How do you become a holiday rep? If you love people, working as a holiday rep can be one of the most rewarding and high-reward jobs in the hospitality industry. Rep jobs are available all over the world, and the positions and courses can be offered in a variety of countries. In this article, I will look at what a holiday rep does and how you can get started in this exciting profession.
How do you become a holiday rep? Well, there are some routes into this job. Firstly, you could study for a degree in tourism and business management at tertiary level. You would need to have an overseas bachelor’s degree before embarking on your chosen career path, and you may also be expected to undertake some work experience in your chosen industry.
Some people prefer to set up their own company, and some prefer to go through the traditional route of public sector recruitment. If you have good public speaking skills, and you have an interest in helping people organise their holidays, you should consider a role as a public representative.
Public representatives have a number of duties, including communicating with travellers about their facilities and services, touring resorts, and assisting hotels with their customer service. A good representative will also be involved in the tourist industry, speaking to both holidaymakers and representatives from local businesses. You will be an organising force, but your main aim is to make sure that the resorts and hotels provide first-class service. In this regard, you would also sometimes be required to oversee the facilities management prevalent in the hotel.
Another option is to go through the hands-on approach. As a holiday representative for a tour operator, you will have an excellent opportunity to help travellers plan their trips. You will deal with both the hotel and the tour operator on behalf of the client. You will have an important role in the resolution of any problems that may arise, and your input will help to resolve any issues that guests have during their stay. You can organise all the arrangements for their accommodation, from arranging airport transfers if necessary and arranging room vacancies at suitable hotels and resorts.
A holiday representative for a travel agent will be even more specialised in her role. As a travel agent’s holiday representative, you will be able to organise excursions, tours of key locations, and trips to the most popular tourist attractions in the destination country. Your main job will be to get the best deals for the customers, and you’ll often need to make personal contact with each of your guests and arrange for them to be provided with accommodation when they arrive at their destination.
The tourism industry is one of the most lucrative sectors globally, with numerous tour operators, resorts, and hotels operating worldwide. Thanks to innovative minds, technology has significantly enhanced the industry’s efficiency. For instance, online booking systems have streamlined operations and you can check out this online booking system as an example of technology making things easier for tourism businesses to thrive.
Exploring opportunities within this industry has, therefore become, worthwhile. Wondering why there’s an emphasis on joining? If you’re an avid traveler, for instance, and already work as a holiday representative for a tour operator or hotel, you might be able to establish your own practice. Moreover, many tourism companies offer courses in international hospitality, providing valuable skills for aspiring leaders in the field. Opting for a course that teaches essential skills can pave the way for a successful and financially sustainable career in tourism.
If you want to learn how to become a holiday representative for any of the major tour operators or resorts, then you should look to your employers first. Your employer will be in touch with tour operators and resorts every single day, and they will also be looking for a backpacker to work for them on a permanent basis. In fact, many companies prefer to recruit backpackers over local people simply because they are cheaper to employ. Therefore, if you are offered a chance to become a holiday representative for a reputed tour operator, then you should take it as seriously as any other job.
Reputable corporate holiday representatives for large tour operators will also have a range of job opportunities available to them from accommodation staff to restaurant workers and everything in between. You could even decide to set your own rates for the tourists that visit your company, which could earn you an excellent income each month. Finally, if you have the necessary skills and contacts, you might consider becoming a private tour representative, arranging trips for other companies’ representatives and taking part in organising sports events.
