Travel Consultant
What They Do
Provide information and advice for people wishing to travel. They organise itineraries, make bookings and assist customer with visas, passports and inoculations. They finalise travel arrangements, prepare a detailed itinerary, make all the necessary bookings and issue the appropriate tickets. In some large organisations, a travel clerk under the travel consultant's supervision will do the routine part of these tasks.
Where they work:
Travel agencies, bank travel departments and government tourism authorities.
Special requirements:
Need to be familiar with current rates and discounts available for air, sea and road travel in Australia and overseas, and to keep up-to-date information on tours available, health requirements, luggage allowances, and many other topics of interest to tourists. Also need general knowledge of climate, dress requirements and living costs at different destinations.
Career Paths:
There are no specific prerequisites, but to become a travel clerk or trainee, Year 12 level is preferred, knowledge of mathematics and a language other than English is an advantage.
Future Prospects:
It is now becoming common for travel consultants to have tertiary qualifications in marketing, psychology or other related fields, and new degree/diploma courses are becoming available that are designed specifically for people working in the tourism industry.
Training:
On-the-job training is normally given, often combined with part-time study at a TAFE college. Short courses in particular aspects of the travel industry are often part of the training, and airlines and other suppliers conduct free courses for travel industry personnel when introducing changes in their booking or ticketing procedures.
Convention Coordinator
What They Do
Convention coordinators organise meetings, conferences or conventions on behalf of a fee paying client. Convention Coordinators in hotels and conference venues may perform the following tasks:
Prepare a submission to the organisation wanting to host a convention
Negotiate the type and cost of services to be promoted within a budget
Seek out a sponsor for the budget
Organise the venue and make sure it is appropriately set with seating and décor
Arrange for the production and printing of promotional material
Liase with service providers such a s caterers and transport
Undertake travel and accommodation bookings for delegates and guests
Where they work:
Usually work for large hotels or convention venues and companies that provide a convention management service. Opportunity to be self employed.
Special requirements:
Effective management skills, well developed oral and communication skills, computer literacy, able to negotiate, delegate, work under pressure, able to be flexible, and work flexible hours, work with groups and individuals.
Training:
Look for a qualification in tourism that gives training in meetings and events. Higher level qualifications will lead to more advanced skills in Meetings, Conference, Exhibition and Events Management.
Retail Travel Consultant
What They Do
Provide information and advice for people wishing to travel. They organise itineraries, make bookings and assist customer with visas, passports and inoculations. They finalise travel arrangements, prepare a detailed itinerary, make all the necessary bookings and issue the appropriate tickets. In some large organisations, a travel clerk under the travel consultant's supervision will do the routine part of these tasks.
Where they work:
Travel agencies, bank travel departments and government tourism authorities.
Special requirements:
Need to be familiar with current rates and discounts available for air, sea and road travel in Australia and overseas, and to keep up-to-date information on tours available, health requirements, luggage allowances, and many other topics of interest to tourists. Also need general knowledge of climate, dress requirements and living costs at different destinations.
Career Paths:
There are no specific prerequisites, but to become a travel clerk or trainee, Year 12 level is preferred, knowledge of mathematics and a language other than English is an advantage.
Future Prospects:
It is now becoming common for travel consultants to have tertiary qualifications in marketing, psychology or other related fields, and new degree/diploma courses are becoming available that are designed specifically for people working in the tourism industry.
Training:
On-the-job training is normally given, often combined with part-time study at a TAFE college. Short courses in particular aspects of the travel industry are often part of the training, and airlines and other suppliers conduct free courses for travel industry personnel when introducing changes in their booking or ticketing procedures.
Tour Guide
What They Do
Accompany domestic and international tourists on organised tours, attend to their needs and provide information. Meet members of a tour on arrival and make introductions. Coordinate accommodation and ensure comfort. Advise members of local interest points and provide commentaries. Coordinate group activities such as visits to local attractions, restaurants or shops, train rides and cruises. Attend to operational problems such as booking errors, lost luggage or illness. Liaise with the coach driver recording suitable routes for the planned itinerary; and maintain written reports of daily activities and carry out other administrative work.
Where they work:
As shopping guides, site guide eg museums, cultural centres, theme parks and sporting facilities, Local guides, Driver guides, Ecotour guides, Indigenous Adventure guides require specialist recreational skills eg white water rafting, bush walking and mountaineering.
Special requirements:
Tour guides must have organisational ability; excellent general knowledge of Australia, excellent detailed knowledge of the regional touring area, able to think logically, good communication skills, good health. The ability to speak another language is a definite advantage, must be flexible, and tour guides must have patience and tact.
Future Prospects:
Employment prospects for tour guides have been improved by the continuing growth in the number of tourists, especially from Japan, other Asian countries and the USA. Employers often find it difficult to recruit tour guides who can speak Japanese, and certain other Asian languages, fluently.
Training:
There are no specific educational requirements to enter this occupation. Year 10 or equivalent is an advantage. Employers often seek mature people with experience in a people-related field of work. In-house training is usually provided to successful applicants. Additional training is given as the need arises, eg when a new tour is developed.
Conditions of Employment:
The job is often physically demanding. During a tour, guides must be available at all times to answer questions or sort out problems. Manual work such as loading or unloading baggage or other equipment may be required. Tour guides are often required to spend time away from home.