Job-Ready graduates in the global tourism industry

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the employability of new graduates in the global tourism industry from the perspective of tourism managers. The study examines the expectations of tourism employers from new graduates, the level at which existing tourism education programs meet these expectations, and the sustainability of graduates' career development. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a qualitative research method; participants were selected from senior managers and human resources experts working in international hotel chains such as Hilton, Marriott, Accor, and Wyndham. In addition, the websites of these brands were analyzed as secondary data sources. The data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis and two case studies with Maxqda 2024 software. The findings reveal that there are deficiencies in the practical skills and competencies of new graduates, but these deficiencies can be addressed through internal training programs offered by hotel brands. Inadequacies in foreign language, communication, CV preparation, computer skills, and self-confidence were particularly noteworthy. On the other hand, it was found that all global brands offer various corporate training programs to support the development of their employees. Collaborations with educational institutions are generally shaped through social events and internship programs, but these collaborations are more flexible. Future research could expand the scope to include more countries and hotel brands to examine the effects of different cultural and regional approaches on tourism training programs.