the company to work together with other business travel consultants. As part of work flexibility, the job applicant is expected to be able to willingly work in team with other business consultants. As a future business travel consultant, the job applicant should be able to lead and motivate other newly hired business travel consultant as a leader. Part of the skill requirements of Wayte Travel Management is self-awareness because the ability of each applicant to learn more about their individual work-related strength and special skills will provide them the confidence needed to fulfil the job requirements of a business travel consultant. Aside from having the ability to relate well with other people of different race and cultural background, the job applicant is expected by the company to have the initiative to solve minor problems that will occur during the dealing process with each of the prospective customer. Reflective Discussion of the Skills the Three Firms Required from a Potential Employee The skills requirement of the three firms is similar to one another in the sense that business travel companies are expecting each of the job applicant to become flexible at work not only in managing their own time but also when working together with other people as a team. In most cases, these companies are expecting each of the potential employees to have existing work experiences when it comes to dealing with domestic and international customers regarding the business travel services offered by the company. Since each of the business travel consultants are expected to sell business travel services to its target customers, the business travel consultant are expected to have the expertise in negotiation and marketing strategies in order to capture the interest of its target clients. Because of the tight market competition, these three companies are making use of e-marketing and online business practices to minimize the cost of hiring too many people to join the team. Since most of the business travel companies are heavily relying on the use of their corporate website, these three companies are expecting their potential employee to be competitive when it comes to the use of computer software, the internet, and maximizing the use of the corporate website. Relationship between the Employment Skills Requirement in Business Travel Firms and Tourism Management The mentioned skills requirement is strongly related to the course of Tourism Management in the sense that professional individuals who are working for sectors related to tourism are required to develop their leadership skills, communication skills, and interrelation skills in order to enable each employee to effectively build a good working relationship with their target customers. Since working for a company under a specific tourism sector is most likely to deal with foreign customers, the practice of work diversity and work flexibility in terms of the time and cultural differences between the business travel consultant and the target customers becomes an important part of the job requirement. Future Plan and Goals in Improving my Professional Skills, Knowledge, and Competencies In order to improve my knowledge and expertise in dealing with foreign customers, I plan to apply for a job in one of the local travel agencies that are willing to accept fresh graduates. Taking this as a stepping stone towards my future career goal as a business travel consultant would increase my exposure and knowledge on how travel agencies would search and book for affordable and cheap airfares and hotel accommodation based on the preferences of each customer. Aside from increasing my knowledge in travelling, continuously dealing with foreign customers would enable me to enhance my interpersonal and communication skills while working with the travel agency. After having at least 4 – 5 years of work experience in travel agency, I would start searching for business travel firms that are willing to accept young enthusiastic individuals to join the team and provide necessary trainings and development programme for their first-time business travel consultant. This work opportunity will provide me the opportunity to earn better work experience as a business travel consultant before I join one of the three firms I have dream of being employed. Conclusion The overall experience of this coursework has provided me the opportunity to identify and think through the work qualifications and skills requirement of the business travel firms I plan to join after finishing this course. Since most of the well-established business travel firms are looking for well-experienced business travel consultant, I plan to strengthen my working experience by joining a travel agency and a small-scale business travel firm to enable me to improve my communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills required for my preferred job. Going through this coursework did not only allow me to identify the skills requirement of my preferred job but also reflect on strategic ways on how I could enhance and improve my knowledge on tourism. In the absence of this coursework, I may be able to complete the Tourism Management course without having any clue on how I could find and be qualified for the professional career I wish to establish within the UK tourism sector. *** End *** Appendix I – Semi-Structured Questionnaire Good morning/afternoon. I am ____, a student from ____ university taking Tourism Management course. As part of the completion of my coursework, I would like to personal seek your approval before I conduct a brief interview regarding the work qualifications and skills requirement for the job position as a business travel consultant. 1. Does _____ (name of firm) employ fresh graduates of Tourism Management course to join the team as a business travel consultant? 2. How many years of previous work experiences as a business travel consultant does your company require from a job applicant? 3. What are the specific skills the company requires from each of the job applicant who wishes to become a business travel consultant? 4. Are there specific knowledge requirements and competencies required from each of the job applicants aside from the soft skills requirement you have just mentioned? Thank you so much for your time. References British Hospitality Association, 2010, November 4. New hotel construction will continue into next decade. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 December 2010]. TMG Corporate, 2010 a. Official Website. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 December 2010]. TMG Corporate, 2010 b. About Us. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 December 2010]. Travel Counsellors, 2010 a. About Us. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 December 2010]. Travel Counsellors, 2010 b. Business Travel Careers. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 December 2010]. Travel Counsellors, 2010 c. Business Travel Careers. What do we expect from you? [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 December 2010]. Wayte Travel Management, 2010 a. Wayte Business Travel Management. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 December 2010]. Wayte Travel Management, 2010 b. Why choose Wayte Travel for your company's business travel arrangement. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 December 2010]. World Travel and Tourism Council, 2010, July 22. TRAVEL & TOURISM CRITICISES “SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS AND BAD JUDGEMENT” OF CUTS TO DCMS. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 December 2010]. Read More