Denise Hibbert, long-haul marketing manager, First Choice
Education: 10 O’ levels, three A’ levels, honours degree in travel and tourism from the University of Northumbria.
Training: mostly on the job training.
First travel job: worked for Owners Abroad during her placement year in the third year of her degree.
Career path: after graduating in 1991 Denise started to work with Owners Abroad in the marketing department. She worked on a variety of products for almost three years, including Ski Enterprise. She left the company at the end of 1993 and spent one year as marketing development manager in the tourism sector. In January 1995 she worked as marketing manager for long haul at Unijet and spent two-and-a- half years in this position. In June 1997 Denise joined First Choice as product manager for long haul managing the Tropical, Florida and Weddings programmes. She has recently been promoted to long-haul marketing manager for the above three programmes as well as Greece.
Advice for people wishing to develop a career in travel: “To pursue a career within tour operating, take a degree course, which should ideally be relevant such as a business or marketing degree. Acquire some relevant work experience, either during the holidays or as part of a sandwich degree and have lots of personal travel experience.”