Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any traits that employers in travel and tourism look for?

One expert put it this way: "To succeed in this business, you must love people, places and travel." That pretty well sums it up. You should know that one of the hottest trends in travel these days is home based businesses, where you can be your own boss.

What qualifications do I need to succeed in the travel business?

You probably already have the energy, attitude and drive it takes. Certain factors can help you, though. Employers look favorably on prior experience in service, sales and/or marketing. Many prefer applicants with considerable travel experience, cross-cultural awareness and, in a few cases, knowledge of a foreign language. Computer skills are increasingly essential. It'll be a definite plus if you take travel classes, like those here at West Los Angeles College, especially if you obtain a certificate or AA degree. For higher level, executive positions, travel businesses do prefer people with college degrees or MBA's, but that's not a hard and fast rule.

How difficult is it to "get ahead" in a travel-related company?

The travel industry is well known for swiftly promoting talented individuals through its ranks. Because of travel's projected growth, this tendency for faster-than-average advancement should, despite temporary setbacks, continue for a long time.

I'm not sure I want to go into a travel career. Maybe I just want to know more about the business so I can travel better. Is that okay?

Of course. Many students are in our program for this very reason.

Is it really necessary to go to a travel school to get a job?

No, but it certainly helps. Employers feel that if you have a good overview of the travel and tourism industry -- the kind that solid schools like West Los Angeles College provide -- then you'll be better prepared for the unique needs of the job. Plus, taking travel classes, earning certificates or even achieving an AA degree reflects a clear commitment to the field and makes you much more competitive in this exciting market. (For more information on earning certificates and an AA degree, please click on the purple General Information tab on the left.)

How many courses should I take per semester?

That depends on many factors, like the amount of time you can devote to your studies, whether you want a certificate quickly (pass four courses and you have it!) and if you have a full-time job. Our average student takes two classes per semester. Many sign up for only one class and a surprising number take three or four.

Which courses should I take first?

The one course you should take first in your first semester, no matter what travel industry segment you're interested in, is Travel 100, our introductory class. It examines the whole travel industry and gives you a firm foundation for all your other travel classes.

If you're thinking about becoming a travel agent, you should take Travel 110 or 115 early on. They introduce you to the two most common reservation systems. (It's probably not a good idea to take both in the same semester.) Other courses relevant to the travel agency business are Travel 130, 135 and 137 (geography courses), Travel 140 (sales), Travel 161 (running a travel business), Travel 180 (cruises) and Travel 186 (Internet research).

Interested in the airline and airport industries? Travel 110 and/or Travel 115 are important to you, as is Travel 200 (introduction to the airline industry) and Travel 140 (sales).

If you want to work in the hotel / hospitality business, you should take Travel 300 (introduction to hospitality). Other relevant courses are Travel 140 (sales) and Travel 175 (meeting planning and conventions). In a year or two, we will be adding new hospitality courses.

Want to be a tour conductor or tour planner? Travel 155 is your course. Also relevant are the geography classes (Travel 130, 135 and 137) and perhaps Travel 180 (cruises).

Do keep in mind that not all our courses are offered every semester. In addition, one semester a course may be offered during the day, in another semester it may be scheduled as a night course and in another semester it might be offered online.

Also remember: Our faculty and staff are always ready to help guide you on course selection. You should also know that our students tend to enjoy our classes so much that they eventually take all of our courses!

Do you have a placement service?

Not a formal one, but we do maintain job posting bulletin boards near our classrooms (We receive about a half-dozen job notices each week).

Where can I get more information on the industry and related jobs?

You may wish to order Access: An Introduction to Travel & Tourism, an award-winning book written by one of our instructors and the textbook that we use in our intro course. To order it online, go to www.delmarlearning.com.

Do employees in the travel industry get lots of travel perks?

Travel benefits in many sectors are quite good. Most hotels and car rental companies extend special "industry rates" (30 to 70% off) to travel professionals, based on availability. Employees of travel agencies, tour companies and the like often receive 50 to 75% discounts off cruises, tours and airline fares, especially if their company does plenty of business with them. Airline employees (and immediate family members) usually receive nearly free air travel, especially with the airline that employs them.

Companies do frown upon job applicants who say they want to get in the business "so I can travel free." You should have other reasons to pursue a travel career, too.

