TRAVEL companies are failing to recognise the important role training plays in achieving staff satisfaction and motivation, according to new research.
While the travel industry is beginning to catch up with other sectors in the level of training and career development, it still has a long way to go.
This picture emerged from a recent survey of more than 1,200 people in the travel industry.
Conducted by NSM Research on behalf of Travel Weekly, it revealed that just over half of the people working in the travel industry received regular training, but only 17% were very satisfied with the standard, while 41% were fairly satisfied.
“That points to a large number of dissatisfied staff and these are the ones who are more likely to be looking for a new job and equally likely to be looking for a better training package from a future employer,” states the report.
For example, 77% of respondents said they considered training to be important or very important when considering a new job, and 61% said the offer of training would influence their decision to accept a new job.
The employment survey provides an insight into the opinions and motivations of people working for retail and business agencies and tour operators.
Although women employees dominate the travel sector, outnumbering men by almost two to one (63% against 37%), men are likely to have better jobs and be better paid.
The survey showed that men earn up to £10,000 more than women – £28,924 compared with £17,413.
Overall, the average take-home salary is £21,600, with tour operator staff earning the highest rates – £26,504 compared with those in the retail leisure sector, who bring home an average £17,034. By comparison, business travel agents take home £21,466.
But despite being the worst off financially, leisure travel agents are the most loyal, spending on average 8.84 years with their current employer, compared with 7.43 years for business travel agents and 6.44 years for tour operator staff.
According to the report, 62% of staff have worked in travel for more than 15 years, suggesting a high level of loyalty and satisfaction.
Not surprisingly, people employed in the travel industry are less likely to be motivated by money than those working in other sectors. Indeed, tourism candidates place more emphasis on having an interesting job than high salary.
The potential employer’s reputation also influences an employee’s decision to move jobs.
Age makes a significant difference to salaries, with the under-30s earning an average £16,526 compared with the over-30s who take home about 50% more at £24,674.
Predictably, the top earners are the managing directors/owners who command in excess of £37,000 per annum.
Travel industry staff rely on performance-related pay to boost their salaries. The number of people earning less than £15,000 falls from 39% to 30% when you take performance-related pay into account.
Leisure agents in particular rely on PRP to increase their take-home pay – 39% of them regard it as their main means of boosting income. Tour operator staff say subsidised holidays represent their main perk.
The respondents said they received the necessary training to progress in their company, and a third of those surveyed had been promoted once by their current employer and a further 28% twice.
However, promotions were more likely to be at seniorlevels.
For example, people working in line management, product management and marketing had received three promotions with their current employer.
When it comes to finding a new job, the survey showed people are optimistic.
More than 50% spent less than a month looking for their current job, an indication of how buoyant the travel market is at the moment.
Average salaries
All respondents (total 1,279) £21,600
By business activity
Tour operator (410) £26,504
Predominantly business (407) £21,466
Predominantly leisure (422) £17,034
By age
Under 30 (441) £16,526
31-50 (636) £24,670
51 and over (184) £24,670
By sex
Men (467) £28,924
Women (794) £17,413