Hiring is one of the toughest parts of any industry, and travel industry executives are continually facing those HR challenges. Especially in the travel agent/travel wholesaling segment, where constant refrains of "the travel agent is dead" aren't exactly encouraging to graduates or others seeking promising career paths in the current economy.
Tourico Holidays, a global travel wholesaler selling inventory internationally, is transforming this ever-present hiring conundrum into both an inbound marketing exercise and a workforce enhancement tool. Rather than bemoaning the fact that potential hires are mismatched for the required skill set, the company is building their own intensive training program for college graduates.
The Travel Academy is quite the intensive investment for both the company and students. The company has already devoted significant resources to building and deploying the program, and promises the following benefits to accepted students:
- 10-week leadership development program
- 30 students enrolled per session
- 4 sessions per year
- Students receive salary, housing, meal plan, laptops and full benefits (after 30 days)
- Mix of classroom learning and field experience through workshops, training and exams
- Curriculum focuses on negotiation, problem solving, technology, presentation and execution within the travel industry
- Taught by Tourico Holidays executives, experienced travel professionals, and a series of highly-qualified guest professors
- Successful Academy graduates interview for jobs at Tourico Holidays in Product Development & Sales
The hiring process has several stages, including phone, video and potential in-person interviews. The applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Interested applicants can browse the site to learn more about the company and the training program. Those ready to take the plunge can apply online, choosing specifically where they'd like to be placed in the company.
The notice for the next Product Manager track explains how the job works.
The Tourico Holidays 10 week management training programme takes place at our purpose built academy in the Orlando area however full time positions as Product Manager post training can be at any of the Tourico Holidays 27 international or 5 domestic office locations.
The program is designed to grow leaders in key areas taught by executives, experienced travel professionals, and highly-qualified guest professors in the classroom; but it also provides exposure to the glamorous side of the travel industry through jet-setting field trips, hands-on projects and applicable workshops.
Similar to various Fortune 500 leadership development programs, this intensive training thoroughly prepares students for a career with Tourico Holidays. From the start of the program, students receive full benefits, base pay, housing, meal plan, laptops, cell phones and entertainment in the Orlando area. Upon completion, graduates interview for positions as Product Managers within the Tourico Group and opportunities will be presented at the various North American offices and also at our multitude of international offices. Successful students are placed in a position based on their skills, personality and fit for culture.
As the notice points out, this sort of management grooming is common to larger corporations. This trend down the ladder of more companies providing the sort of intensive, focused training programs that attract top talent is certainly going to continue, as more companies compete for fewer qualified employees at all levels.
More on the Travel Academy program can be reviewed here.
NB: Studying image courtesy Shutterstock.