The hospitality, travel and tourism industries are made up of a huge number of organisations that range from the larger government-funded associations and voluntary organisations through to much smaller independent, sometimes even one-man, operations. In addition to the diversity of potential recruiters, they offer such a range of locations that individuals are just as likely to find themselves working in a remote rural part of the UK as they are on some inner city-based project. Therefore, a degree of flexibility and a willingness to travel is an essential quality any would-be employers will be looking for.

The sheer variety of careers available in the sector means that it would be almost impossible to detail every possible career path available to graduates. The majority of opportunities, however, can be roughly grouped under the two headings of management and customer-facing positions. Managerial roles could involve organising the day-to-day running of enterprises such as cinemas, casinos, leisure centres, nightclubs, theme parks, hotels, travel agencies etc. Jobs that would involve a much higher degree of customer contact would be customer service representatives, fitness and sport instructors, youth development officers, physiotherapy, etc.

Regardless of which particular direction individuals choose to follow, those working in these industries cite long, and often irregular, hours with relatively modest financial rewards as the negative aspects of their jobs. Nevertheless, these are usually outweighed by the significant rewards of pursuing a career that aims to bring a tremendous amount of enjoyment and well-being to millions every year, through a multitude of activities.