School Leaver Awards 2018: spotlight on TUI

Becky Kells
Last updated 28 Aug 2018

TUI was named top employer of the hospitality and tourism sector in our School Leaver Awards 2018. We reached out to Katie Trigg, who is a product planning apprentice for Italy, Mainland Spain and Iceland, to find out what she gets up to, and why she enjoys working for an international tourism employer.

What are your thoughts on TUI winning?
I think it’s great that TUI has won the top employer for hospitality and tourism - it makes me feel proud to be a part of the scheme. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make the scheme what it is so it’s a real achievement.

What do you enjoy most about your current role? What’s been your most memorable experience?
My current role is in the product planning team, and I really enjoy how much responsibility I am given. I can really take ownership of some of our key destinations in the programme; it’s great to be able to put my own stamp on the gateway and influence the strategy for each season.

One of my most memorable experiences was launching a new destination. We launched Calabria in Italy at the start of June and it created such a buzz in the office! It took a lot of work to get it launched and I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing it live on our website for the first time.

What’s been the most challenging thing about your current role?
The biggest challenge is the fluctuation of the market; it is always changing and we are constantly working to adapt to this, causing priorities to shift on a regular basis. This does also make it more exciting though!

What advice would you give other apprentices in the hospitality and tourism industry?
Take all the opportunities you can. Working at TUI, there are endless opportunities that have helped me to learn and grow as a person, as well as in terms of my knowledge and skill set.

Where do you see your career progressing from here? What are your future plans?
For the foreseeable future, I want to stay working in the product planning department at TUI, progressing in my role here over the next couple of years. I can’t imagine not working in the travel industry!

Tell us something interesting about yourself?
When I was a child I used to live in caps - from the age of about 4 to 10 I wore them all day every day. Even in the bath!

Outside of your apprenticeship, what are your main interests or hobbies?
One of my favourite things to do is eat out with friends and family. I also have a habit of binge-watching TV series on Netflix within a day, and working in the travel industry gives you a real buzz for holidays and travelling, so I’m always looking for my next getaway…

TUI operates on an international scale. What are the benefits of working for an international employer, particularly in the travel sector?
One of the main benefits is, unsurprisingly, the travelling! We get to go on "resort visits" where we go to one of our destinations and visit all of our main hotels, getting to know the destination and products we sell first hand.

Want to work in travel and tourism like Katie? Find out more about opportunities at TUI by visiting its profile and website.

News