The industry should be ashamed of not supporting graduates from travel and tourism courses, according to Institute of Travel and Tourism chairman Steven Freudmann.
Speaking at the ITT’s first Question Time event in Manchester this week, he said the industry should be “embarrassed” by the fact that very few travel and tourism graduates ever find work in the sector.
“I have tried to persuade large employers to take a minimum number of graduate employees, with varying success. If we ever want to raise standards in the industry it is essential to attract graduates into the industry,” he said.
The Co-operative Travel Group managing director Mike Greenacre added that more clarity was needed on qualifications to help employers assess candidates.
He said: “There are so many different qualifications in the industry. We need to create some kind of commonality of standards.”
The ITT plans to roll out the new Question Time format – where members are able to address their questions to a panel of experts – across its regional roadshows.
Attending this week’s event with Freudmann were The Co-operative Travel Group managing director Mike Greenacre, On The Beach Holidays commercial director Johnny Pollard, Shearings Holidays chief executive Denis Wormwell, and Manchester Airport planning and infrastructure director John Twigg.
Photos: ITT Question Time
The panel: Mike Greenacre, Denis Wormwell, John Twigg, Johnny Pollard and Steven Freudmann
Manchester Airport marketing director Caroline Plant