Everyone started somewhere.

Why tourism

Hospitality is in my DNA. I grew up in a household where hospitality was part of everyday life. My father worked as a safari tour guide and my mother worked in housekeeping. Hearing their stories and seeing the pride they took in creating memorable experiences for others inspired me from a young age. I wanted to follow that path, connect with people from around the world, and create experiences that guests would remember long after they left.

How I got in

My journey started with a dream of becoming a chef when I was about 12 years old. After high school, I didn't immediately have the financial opportunity to attend culinary school, so I started as a dishwasher at a local catering company in Zimbabwe. I worked, learned, eventually attended culinary school with the financial support of my brother, and continued growing from there. That experience taught me something I still carry with me today: where you start does not determine where you can go.

What surprised me

How interconnected hospitality truly is. An exceptional guest experience is never created by one person or one department. It takes everyone working together. From the colleague preparing a room or a meal to the person welcoming the guest, every role matters. There is no "small" role when everyone is contributing to someone's experience.

Why I love tourism

It reminds me that no matter where we come from, there is always something we can learn from one another. This industry has taken me from Zimbabwe to South Africa, the United States and Canada, experiencing different cultures, building meaningful connections, and growing both personally and professionally along the way.

My advice

Take the first step, even if it isn't your dream position yet. Hospitality is an incredibly broad industry and sometimes you discover your purpose only after you walk through the first door. Stay curious, be willing to learn, treat every person and every role with respect, and never underestimate where one opportunity can lead you. Your first position does not have to be your final destination.

You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. Start where you are, give your best to the opportunity in front of you, keep learning, and allow the journey to surprise you.

Why tourism

Before entering tourism, I worked as a landscaper, which taught me discipline and pride in hard work, but it was often very solitary. I realized I missed connecting with people, and it was my sister who opened my eyes to the hospitality industry. Once I was introduced to it, everything clicked. It aligned perfectly with my personality, my values, and my desire to make a positive impact on others.

How I got in

I enrolled in the Hospitality Management program at VCC, where I actively sought out opportunities to learn and connect by attending career fairs across the city. Between school terms in my first year, I was fortunate to secure a summer position as a concierge agent at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. There, I was surrounded by exceptional mentors and colleagues who generously shared their knowledge and passion for tourism. That first role confirmed that I had found a career where connection, service, and tourism truly come together.

What surprised me

How immediate and impactful the work can be. You often get to help a guest in real time and see the difference you've made in their experience, which is incredibly rewarding.

My advice

Be open to learning, say yes to opportunities, and never underestimate the value of relationships. This industry is built on people, so bring your authentic self, work hard, and surround yourself with mentors. The connections you make can shape your entire career.

Why tourism

I loved all the fun things working in tourism entailed: travel, food, hotel stays and much more.

Josh's path so far

1. PIT intern, Fairmont Pacific Rim
2. Marketing Coordinator, Westin Bayshore
3. Social Media & Digital Content Coordinator, Fairmont Pacific Rim
4. Social Media Manager, Rosewood Hotel Georgia

What surprised me

How dynamic it is. You can go down different avenues within the industry and they are all somehow connected.

Why tourism

I've always been drawn to the tourism industry because of its focus on people and turning moments into special memories. It offers many opportunities to grow, learn, and work with diverse teams.

How I got in

I studied Tourism Marketing & Sales, which sparked my interest in the industry. My journey began as a People & Culture Intern at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, where I later moved into a permanent role as the P&C Coordinator.

What surprised me

The extent of teamwork that happens behind the scenes, between different departments.

My advice

Stay curious, be compassionate and empathetic. Grow your connections and be open to learning from them.

Why tourism

Some of my first work experiences were in restaurants, where I found myself enjoying the customer service side. That led me to BCIT's Tourism Management program, where I could learn about the hotel and restaurant industries.

How I got in

Through BCIT's Tourism Management program, I did a practicum at Vancouver Convention Centre, which led to my current position as an Exhibit Services Coordinator.

What surprised me

The tourism industry is very interconnected. If there is a convention, there have to be hotels, there have to be destination marketing organizations connecting them, and visitors will need restaurants. Everything is connected! We are all working towards the same goal: the success of tourism businesses everywhere in Vancouver.

My advice

Networking is very important in tourism and hospitality! Learn to network and put your professional self out there, since the connections you make will lead to excellent work opportunities.

Why tourism

So many things! The range of jobs and fields within the industry, the interconnectedness and passion among everyone in it, the chance to travel and enjoy other tourism perks, and the idea of learning more about my home country and places abroad.

How I got in

My first position was as a FIT Coordinator, which I started right after graduating from BCIT's Tourism Marketing & Sales program in spring 2023. I worked closely with travel agents in countries like the Netherlands, Germany and the UK to plan trips for their clients visiting Canada and Alaska, coordinating everything from hotels to tours and transportation so every part of a trip went to plan. Today I work in a similar role with a different company, but I work with visitors directly.

What surprised me

How much growth, job opportunity, and earning potential there is.

My advice

Get to know people already working in the tourism industry! Before my internships and graduation, I connected with people (first over LinkedIn) working in different parts of tourism to learn what they do and whether it could be a good fit for me. Only you can decide which path to take, but this helped point me in a clearer direction. People in tourism are incredibly kind and open to supporting eager newcomers.

The industry is so dynamic and there's never a dull moment. There's so much to learn, so many career choices to explore, and so many great connections you'll make along the way.

Why tourism

I wanted to showcase the rural communities and rugged outdoors I grew up with in Northern BC, and be an advocate for these places to attract more visitors.

From my time in hotel event sales

Whether it's getting to know the branch managers at the credit union as we plan their annual staff Christmas party, or building a relationship with an event decor stylist I can refer my other clients to, I love the connections I make and talking about how we can transform our space even better than the last event.

What surprised me

I used to think working in tourism meant jobs like restaurant manager, executive chef, or flight attendant, with extra skills or certifications I wasn't interested in. I was surprised to learn you can have business roles across tourism, like event sales for a hotel or marketing for a destination organization. It's so much bigger than I realized.