The Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC) has partnered with the Department of Tourism and Hospitality at Bournemouth University to highlight career options open to students in the world of business travel.
The partnership will see the department increase awareness of corporate travel and TMCs in its tourism degrees, with both parties joining up to offer students opportunities as they study and through placements and graduate jobs.
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The university says it is committed to contributing to the GTMC’s programme of events and strategy groups to ensure members and industry partners play an active role in developing talent for the future of the sector. It will also support members and partners in strengthening their future competitiveness.
In return, the GTMC will work with the university to develop specific corporate travel content for courses and provide industry experts as guest speakers at appropriate lectures.
GTMC members and industry partners will also be able to take part in the university’s careers fairs to recruit graduates and students looking for work placements, offer consultancy for final-year students and assist them in research for their PhDs.
Both organisations will also share news and job vacancies between their relevant databases and work to develop future industry leaders.
Adrian Parkes, CEO of the GTMC, commented: “The corporate travel sector is one that is very often overlooked by travel and tourism courses, so teaming up with Bournemouth University is an excellent way to raise the profile of our industry and explain the possibilities it offers young people.
“Bournemouth University is recognised as one of the world’s top travel and hospitality departments, so this is a superb opportunity to attract the brightest and best students into corporate travel. I am sure our TMC members, affiliates and partner companies will be keen to participate in the initiatives we have planned.”
Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, head of tourism and hospitality at Bournemouth University, added: “This strategic partnership enables us to work closely with the GTMC to enhance the intellectual capital in the business travel sector. According to the Allied Market Research, the business travel market size is expected to reach US$1,657 billion by 2023, registering a CAGR of 4.1 per cent during the forecast period. This is a very demanding market that requires global agility and technological tools to satisfy strict customer requirements in a turbulent environment. Bournemouth University will be working closely with GTMC members and partners to create the talent that will lead this sector in the future and also to co-create advanced knowledge to support the competitiveness of the industry.”
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