Travel, Tourism and Hospitality

This page has been designed to give a starting point for those looking into careers in travel, tourism and hospitality.

What are careers in travel, tourism and hospitality?

The sector can be divided into two parts - the travel industry and the tourism services industry. These include transport services, accommodation, food and drink establishments, travel agencies, transport rental and cultural, sport and recreation services. Due to its very nature, jobs are available worldwide, either through overseas airlines and tour operators or through UK companies that have international offices and opportunities.

Although it is, to some extent, an unpredictable sector (due to unexpected events such as economic recession, natural catastrophe and industrial action, for example) it is resilient and generally regarded as quick to recover. (source - AGCAS 01.2013)

Local Employment

Service sector employment makes up a significant part of the local labour market. In total, 18.8% of workers in Brighton and Hove are employed in service industries, compared to 16.6% in the South East and 17.2% nationwide. See www.brighton-hove.gov.uk for more information.

How do I get into it?

Finding a job or employer in this sector

  • The Appointment
    The careers magazine for retail, fashion and hospitality which includes vacancies and industry news.
  • Caterer and Hotelkeeper Jobs
    Industry news and a jobs page searchable by sector
  • directline-holidays.co.uk
    This is a Croydon and Brighton-based travel company that has an ongoing requirement for travel and tourism students.
  • Flight Global
    Includes vacancies and a list of employers and agencies.
  • H Careers
    Restaurant, retail, hotel, and hospitality jobs
  • Hospitality Online
    Hospitality, catering, leisure and tourism opportunities.
  • Hospitalitystaff.co.uk
    A searchable database of current vacancies in the hospitality industry.
  • Hotel Jobs
    UK hotel and hospitality industry listed by job category and area of the country.
  • Inretail
    Retail jobs site including news, links to retail companies.
  • Jobs2click.com
    Hospitality, catering, leisure and tourism opportunities.
  • Leisuretourism.com
    Free career service for all those working in the fields of leisure and tourism.
  • Retail Careers
    Vacancies section of The Appointment magazine.
  • Retail Moves
    UK vacancies website.
  • Travel Job Search
    UK-focussed job site with some overseas opportunities.
  • Travel Trade Gazette
    Excellent source of news from the sector and vacancies nationwide.
  • Travel Weekly
    Industry news and job vacancies searchable by sector.

Further Information and Useful Links

  • Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA)
    'Our purpose is to help our members to grow their businesses successfully and sustainably, and to help their customers have confidence in their travel experience.'
  • Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers
    The ALMR is the network of entrepreneurial retailers and industry suppliers that champions the smaller independent companies that own and operate pubs, bars and restaurants in UK.
  • Association for Student Residential Accommodation (ASRA)
    Promotes and supports the professional activities of individuals working in student accommodation, provides a network for information and opportunities for professional development and a forum for representation, consultation and discussion of professional interests.
  • British Beer and Pub Association
    The British Beer and Pub Association is the leading body representing Britain’s brewers and pub companies.
  • British Hospitality Association
    The BHA is the leading representative organisation in the hospitality industry, representing hotels, restaurants and food service providers.
  • British Institute of Innkeepers (BII)
    BII is the professional body for the licensed retail sector with charitable status and a remit to raise professional standards
  • Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
    A registered charity and the professional voice for environmental health.  It sets standards, accredits courses and qualifications for the education of members and other environmental health practitioners.
  • Guild of British Coach Operators
    Works to enhance the status of members and increase the opportunities for development of members' business.
  • Institute of Hospitality
    The professional body for individual managers and aspiring managers working and studying in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry. Includes careers and professional development advice and vacancies.
  • Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT)
    ITT shows its commitment to careers and education by recognition of good practice, student awards, consultancy and much more.
  • International Air Transportation Association (IATA)
    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 240 airlines or 84% of total air traffic.
  • International Association of Tour Managers
    IATM is the professional association of experienced tour managers (active members), founded over forty years ago and having members all over the world.
  • People 1st
    The sector skills council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism in the UK.
  • Tourism Concern
    Aims to effect change in the tourism industry by campaigning for fair and ethically traded tourism.
  • Tourism Management Institute (TMI)
    TMI is the Destination Management section of Tourism Society.We are a network of professionals who promote and develop destinations across the UK, Europe and worldwide.
  • The Tourism Society
    'Our aim is to drive up standards of professionalism in a fast-growing global industry which can have major social, economic and environmental impacts on communities and nations.'
  • World Tourism Organisation
    UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
  • World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)
    WTTC is the forum for business leaders in the Travel and Tourism industry.

Key points

  • There are a whole range of careers available within travel, tourism and hospitality.
  • The service and hospitality industries are a major part of the local East Sussex economy.
  • A large number of people are self employed.