“I was with Hayley and Louiza for two years and I cannot thank them enough for all their help,” said Emily. “They taught in a way that made you remember everything that you had learnt, they had endless stories to share from their time as Cabin Crew and were always on hand to help. Whether it was to do with work or my personal life they were always there for a chat and were so encouraging of my career even after I had left college.”

She added, “I wanted to do this job for a while as I really wanted to get out there and see more parts of the world. I also love chatting and learning about people's cultures and backgrounds. I enjoyed my course a lot and think it gave me a great head start into the industry. I learnt a lot and it gave me a good insight into the world of travel and tourism.”

They had thrilling adventures like the Afternoon Desert Safari and fun times at Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark. Exploring famous spots like the Dubai Mall and relaxing on local beaches and hotel rooftops were highlights. Everything was smoothly organised, from transportation to flights with Emirates, making sure their trip was hassle-free. Overall, they got fully immersed in Dubai’s amazing experiences!

Speaking about the trip, Hayley Watkinson, Travel & Tourism lecturer in Hastings, said, “We stayed in the Disney Hotel Cheyenne for three nights and had a two-day hopper pass park. We travelled via coach and tunnel outbound, and by ferry on the way back.

“Learners gained valuable insights into what makes the travel industry great, how to enter the industry after college, and the fact that it is the largest employer. They also learned about the essential knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed, various roles and progression routes within the industry, and the importance of aiming high.”

The Travel & Tourism department at Hastings said: “It wasn’t just fun – it was also a valuable learning experience that brought their studies to life. We’re so proud of our students for embracing new cultures and experiences.”

The project gave students the chance to apply their classroom learning to a live brief, while building the confidence, communication and planning skills that are essential in the travel, tourism and events industries.

East Sussex College Eastbourne students studying Level 3 Travel & Tourism spent two days at JARE Airline Training Centre in Bournemouth completing their Cabin Crew SEP training at the start of March.

“The light show and fireworks ended a perfect day with the amazing drone show to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disneyland Paris.”

“She shared stories from her time working at Gatwick and on cruise ships, giving our students a better understanding of what to expect in these roles. Her enthusiasm and passion for the industry were truly motivating.”

Travel & Tourism students from East Sussex College Hastings welcomed a group of Italian students into the college earlier this week.

Louis Smith, Travel & Tourism alumnus who studied at East Sussex College’s Hastings campus, has landed his dream role with UK airline EasyJet as cabin crew.

On the Travel & Tourism course we learn about resort reps, tour operators, travel agencies, UK airports and airports worldwide. We are taught about customer service, health and safety procedures, and how an organisation works. We also learn how politics, the economy and society, impact UK tourism.

Jeanette Beckwith, Travel & Tourism lecturer at East Sussex College Eastbourne, said, “We took our Year 1 Level 3 Travel and Tourism Students for a Boeing B737 SEP Training Session at J.A.R.E Airline Training Centre in Bournemouth.

Miah Haylett, who studied Travel & Tourism at East Sussex College’s Hastings campus until last summer, is now thriving in the industry as a flight attendant for EasyJet!

Recently, Hannah returned to the College to speak with Travel & Tourism students, offering them an exclusive industry insight. Now working as a Cabin Manager at British Airways, she shared her journey from her early days working at Gatwick Airport to life on cruise ships and beyond. Her experience in check-in services, customer relations, and cabin crew roles provided students with a fascinating glimpse into the many opportunities available in the sector.

Emma Hartup, Head of Curriculum (Hair & Beauty, Hospitality & Catering, Business, Travel & Tourism at East Sussex College adds, “It’s been fantastic to welcome Paul to the College to run this workshop for our students. He’s unique flair and approach to style has been inspiring. Working with renowned industry stylists is critical for our students and complements their creative learning here at College.”

Emma Hartup, Head of Curriculum (Hair & Beauty, Hospitality & Catering, Business, and Travel & Tourism) at East Sussex College, says, “We are thrilled that our students have chosen to work alongside and support Raystede. It’s opened up so many opportunities for learners, not just in Hospitality and Catering, but across the entire College. We are excited to work with the charity this year and explore different ways to support each other.”

East Sussex College’s Hospitality & Catering department named Raystede as their chosen charity to support this academic year, with money raised from dinners and special themed evenings going to the charity. Emma Hartup, Head of Curriculum (Hair & Beauty, Hospitality & Catering, Business, and Travel & Tourism) at East Sussex College, says:

Further opportunities for the Business students include a webinar with the Houses of Parliament which includes a Q&A with local MP Caroline Ansell, and a visit to Brighton Pier next month focused around customer service. Year-one students go on work experience in March and year twos in May. Debra, whose background includes recruitment, Travel & Tourism and Business Travel is keen to support her students in enrichment activities and placements.

She added, “I found the courses at college fun and exciting. My tutors were Hayley Watkinson and Louiza Tryphonos. I couldn't have asked for two better women to look up to. They gave me and my classmates so much support throughout our course and felt like no question was a silly question. You could really tell that they want the best for their students and I give all credit to them for getting me to where I am now.”

Hayley Watkinson, Travel and Tourism lecturer at East Sussex College, said, “One of the students’ assessments is to attend an assessment day - it's good practice to have industry professionals involved. We were so lucky and honoured to have Devon, a member of Virgin Atlantic’s cabin crew with us. Devon helped welcome students in for registration and assessed them during their group interview scenarios on assertiveness, body language, communication skills and how well they contributed.”

https://www.escg.ac.uk/blog/former-travel-and-tourism-student-takes-to-the-skies/

If you’d like to follow in Rosie’s footsteps into the travel and tourism industry, please click here to view all of the available courses on offer.

If you're interested in a career in air cabin crew, check out the travel and tourism courses at East Sussex College.

You will be able to join any of our full-time courses that you’re interested in. You may want to have a direct transfer to a like-for-like course, for example, Level 3 Travel and Tourism to Level 3 Travel and Tourism, or you can change your course completely. It’s up to you. You’ll just need to meet the entry requirements.

If you can't travel to any of these other places, then why not explore your own neighbourhood? Become a tourist for the day and walk down the roads and alleys you don’t usually go down. Challenge yourself to take right turns when you would normally go left. Mix it up a bit - it's amazing what new things you will discover that have been on your doorstep the whole time.

Visitors, travellers, and staycationers will be able to access a range of useful information from the new tourist hub, such as local attractions, events, excursions, places of interest, top restaurants, and travel information for Hastings and 1066 Country. Local books, maps, gifts and souvenirs can also be bought, and this range is being extended.