Tourism and Hospitality Schools in British Columbia

Hospitality, Travel and Tourism

Who doesn't get a bit excited upon hearing the words "tourism" and "travel?" If you love working with people and get excited about everything this industry entails, then perhaps working in the dynamic hospitality, travel and tourism industry is the right career move for you. our list of local travel and tourism schools around British Columbia can help you find the right people to call.

Career Choices:
The tourism sector is actually made up of five different industry groups – accommodation, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, transportation and travel services. With such a huge range in job possibilities, from working in restaurant hospitality to resort business management to adventure tourism, this industry provides seemingly endless career choices.

Job titles:
People with a tourism degree or a hospitality degree can find themselves working a variety of roles over the years, from beginner to experienced. Here are some job possibilities: Food and beverage manager, bartender, casino dealer, conference and event planner, outdoor adventure guide, accommodation service manager, hotel front desk clerk, food counter attendant, human resources professional, kitchen helper, food and beverage server, cook, chef, food service supervisor, travel agent, hotel manager, flight attendant, bed and breakfast owner, chief concierge, customer service agent, event manager, housekeeper, rental agent, reservation sales agent, airline customer service agent, fares and ticketing agent, tour guide, tour operator, tourism researcher, travel writer, travel counsellor, travel photographer, heritage interpreter, pilot, waiter, waitress, taxi driver or golf club manager.

Potential employers:
People in this field may work at hotels, resorts, restaurants, recreation centres, airlines, cruise ships, spa and wellness centres, golf clubs, event planning companies, tour companies and casinos, among many other places.

Some specific employers in Western Canada:
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Delta Hotels, Air Canada, Parks Canada, Cara Operations Limited, Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts, Hilton Restaurant Group, Century Hospitality Group, WestJet, Coast Hotels & Resorts, Executive Hotels & Resorts, Marriot Hotels, Princess Cruises, Gap Adventures

Salary:
The salary of an employee in this industry can vary widely, depending on the person's specific role as well as the employer. For example, a banquet server may make only $9 an hour, but a general hotel manager at a large hotel chain could make a six-figure salary, according to the 2008 Canadian Tourism Industry Compensation Study. Often, the stated salaries of employees in this industry don’t include tips or other incentives that may bump up their take-home salary.

Benefits:
Most tourism organizations offer the usual benefits, like health/dental care – however, many entry-level hospitality, travel and tourism jobs are part-time or seasonal, so those employees may not receive benefits.

Number of people employed in this field:
In 2006, the total tourism sector employment in Canada was 1.66 million people, which represents 10.3 per cent of all employment in Canada, according to a report released by the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council in 2009.

Education requirements:
Although in the past, many jobs in the hospitality and tourism sector required hands-on experience as opposed to a strong focus on academic training, most employers these days now prefer employees to demonstrate a combination of experience and post-secondary education. Many colleges and universities offer a range of certificate, diploma, degree and post-graduate degree programs in the hospitality, travel and tourism field. Many of these schools also offer practical training, in addition to the academic training. Co-op programs give students the chance to develop practical skills on the job.

Length of education:
Certificate programs in the hospitality, travel and tourism industry typically last one year or less and are intended for people who wish to gain front line positions in the industry. Students can also choose to take two-year diploma programs in areas such as tourism accounting and financial management, hospitality management and even ski resort operations. Meanwhile, four-year degree programs are intended to offer the students a pathway to a life-long career and teach students management-level skills useful in more senior positions.

Hospitality, travel and tourism courses:
Obviously, with such a huge range in the variety of jobs in this industry, courses offered by hospitality colleges and hospitality schools will depend on the program you choose. However, here are some courses that may peak your interest within this industry: travel tourism course, customer service training, project management course and hotel management course, among many others.

What can high-school students do to get a head start in this field?
The Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism (CATT) offers high-school students the chance to delve into the tourism industry while still attending their regular school. Students in grades 10 to 12 can follow the regular curriculum with a "specialization" in tourism. Check here to see if our school is a CATT school! The Canadian Academy of Travel and Tourism

Special certification available in industry:
People in the hospitality, travel and tourism industry may work towards gaining Emerit Professional Certification. Developed by the Canadian Tourism Human Resources Council, Emerit Professional Certification is offered in a variety of occupations within the tourism sector and is nationally recognized. Learn more here: Emerit Tourism Training

Working conditions:
Most people in the tourism industry work in service-oriented environments. Often, that means customer service is a big part of the job and to be expected in tourism industry jobs such as waiters, tour guides, hotel managers and more. Safety training is also important for people in the tourism work environment.

Typical hours of work:
Although there is a wide range of work hours depending on the specific job, many people who work in the tourism industry will not work the typical nine to five office hours. For example, taxi drivers and hotel front desk clerks can expect to do some shift work, while pilots and flight attendants can expect to work irregular schedules that most likely change from week to week.

Future trends for this path:
In the past couple of years, the tourism sector was hit hard by the global economy and employment took a dip. However, according to a 2010 report by the Canadian Tourism Human Resources Council, with the recovering economy, Canada's tourism sector is expected to face labour shortages equivalent to almost 9,500 jobs by 2012. By 2025, the Council predicts that the labour shortage could increase to the equivalent of 219,000 jobs.

A few important industry organizations:
Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council
Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association
Go2 (BC tourism industry’s human resource association)
Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors
The Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism
Tourism Industry Association of Canada
Canadian Tourism Commission

Sources:
Is a Career in Hospitality and Tourism in Your Future?
Emerit Tourism Training
Discover Tourism
go2 - The resource for people in tourism

Hospitality and Tourism Post Secondary Institutions in BC

Lower Mainland

Vancouver Island

Fraser Valley

Thompson Okanagan

South Coast

Northern BC

Kootenay Rockies

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast