About Tourism - Travel Services in Algonquin College

Expand your local and international career opportunities - join the rapidly growing tourism industry.

The two-year Tourism - Travel Services Ontario College Diploma program gives you the experience and specialized skills you need for an exciting career in the diverse tourism and travel industry sectors.

In this program, you receive current travel industry knowledge from our faculty, who have a strong background in all of the industry sectors.

This essential knowledge includes:

• the practical application of industry software used in the airline and travel services industry
• world tourism geography
• marketing
• customer service excellence

Volunteer at industry events, network with industry professionals and travel locally as well as internationally to Costa Rica where you can earn a course credit.

Learn about current industry trends like sustainable tourism, niche and group travel and customized vacation planning.

Expand your real-world experience during a two-week field placement in the tourism and travel sector of your choice.

The diverse set of skills and opportunities provided by this program gives you the confidence you need to start your career.

Before graduation, you write the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) exam. This exam is required to meet the mandatory licensing requirement for work in licensed retail or wholesale travel service operations in Ontario.

Algonquin College graduates have a competitive edge with employers because the program has earned the highest (5-star) accreditation from The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA), cementing its reputation for excellence within the industry.

Graduates can take their career in many directions. You may find employment as a:

• retail travel counsellor
• tour operator counsellor
• flight attendant
• government tourism representative
• airport customer service agent
• destination representative
• travel service representative (motor coach, rail, auto, cruise lines or attractions)

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Are passionate about the tourism and travel industry.
• Have strong communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills.
• Thrive in a team-based environment.
• Have a desire to provide customer service excellence.
• Enjoy working in an exciting fast-paced and evolving environment.

Careers

Graduates may find employment as retail travel counsellors, tour operator counsellors, flight attendants, airport customer service agents, destination representatives, travel service representatives that include motor coach, rail, auto and cruise lines.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Support an industry and workplace service culture by adopting a positive attitude and professional decorum, accommodating diverse and special needs, and contributing as a team member.
2. Deliver customer service and solutions that anticipate, meet and/or exceed individual expectations, as well as organizational expectations, standards and objectives.
3. Use marketing concepts, market research, social networks, sales strategies, relationship management skills and product knowledge to promote and sell tourism products, services and customer experiences.
4. Apply business principles as well as basic accounting, budgeting, financial and administration skills to support the effective management and operation of a variety of organizations delivering tourism products and services. >Comply with relevant organization and workplace systems, processes, policies, standards, legal obligations and regulations, and apply risk management principles, to support and maintain efficient, safe, secure, accessible and healthy tourism operations.
5. Use appropriate technologies to enhance the quality and delivery of tourism products, services and customer experiences, to measure the effectiveness of tourism operations and to participate in tourism development.
6. Keep current with tourism trends and issues, and interdependent relationships in the broader tourism industry* sectors to improve work performance and guide career development.
7. Use leadership, teamwork, conflict and relationship management skills and tools, as well as knowledge of organizational behaviour, employment standards and human rights to contribute to a positive work environment.
8. Respond to issues and dilemmas arising in the delivery of tourism products, services and customer experiences by using and promoting ethical behaviour and best practices of corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability.
9. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Program Eligibility

• English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent).

• Mathematics, Grade 11 MBF3C or equivalent is recommended.
• Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
• IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 80, with a minimum of 20 in each component: Reading 20; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 20.

Should the number of qualified applicants exceed the number of available places, applicants will be selected on the basis of their proficiency in English.

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