Some people take a vacation from work. Some people take a working vacation. Students from AIB College of Business take a vacation to learn about the work they plan to be doing after graduation.
Nine members of AIB’s Hospitality Travel Management Association (HTMA) toured Ireland at the end of their spring term to see classroom theory executed in the real world.
HTMA at Kylemore Abbey
Front row: Jessica Hansen, Stephanie Taylor, Brittney Clark
Back row: Tiffany Thode, Nikki Garrison, Chris Moore, Nick Winterberg, Rita McClain,
Shannon McCormick, Helen Hernandez
“Every aspect of the trip applies to the material covered in the classroom,” said Associate Professor Rita McClain, the HTMA’s faculty advisor. “Instead of just reading and discussing the process of travel, they saw it in action. They now understand how a tour works and how all of the components of the travel/tourism industry fit together.”
McClain views the trip as a valuable supplement to AIB’s travel and hospitality management curriculum. Students who previously may have never traveled internationally can better understand and enhance the experience of their future customers by becoming tourists themselves.
“My students can now tell someone how to secure a passport, what to expect at airport security, what is included in a tour package and what to expect when taking a tour,” McClain said.
(Photo: O'Brien Tower at Cliffs of Moher)
Students had the opportunity to discuss Ireland’s economy and tourism industry with locals, tour guides and the tour group’s seasoned and knowledgeable coach driver, all while taking in the natural scenery of the Cliffs of Moher, the ancient ruins of Bunratty Castle and the traditional pubs of the Emerald Isle.
“We view tourist attractions differently,” said HTMA President Nikki Garrison. During the trip, she and her fellow students turned a critical eye toward trade basics such as line management and gift shop placement.
The trip wasn’t all business, though, and Garrison said she especially enjoyed taking part in one grand Irish tradition. “Being able to kiss the Blarney Stone was one of the best experiences ever,” she said.
(Photo: Jessica Hansen and Nikki Garrison atop Blarney Castle)
“I love traveling with students and watching them experience and grow through travel,” McClain said. “A well-planned trip like this demonstrates the importance of working with travel agency professionals who know how to arrange a wonderful worry-free travel memory.”
Brittney Clark at Cliffs of Moher
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