Tour operator

Tour operator job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Responsibilities of the job vary according to the time of year and size of employer, but generally include:

• deciding how many holidays to sell each season and the resorts/countries to use
• visiting resorts to ascertain accommodation quality and suitability
• liaising with coach operators, airlines, hoteliers and resort reps
• agreeing service levels, contracts and costs
• confirming customer names with airlines/hotels
• collecting, evaluating and responding (as appropriate) to customer feedback
• using market research information to guide decisions
• producing brochures and Internet-based information
• providing pricing information
• marketing holidays to clients via travel agents, websites, brochures and television advertising
• handling bookings, invoicing and issuing of tickets
• predicting profits or number of bookings.

Typical employers of tour operators

• private touring companies
• small specialist organisers
• major international tour operators
• bespoke tour designers
• cruise lines.

Vacancies are advertised via the internet, in newspapers and trade publications including Overseas Jobs, The Travel Trade Gazette and Travel Weekly. Networking and speculative applications are advisable, for which the Travel Trades Gazette Directory may be helpful. A few larger companies operate graduate training schemes. Paid summer vacation jobs may be available with some employers.

Qualifications and training required

Relevant experience or qualifications such as professional or vocational qualifications, NVQs, HNDs or degrees in leisure, travel, tourism, management, marketing, IT, business, languages or hotel and catering management can be beneficial. Pre-entry experience gained working with the general public or within the hotel, tourism or travel trades (particularly overseas) are advantageous.

Key skills for tour operators

• a demonstrable interest in travel
• knowledge of key holiday destinations
• foreign language skills
• excellent interpersonal skills
• communication skills
• customer service skills
• organisational skills
• IT skills
• commercial awareness
• good time management skills.