Isn't the travel business having troubles these days?

It's doing a lot better than the media would lead you to believe. First, the travel industry usually rebounds from economic and political challenges swiftly. Second, while one sector of the business may become weak, another may grow strong. For example, when international travel reduces, domestic travel typically booms. While some major airlines may struggle, other new, more nimble ones do nicely. A small 'mom and pop' travel agency may close down, but a major chain may open up a successful branch just down the street. And wasn't that plane full the last time you flew?

I've heard that because of the Internet and automation, many jobs in travel and tourism will disappear. Is that true?

This appears very unlikely because travel is such a service-intensive field. Even travel agents who were supposed to be pushed aside by automation are, in fact, still in demand. American travel-related companies will need several hundred thousand new employees in the next 10 years. Some sectors of the industry may have temporary hiring down-cycles but, overall, every study forecasts significant growth in travel jobs over the next few decades.

I'm from another country. Is West Los Angeles College right for me?

Absolutely. Many of our students come to us from other countries. (We're quite famous in Japan!) Our instructors are used to serving the needs of international students and our college provides an excellent English as a Second Language program. If you're not currently a U.S. resident, you'll need a student visa. For other requirements and details, visit West Los Angeles College's International Student Services.

I already work in the travel business. Can your classes benefit me?

Yes. In fact 22% of our students are already in the travel industry. The courses they tend to take: cruises, tours, geography, meetings/incentives and sales.

It's hard to make a good salary in the travel industry, isn't it?

In general, the travel industry pays somewhat less than others. This is usually attributed to the fact that employees generally pay less for their own vacation travel -- such perks and the attractiveness of travel careers are perceived as offsetting lower salaries. But compensation for upper-level executives, tour conductors, corporate travel managers and pilots, among others, is usually excellent.

Travel also offers significant opportunities for entrepreneurs. This is one reason that so many major travel firms are family-owned. For example, Ed Hogan -- who, along with his wife Lynn, endowed the foundation that created the Careers in Travel and Tourism content -- is the son of an immigrant bricklayer. He and his wife founded Pleasant Holidays in 1959 with only a few thousand dollars. The company now sells $400 million of travel yearly.

I'm very busy and live far from your school. What should I do?

Consider taking our on-line courses. Remember, too, that most of our on-campus classes meet only once a week. Many of our students limit themselves to one or two courses per semester and consider it worthwhile to drive to our freeway-close Culver City campus just once or twice a week. You can also take a combination of on-campus and on-line courses.

Is it really necessary to go to a travel school to get a job?

No, but it certainly helps. Employers feel that if you have a good overview of the travel and tourism industry -- the kind that solid schools like West Los Angeles College provide -- then you'll be better prepared for the unique needs of the job. Plus, taking travel classes and earning certificates reflects a clear commitment to the field and makes you much more competitive in this exciting market.

Don't most of the good jobs go to young, recent college graduates?

This was once true, but because of anti-discrimination laws and -- more importantly -- the difficulty in finding good people, travel organizations and companies carefully consider all candidates for employment. Our department is a good reflection of this: The average age of our students is 42, with some as young as 17 and others in their 70's. Very many of our students are looking for a change of careers.

Which sectors of the industry are growing most rapidly?

Anything having to do with packaged travel (e.g., tours and cruises) and new airlines (e.g., Jet Blue) is doing quite well. So, too, are niche products and services, such as adventure and eco-travel. But just about all segments of the industry are growing.

Do any travel jobs require licenses?

Only a few do: pilots, of course, and -- in certain cities -- tour guides. Many organizations do grant degree-like designations to recognize the professionalism of those who have gone through a special course of study. Among them: the National Tour Association, the Cruise Lines International Association and the Travel Institute.

Do people in the travel and tourism business travel a lot?

It depends. Flight attendants and tour conductors do. But people in the lodging industry generally don't. The good news: People in the travel business usually travel to the places their customers frequent, and those places can be quite wonderful, even when you're visiting them on business.

Is it possible to work out of my home?

Because the world is becoming an electronic village, this is increasingly feasible. Many travel agents, meeting planners, small tour operators and even supplier reservationists are now home-based. In fact, working from home may be one of the strongest trends in the travel business today.