Centre for Career and Personal Development Degree Profiles

The tourism industry is diverse which includes the following industry sectors: accommodation, transportation, food & beverage, attractions, events & conferences, adventure tourism, travel trade and tourism services. The Tourism Management and Tourism Marketing concentration are designed to integrate general management concepts with professional knowledge required by the tourism and hospitality industry. Graduates acquire knowledge and skills in communication, research, market analysis, problem solving and organization. These abilities will prepare them for professional management or marketing careers in the expanding tourism industry in both private sector businesses and public sector organizations

Depending on their interests, graduates may have specialist skills in conducting customer service/satisfaction audits, implementing cost controls, developing human resource management policies, recommending new approaches to marketing, advertising and promotion and/or evaluating the financial merits of new projects and initiatives.

The increasing economic significance and value of the tourism industry continues to open up new careers and provide exceptional opportunities for tourism and hospitality management graduates. Graduates of the Tourism area are prepared for entry-level positions leading to management careers in the various tourism and travel industry sectors. They are positioned to effect the strategic change required to lead existing tourism organizations into an internationally competitive business environment or to assume an entrepreneurial role in the launching of a new venture.

Specific application of these skills is dependent on the role:

• Customer Service focused
• Communication skills
• Active listening
• Cultural awareness
• Event planning
• Problem solving skills
• Teamwork
• Social skills
• Attention to detail
• Business Management
• Multitasking
• Resourceful

Please note some of these positions may require further training, certification or education. Check out the occupational profiles to review the full details for the occupations that interest you at alis.alberta.ca/occinfo

• Airport Brand Manager
• Area Director, Restaurant Chain
• Assistant Human Resource Manager (Hotel)
• Convention Centre CEO
• Cultural Representative
• Director of Research (Consulting Firm)
• Front Desk Agent (Hotel)
• General Manager (Tour operation)
• Guest Service Representative (Resort)
• Human Resource/Payroll Assistant (Hotel)
• Marketing & Public Relations Assistant (Attraction)
• Marketing Assistant (Airline)
• Night Auditor (Hotel)
• Operations Assistant (Charter Tour Co.)
• Research Analyst (Government)
• Revenue Manager
• Senior/Corporate Travel consultant
• Tourism and Event Assistant

• Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA
• Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) 
• Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada 
• Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) 
• Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA)

Student Clubs

• Commerce Undergraduate Society 
• Haskayne Students' Association
• Women in Business

Aligned Majors

• Business Analytics
• Communications and Media Studies
• Economics
• Marketing
• Various Languages

Formal Career Assessments like the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator can be helpful tools for your career development.  These assessments have been used for decades to help individuals choose a major, explore career options during and upon completion of a degree and to further understand yourself in relationship to the world of work.  Inquire with Career Services if you are interested in these formal assessments.

Faculty Contact

Haskayne School of Business
Scurfield Hall, 351
T: 403.220.6593
E: undergraduate@haskayne.ucalgary.ca 
W: haskayne.ucalgary.ca

Haskayne Career Centre
Scurfield Hall, 350
T: 403.220.6743
E: careercentre@haskayne.ucalgary.ca 
W: haskayne.ucalgary.ca/services/career-centre/welcome

Career Services
MacEwan Student Centre, Room 188
T: 403.220.8020
E: csstdnt@ucalgary.ca
W: ucalgary.ca/careers