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Travel and tourism conference inspires students for future careers in the sector

18/03/2022
Travel and tourism conference inspires students for future careers in the sector

Five industry experts from the travel and hospitality industry with unique career paths took part in a major event at the University of Wolverhampton recently – offering insights, tips and career guidance for students. 

The Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) ‘Future You’ Conference was held at the University’s Business School at its City Campus in Wolverhampton with degree students from Tourism, Hospitality, Business Management, Marketing and Human Resources courses in attendance. 

Speakers included Sophie Nelson, Travel and Partnership Manager at International Avis Budget Group, Olly Nicholls, CEO at Attraction World, Jamie Lee Abtar, Marketing and Brand Strategist / Head of Business Development, The Waterfront, (creative branding agency for travel companies), Teresa Arnone, Head of Health and Safety and Fire Safety MAG Airports and Louie Davis, Commercial Lead, Whitbread Group. 

The ITT was established in 1956 and is a professional membership body for people employed in the travel and tourism and allied industry. 

Amanda Ross, Senior Lecturer in Leisure Industries and Programme Leader – International Hospitality Management at the University, said: “We are an ITT Centre of Excellence and the annual student conference offers our students a magnificent insight into the Travel and Tourism industry, helping to shape their ideas and inspire them. 

“Having such an amazing line-up of industry leaders really offers added value to the students studying for a variety of industry focused degree courses. 

“The ITT is dedicated to developing and maintaining high professional standards throughout the industry and it’s really useful for this to be integrated into our curriculum so that students get a real feel for what it’s like to work in the industry.” 

Olly Nicholls, CEO at Attraction World Group, said: “For our industry it’s great to be able to give back our learning.  I’ve learned so much over a 20-year period, there’s a shortage of great people in tourism at the moment and the grass roots approach is the easy way to reach out to people and attract them to the industry.  Students get advice from events like this, it’s uncensored advice, the stuff you can’t really learn from a book.” 

Chelsea Tunstall, final year student studying for an International Hospitality Management degree, who is currently out on a placement, said: “It’s through events like these that we really get to hear about real-life experiences of people who are actually working in the industry, and we can relate some of that to our learning. These events are extremely inspiring, are really good for networking, and I often leave feeling like I can conquer the world!” 

Anyone looking to study at the University of Wolverhampton should register for one of our forthcoming Open Days. 

ENDS 

 

 

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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