So far in this series, we’ve heard from sales managers, marketing managers, people and culture managers, and more than a few founders – which just goes to show the range of roles and careers our amazing industry offers. Basically: think of a job – it’s pretty likely you can do it within the travel and hospitality sphere. 

As if to prove the point, this week we’ve got two founders from different areas of travel and hospitality: Newton Fernandes (he/him) is the founder of MULTI,  a strategic commercial marketing solution to help businesses navigate complex challenges. While Jenny Southan (she/her) is the Editor, Founder and CEO of GLOBETRENDER, the UK's leading travel trend forecasting agency and online magazine dedicated to the future of travel.

Wondering why they chose to dedicate their careers and businesses to travel and hospitality? Read on to find out.

P.s. Want to join this lovely lot and grace the pages of the Lightning blog (and LinkedIn, and Instagram) with your thoughts on the wonderful world of travel and hospitality? Get in touch.

Newton Fernandes (he/him), Founder of MULTI

Why do you love working in travel and hospitality?

Here’s a different perspective that may appeal to those exploring a career in corporate, support office, or brand and marketing roles within hospitality, travel, tourism, leisure, or startups – this could include roles in sales, revenue, finance, HR, legal, procurement, learning, development, IT, digital, and other specialist business functions… 

Contributing £93 billion to the UK economy annually – and growing at a rate of 5.9% per year (Source: UK Hospitality) – the hospitality sector can offer professionals incredible specialist and functional business career pathways.

I started my career in media as a journalist, moving into an entry-level hotel PR and marketing role in the Middle East. Fifteen years and three continents later, the industry has given me opportunities to contribute to 35 of the world’s finest travel brands (Marriott International, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, American Airlines); use my international heritage to influence marketing in 43 countries (across the EMEA region – Europe, the Middle East, Eurasia, and Africa); run brand loyalty and partnership campaigns seen by millions of members within international programmes (Marriott Bonvoy, Wyndham Rewards, American Airlines AAdvantage); and support hospitality leaders with driving revenue generation and brand awareness goals through my marketing advisory, MULTI.

Whether you belong to the LGBTQ+ group, so-called BAME or POC community of diverse talent, or want to work with talented international experts in their field, the travel and hospitality industry is here to give you a platform to bring your career vision to life. 

What makes it different to other industries?

Very early on, I knew I didn’t want my brand and marketing creativity to be limited by ‘siloed thinking’. I belong to four cultures and grew up in three countries, but I was curious to get ideas, inspiration, and best practice from what other industries and sectors are doing in their marketing, loyalty, partnerships, sales and revenue functions.

Having spent time working in multisector government communications (the UK Civil Service and the Mayor of London), as well as financial technology (fintech), my personal ‘outside-in’ reflection is that, yes, we do seem to be better at engaging with people – whether it be customers or colleagues. But, as an industry, it does feel like more could be done to help our talent understand the journey and the many career pathways that lie ahead. 

For example, some of the dinner service waiters in our restaurants ended up in corporate social media and digital roles because they expressed an interest in photography and content creation! 

What’s your advice for candidates who are new to the industry?

Here are three tips I wish I knew when I first started my journey 15 years ago:

1. Get a mentor: Seek a mentor to learn from their wisdom and experience. Consider choosing a mentor who’s active or close to the type of role (or sector) you want to get into. Try our industry community, the Institute of Hospitality, where I help mentor and coach diverse commercial and marketing talent into our tough but rewarding industry.  

2. Be resilient: Have fun at work and enjoy your role, although remember it is a professional job! There are going to be occasions in the office or on the floor when your values could be tested by the behaviours of colleagues or customers. To represent your brand, team, and industry in a professional manner, brainstorm and practise these scenarios in advance to refine your potential responses. In my role on the PR & Marketing Committee at Springboard (the UK’s leading charity supporting disadvantaged talent into employment), many opportunities exist to help provide candidates with the soft or technical skills they may need to be successful in their new careers. 

3. Consider a recruiter: Recruiters – such as the Lightning team – are experts in our industry, as well as matching experts like you with strong teams and successful businesses. Develop a long-term professional relationship with them, trust their advice, and support their efforts when possible. 

Jenny Southan (she/her), Editor, Founder & CEO of GLOBETRENDER

Why do you love working in travel and hospitality?

I’m a travel journalist by trade and now also operate as a trend forecaster and consultant. I became a travel journalist, first and foremost, as a way to see the world – which I have. I’ve been to all sorts of amazing places, from Iran to Necker Island! 

Although travel journalism is hugely underpaid and undervalued these days, for me it’s been a rich and rewarding career. I love seeing my name in print, meeting interesting people, and embarking on assignments to unexpected places. 

As a travel trend forecaster, I love exploring how innovation can make the world a better place. I also host a podcast called Blue Sky Thinking, in which I interview travel industry visionaries and entrepreneurs whose big ideas are shaping the future of travel. These conversations have literally changed my life, they’ve been so inspiring.

What makes it different to other industries?

Travel is actually quite traditional and short-sighted in its approach, which is why I identified an urgent need for trend forecasting and strategic foresight to help businesses become more future-focused. 

Sometimes I find it frustrating how conservative most travel brands are, but there’s an amazing cohort of industry pioneers – such as Black Tomato, Soneva, The Luminaire, Pelorus Travel, 700,000 Heures, 1 Hotels and Soho House – that are being hugely creative. It's an industry ripe for disruption and I’m so pleased to see companies such as Desert Island Survival and Casa Amoros establishing interesting niches for themselves.

The UK travel industry is generally made up of warm, sociable people – most of whom know one another – so it feels like a nice community. On the whole, it feels like an industry that’s welcoming of diversity because it’s so people-centric.

What’s your advice for candidates who are new to the industry?

From the point of view of travel journalists wanting to make a career for themselves, I would say you need to have a reality check first – it will give you an amazing lifestyle, if writing and travelling are like breathing for you, but it's hard. You need to love hustling. There are very few staff jobs left. Above all, be tenacious. 

Email the publications or people you want to work with directly and try to get work experience or get something published so you have some ‘by lines’. You might have to do this for free at the beginning, but once you get going, don't undersell yourself. I’d love to give more young travel writers the opportunity to write for Globetrender, but people very rarely get in touch. 

You need to demonstrate initiative and build good connections. Never use people! Be nice.

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Reckon travel and hospitality could be the industry for you? Get in touch for help finding your next role.

Already working in travel and hospitality, but not sure where to take your career next? Book a Lightning Lounge session for tailored career advice to help you figure out your future.

Or maybe you’re looking for out-of-industry candidates for a role in your business? We can help you find the right fit.

Finally i'm rasing funds for my gender affirming surgery  (me, Thea Bardot (they/she)) via Gofundme and would love your support! If you are able to, you can donate towards my £25,000 surgery costs here.