1-1 An Introduction to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry

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The hospitality and tourism industry is one of the most diverse, exciting, challenging and important industries on the planet. It offers career opportunities that are dynamic and rewarding. There are career opportunities at travel agencies, tour companies, airlines and cruise lines, hotel chains, government tourism commissions, regional tourism associations, tourist attractions, and special events companies.

To work in the industry, it is essential to possess a driving enthusiasm for customer service, a strong sense of professionalism, and a need to develop and maintain tourism industry knowledge. Growing in importance, tourism is one of the world’s largest industries; it strongly impacts our economies, environments, and cultures. A tourism/hospitality professional needs to know the industry’s relationships with other industries as well as the roles and responsibilities that individual staff have.

Hospitality occupations are found in hotels, motor inns, restaurants, clubs, trailer parks, bed & breakfasts, hostels, fast food outlets, resorts, convention & conference venues, service apartments, entertainment and sports venues, casino complexes, and on cruise ships.

The hospitality sector comprises of a variety of sectors providing a range of services and facilities encompassing many types of jobs. These range from chefs to receptionists and marketing executives to concierge staff.

Seeking Further Information on the Hospitality and Tourism Industry

Media

local and national newspapers, trade magazines, food and travel programs on television, Internet, and radio

Reference Books

travel guide books and textbooks

Libraries

reference books, magazines, newspapers, CDs, and video

Visiting attractions

site visits and personal experiences

Leaflets & brochures

provide information about the area

Tourist offices & tourism commissions

provide up-to-date information on tourist and hospitality facilities and services

Internet

using the computer and surfing on the World Wide Web

Personal experience

participate in a range of activities and events

Colleagues & associates

they are the people who share their knowledge and expertise with you

Industry associations

these organisations collect and compile up-to-date tourism and hospitality data

Defining Tourism

Tourism occurs when different types of businesses provide products and services to visitors. It also involves the public sector (government). It takes people away from their usual residences for pleasure, holiday, or other reasons.

Types of Tourists

Anyone travelling away from home for reasons other than work

International

visitors whose main place of residence is outside a country (inbound tourist), a resident travelling overseas (outbound tourist)

Interstate

tourist travel within a country, to a state where they do not live (outside of California)

Intrastate

tourist travel within the state in which they live (within California)

Purpose of Travel

Corporate

business, sales trip, overseas meeting

Leisure

holiday, visit friends or relatives, honeymoon

Educational

special interest, study, exchange program

Religious

pilgrimage or church celebration, festival

Sports

competition, training, health

Conference / Convention

work-related, personal development

Entertainment

theatre, opera, concerts, gaming

Vocabulary

Word	Meaning	Example
hospitality	kindness in welcoming guests or strangers	Their excellence in hospitality is well-known.
industry	the organized action of making of goods and services for sale	This company is in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
diverse	showing a great deal of variety	The hospitality and tourism industry is one of the most diverse, exciting, challenging and important industries on the planet.
challenging	requiring full use of your abilities or resources	The hospitality and tourism industry is one of the most diverse, exciting, challenging and important industries on the planet.
tour	a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area	There are career opportunities at travel agencies, tour companies, airlines and cruise lines, hotel chains, government tourism commissions, regional tourism associations, tourist attractions, and special events companies.
cruise	sail or travel about for pleasure, relaxation, or sightseeing	There are career opportunities at travel agencies, tour companies, airlines and cruise lines, hotel chains, government tourism commissions, regional tourism associations, tourist attractions, and special events companies.
enthusiasm	a feeling of excitement	To work in the industry, it is essential to possess a driving enthusiasm for customer service, a strong sense of professionalism, and a need to develop and maintain tourism industry knowledge.
impact	the effect of one thing on another	Growing in importance, tourism is one of the world’s largest industries; it strongly impacts our economies, environments, and cultures.
environment	the totality of surrounding conditions	Growing in importance, tourism is one of the world’s largest industries; it strongly impacts our economies, environments, and cultures.
convention	the act of convening	Hospitality occupations are found in hotels, motor inns, restaurants, clubs, trailer parks, bed & breakfasts, hostels, fast food outlets, resorts, convention & conference venues, service apartments, entertainment and sports venues, casino complexes, and on cruise ships.
venue	the scene of any event or action (especially the place of a meeting)	Hospitality occupations are found in hotels, motor inns, restaurants, clubs, trailer parks, bed & breakfasts, hostels, fast food outlets, resorts, convention & conference venues, service apartments, entertainment and sports venues, casino complexes, and on cruise ships.
sector	a particular aspect of life or activity	The hospitality sector comprises of a variety of sectors providing a range of services and facilities encompassing many types of jobs.
comprise	be composed of	The hospitality sector comprises of a variety of sectors providing a range of services and facilities encompassing many types of jobs.
facility	a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry	The hospitality sector comprises of a variety of sectors providing a range of services and facilities encompassing many types of jobs.
marketing	the commercial processes involved in promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service	These jobs range from chefs to receptionists and marketing executives to concierge staff.
concierge	A hotel employee whose job is to assist guests by making theater and restaurant reservations, etc.	These range from chefs to receptionists and marketing executives to concierge staff.
brochure	a small book usually having a paper cover	Leaflets & brochures can provide information about the area.
expertise	skillfulness by virtue of possessing special knowledge	They are the people who share their knowledge and expertise with you.
compile	get or gather together	Industry associations These organisations collect and compile up-to-date tourism and hospitality data.
celebration	a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event	Some tourists are interested in attending religious pilgrimages, church celebrations, and festivals.