02 November 2007

TOURISM ACADEMICS & EMPLOYERS CONFERENCES
FIRST CO-HOSTED EVENTS BY ABTA, THE ITT & THE TOURISM SOCIETY

ABTA, the ITT and The Tourism Society are co-hosting two one-day conferences for Tourism Academics and Employers. The aim is to discuss how to ensure travel and tourism graduates qualify with suitable skills for the industry. The London conference will take place on March 17th (During British Tourism Week) at the De Vere West One Venue. The Midlands conference will take place on June 30th at the Copthorne Birmingham.

The conferences will raise awareness of the issues that face tourism academics, students, graduates and the industry today. With the huge boom of tourism courses over the last few years it has become apparent that more needs to be done to get tourism academics and the industry to develop discussion to ensure that tourism courses are relevant to the industry, that tourism graduates are being employed as much as possible by the tourism industry and that tourism teachers are receiving all the help and support they need.

Session topics will include curriculum content, teaching resources, graduate opportunities and apprenticeships. Support has already been confirmed from People 1 st , New Frontiers, City & Guilds and Merlin Entertainments.

-ENDS- 

This press release can also be viewed at www.travmedia.com .  

For further information, please contact:
Flo Powell - Tel: 020 8661 4636 - flo@tourismsociety.org
Vicki Wolf - Tel: 02073071916 vwolf@abta.co.uk
Claire Steiner claire.steiner@dsl.pipex.com

Note to editors:

The Tourism Society (est.1977) is the leading network of professionals in the industry. All sectors are represented: hotels, attractions, destinations, operators, travel companies, writers, academics, students and consultants. www.tourismsociety.org

ABTA was formed in 1950 with just 100 Members, ABTA, The Travel Association, represents over 5,500 travel agencies and 900 tour operations, throughout the British Isles . www.abta.com

The ITT is a professional membership body for individuals employed in the travel and tourism industry. The ITT organise monthly regional networking evenings, golf days, informal suppers and conferences aimed at all levels of membership, from Students to Fellows. www.itt.co.uk