Students and those seeking a role in travel should persevere with
applications and make as many connections as possible, according to speakers at
WTM London’s careers summit this morning.
The Institute of Travel & Tourism’s Future You event also heard
about the importance of young people entering the industry and the wide range
of opportunities to boost skills.
Keynote speaker Kate Irwin, EMEA managing director at Skift, told
delegates that she loved her job but admitted: “My career has been like a trip
that has gone wrong. Your career will be a messy story; the messy chapters will
be the best. She offered 10 tips, ranging from ‘make all the mistakes’ and
‘fail loudly’ to ‘graft’ and ‘humour’.
Talking about the importance of hard work, she said that part-time jobs
in her younger days had helped her develop useful, transferable skills
including negotiating and management. She also touched upon the importance of
curiosity and human connections – and resigning from a job where she was not
happy.
Irwin noted how her first public speaking experience had been on an ITT
Future You stage, so this speech felt like a “full circle moment”.
A panel debate with young people in the sector echoed her themes about
the importance of persistence, drive and ambition. Gabriella Hayward explained
how she gained a placement with travel safety consultancy Sanderson Phillips as
part of her degree studying international tourism and transport management at
the University of Surrey.
She had sent out about 200 applications in her search for a placement
and had to put her name out on sites such as LinkedIn. Hayward admitted that
self-promotion was “scary” but advised delegates to be “open, proactive,
curious and driven”.
Harneet Singh Sachdev, account executive at communications agency Black
Diamond, also advocated persistence, noting how he had to overcome problems
with rejections because of his need for a visa. His “rollercoaster” career
began in the tech sector in India, before backpacking after Covid.
He then studied for an MA in international tourism at the University of
Surrey, where he found the ITT offered “so many opportunities” and networking
events.
Now representing Visit Qatar as part of his role with Black Diamond, he
used the acronym TRIP, urging young people to Travel, build Relationships,
Inquire, and be Passionate.
Jessica Garner, trade relations manager at Marella Cruises, gained a
taste for travel when she undertook work experience aged 14 as a travel agent.
Later, she became an apprentice with Tui at a travel agency, then worked
overseas. When Tui introduced its first management degree, she studied for that
qualification and now works with Tui’s cruise brand Marella, liaising with
agents to promote cruises.
She told the audience she is glad that she resisted pressure to go to
college and university as she might not be where she is today if she had
followed that route.
Boris Bijlstra, co-founder of Hubby eSIM, previously worked for
management consultancy McKinsey in Brussels but moved to the start-up to be
more entrepreneurial. He urged delegates to use AI – noting Chat GPT means it
has “never been easier” to code – and said older executives may not fully
understand the tech being used by younger travellers.
Claire Steiner, co-founder of the ITT’s Future You Foundation, said the
Future You event started at WTM 16 years ago and has “taken off enormously”
since then. Make sure you understand the incredible opportunities that we
have…this industry is the best to work in,” she said, pointing out ITT
initiatives that offer tips, inspiration and networking events. You are the
future of this wonderful industry.”
She highlighted a “ground-breaking” new AI collaboration between the ITT and ‘AI for travel’ business SystemsX, helping young people to practise their employability skills.
Danny Waine, business development manager at SystemsX, is also the
founder of consultancy Travel Nomads and co-founder of the Future You
Foundation – and he hosted the panel debate. -TradeArabia News Service