Working in Tourism - I Love What I Do – I Wouldn't work in any other industry
Foundation Degree in Hospitality and Tourism graduate Stuart King says working in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry is one of the most rewarding careers.
Stuart, from Sion Mills, has worked for some of the country’s most respected hotel and restaurants groups including: Jurys Inn, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hotel Indigo, Interstate, and Marco Pierre Restaurants.
Following his enrolment at the NWRC in 2009, Stuart worked across the globe including a six-month international work placement at Disney World in Florida.
He then went on to management roles in Liverpool. Career highlights include being Nominated Front of House Person of the Year 2016 at the Liverpool Hoteliers Association Awards and being Shortlisted as a finalist for Tourism Star of the Year 2017 in the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards.
His advice to anyone continuing to Higher Education is to pick a course that will lead them into a career they love.
He said: “After my A-levels I went to Manchester to study Social Work but I didn’t like it and took a year out.
“I worked part-time with my uncle in the kitchen. I was talking to friends, and they were doing courses that sounded more for me. So I enrolled at NWRC on the Foundation Degree in Hospitality and Tourism. The Foundation Degree was a great course and touched on every aspect of the business. During our second year, our class undertook work placement in Orland Florida it was a brilliant experience.
“I love what I do, it comes naturally to me. It’s a great industry for career development – a nine to five job just wouldn’t suit me.”
Rita Brady, Lecturer at NWRC said: “Stuart was one of eight students who secured a six-month international work placement opportunity with world renowned organisation Disney World in Florida.
“This was a one-of-a-kind, Disney-designed combination of education and work experience. This international dimension to Stuart’s college education included an academic program and an academic training component at Disney Theme Parks and Resorts.
“The program provided participants with cross-cultural activities that exposed them to American society, culture, and institutions, and to offer cultural enrichment by sharing their culture with Americans, in addition to offering academic training as enrolled students at Central Michigan University.
“Stuart was an exceptional, ambitious student who have a genuine enthusiasm for his professional future and who was interested in building transferable skills to enhance his personal development.
“Stuart’s experiences, knowledge and skills developed during his time working abroad certainly enhanced his CV and indeed shaped his future career.”
For more information on courses at NWRC go to www.nwrc.ac.uk/apply
