What are careers in tourism?

Flight attendant, concierge, and sommelier are careers in tourism. Here are details on these careers and others in tourism:

• Flight attendant

  A flight attendant provides services to the passengers of a commercial airline flight. They hand out food, drinks, snacks, and pillows. They do anything they can to increase the comfort and safety of the customers on flights. They also answer any questions passengers may have about the flight.

  Flight attendants also play a critical role in flight safety. They give demonstrations on oxygen masks, what to do in the event of a plane crash or emergency landing, and make sure all passengers sitting in emergency exit rows are capable of handling the responsibilities of sitting in those seats.

  In terms of education, most airlines only require a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent, to be considered eligible. You may consider an associate's or bachelor's degree in hospitality and tourism; however, this is not mandatory.

  The average salary of a flight attendant in the United States is $35,018 per year.

• Concierge

  A concierge is a professional in the hotel setting who helps guests handle different tasks during their stay at the hotel, including setting up transportation and letting them know about available activities and services.

  Generally, concierges work in high-end hotels, but they may also work in smaller boutique hotels as well.

  An associate's degree in tourism and hospitality is recommended; however, some concierges only have a high school diploma or equivalent and simply work their way up into the position from an entry-level role.

  The average salary of a concierge in the United States is $38,268 per year.

• Sommelier

  A sommelier is an expert and connoisseur in all facets of wine. They often work at high-end restaurants that have long and impressive wine lists. Here they educate both customers and staff about the various wines the restaurant offers.

  They also try to find the proper matches for different customers' tastes in wine by giving them recommendations. In addition, sommeliers help restaurants locate and order wine.

  The first step in becoming a sommelier is to attend wine school and register for an L2 or L3 wine course. After you get the proper education, you then need to take the L2 or L3 wine exam.

  If you pass one of these exams, you will have graduated from wine school and can seek out work in the field.

  Even those that have graduated from wine school may still find it difficult to immediately find a sommelier position. The best way to go about this is to either get into the restaurant industry or, perhaps even more preferably, the wine industry. You can seek out entry and mid-level roles in these industries and work your way up the ladder.

  If you are seeking to become a master sommelier, you are in for a very difficult challenge. You need to pass the Mater's Sommelier's Diploma exam, which is the world's hardest exam on wine.

  On average, individuals taking this exam must endure it two to three times before they pass, and for some, it can take as many as six attempts before passing. The benefit of passing this exam can not be overstated, though, as you should have no trouble finding work in the field if you do.

  The average salary of a sommelier in the United States is $45,272 per year.

• Travel agent

  Travel agents are professionals who organize and plan travel for clients. These include work trips and recreational trips, like vacations. In addition to flight travel, they may also coordinate ground transportation and hotel accommodations for their clients.

  Travel agents also sometimes arrange special activities for clients, such as tours or cruises.

  Most travel agents have an associate's degree in tourism. However, there are no strict educational requirements needed to become a travel agent.

  An associate's or bachelor's degree in tourism will open you up to more job opportunities. There are also travel and tourism-related certifications you can obtain to help you find work as a travel agent.

  The average salary of a travel agent in the United States is $48,943 per year.

• Executive Chef

  Not all restaurants have executive chefs. They are reserved for large-scale restaurants, including some chains, and those at hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and other venues. Executive chefs generally do very little actual cooking.

  Their primary work task is to manage the kitchen staff and the kitchen itself. Duties include managing and training personnel, planning menus, overseeing the culinary budget, and sometimes kitchen purchases. All executive chefs have a lot of experience in lower-level chef roles, as they need to understand how every aspect of a kitchen operates effectively.

  Most executive chefs have attended culinary school and have worked their way up the ladder in a restaurant, cruise, or resort into the position of executive chef.

  The average salary of an executive chef in the United States is $74,331 per year.