Workplaces, where others are vacationing: whether they are looking for a dream job or taking the first step on the career ladder, students and young professionals with a tourism background will find the ideal platform at ITB Berlin. In Hall 5.1 some 50 exhibitors will be showcasing their international portfolios under the heading of “Training and Employment in Tourism”.

German and foreign universities, technical colleges and vocational schools, research institutes and other service providers will be presenting first hand details about the opportunities for study and educational advancement in tourism. For the first time at ITB Berlin the Federal Labour Agency will be introducing its maritime jobs initiative “MeerArbeit”. This is a unique opportunity for anyone considering a career change and looking for employment on ships: The Suhl Labour Agency is the only one in Germany to offer exclusive cooperation agreements with almost all cruise providers. For example, AIDA and its training academy, A-ROSA, Columbia Ship Management (e.g. MS Europa) and the Peter Deilmann shipping line will be represented here.

At the ITB Career Center, powered by YOURCAREERGROUP, interested visitors will be able to obtain details about the tourism job market and the wide and varied choice of careers that it offers. Personnel managers and highly competent advisors from the hotel trade (Rocco Forte Collection, Kempinski Hotels, A-Rosa Resorts), catering (Marche Restaurants Deutschland GmbH) and tour operators (Robinson Club, Vamos Elter-Kinder-Reisen, Dertour) will be available to answer questions during face-to-face discussions. For anyone in search of employment there is also a large wall display showing the latest job vacancies throughout the fair.

A large stage forms the focal point of Hall 5.1. During all five days of the fair it will be the venue for speakers from technical collages and universities, who will be giving papers on courses of study, and various aspects of the tourism industry will also be covered. Companies which are contributing to the ITB Career Center will be providing information about job vacancies and career prospects and about opportunities for getting started in this field. They will include the tourism division of REWE Group, HRS - Hotel Reservation Service, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts and Steigenberger Hotel Group, as well as Marche Restaurants Germany and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Over a number of days the Suhl Labour Agency will be reporting on employment prospects in the cruise sector.

Wednesday, 11 March 2009, is an important date for young professionals and for anyone keen to investigate ways of developing their career. The Newcomers’ Day, during the ITB Business Travel Days, which will take place in Hall 7.1 as part of the ITB Berlin Convention, will be an exclusive opportunity to learn about the changes that are being made to careers in travel, and the creation of a new professional qualification for mobility management.