Travel and Tourism Jobs
Many of the jobs in the tourist industry are seasonal. The work can involve acting as a resort representative or courier for a package holiday firm based in Britain. Some knowledge of foreign languages is useful for sorting out problems with the local populace, though many of the people you will be dealing with (including the tourists in your charge) will speak English.
There are permanent jobs, too, but most are British based with off-season visits to resorts to negotiate terms with hotels and local travel agencies. One of the best ways to land such a job is to approach a package holiday firm direct. Here is a selection you might try:
Thompson Holiday, Greater London House, Hampstead Road , London , NW1 7SD.
Club Med, 115 Hamersmith Road, London, W14.
Ski Total, 10 Hill Street, Richmond, Surrey, TW9
Club Cantabrica, Holidays Ltd., 146-148 London Road, St Albans AL1 1PQ
Eurocamp Travel, Summer Jobs, PO Box 170, Liverpool, L70 1ES.
Mark Warner Ltd, 20 Kensington Church Street, London, W8 4 EP.
Simply Ski, 598-608 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5RT.
Canvas Holidays, 12 Abbey Park Place, Dunfermline, KY12 7PD.
First Choice Ski, 18 Marine Parade, Brighton BN2 1TL.
However virtually every travel organisation takes on extra staff during the holiday season, and for addresses you have only to look at travel advertisements in newspapers and magazines or the agency www.voovs.com.
The association of British Travel Agents, 68 Newman Street, London W1P 3PG or The Association of Independent Tour Operators, the Knoll House, Pursers Lane, Peaslake, Guilford, Surrey GU5 9SJ, should be able to provide a list of their members.
A few travel companies advertise in The Guardian on Mondays and in Overseas Jobs Express. Vacancies are also notified to Job Centres through the Overseas Placing Unit.
Children's holiday camps represent a growing sector in tourism, and require supervisors, instructors, medical and support staff. Organisations, such as Camp America , Camp Counselors USA and BUNAC recruit for such camps in the USA . But there are also opportunities in Europe withsuch organizations as:
Villiage Camps, 1260 Nyon, Switzeland. www.villiagecamps.com. PGL Ltd, Alton Court, Penyard Lane, Ross on Wye HR9 5GL, Herefordshire. www.pgl.com.
If you are in search of adventure as well as work, you could join and overland tour operator as a driver/guide. In many cases you will need to have an HGV or PSV license, and since you could find yourself in remote areas the ability to communicate in foreign languages and do mechanical repairs is generally demanded. Among the companies currently operating in the field are:
Encounter Overland Ltd, 267 Old Brompton Road, London SW5.
Exodus Expeditions, 9 Weir Road, London , SW12 0LT.
Top Deck Travel, 133 Earls Court Road, London SW5 9RH.
Finally, if you are fond of the sea there are opportunities aboard passenger cruise liners, ferries, cargo ships and tankers. A list of shipping lines appears in The Traveller's Handbook or you could contact agencies such as the Maritime Leisure Group (www.maritimeleisure.com) or Berkley Scott Selection (www.bsplc.co.uk).
Reference:
Travel Trade Directory , Morgan Grampian Books, 30 Calderwood Street, London SE18 4QH
Working in Ski Resorts - Europe, V. Pybus and C. James (Vacation Work Publications)
