TUI Travel: CIM Case Study

Verity Wilkinson,
Regional Product & Contracts Manager,
TUI Travel

CIM Diploma in Tourism Marketing 2008-2010

Why did you choose to study the CIM Diploma in Tourism Marketing?
I studied marketing at university but really felt I had got out of touch with the latest theories and best practice and wanted to learn more specifically about tourism marketing. The CIM Diploma in Tourism Marketing gave me the opportunity to refresh and update my general marketing knowledge and also apply the theories to the tourism industry to complement my current career.

Was the Capela course what you expected?
While the textbooks can describe the theories, there is no substitute for discussing how to apply those theories to real life situations. Attending the tutorials to discuss topics and bounce ideas off both the tutors and other delegates was invaluable to my understanding and achievement on the course.

What impact has this qualification had on your career or ability to carry out your job?
I now have far more of a marketing focus in my day to day role. Understanding the intricacies of how tourism marketing differs from other industries has been hugely beneficial.

Any further comments?
You can learn the course content from the books, but what really cemented my understanding were the tutorials. I would advise anyone looking at the course to choose the tutorial option as it makes completion of the assignments so much easier as you gain insight from qualified and experienced tutors, as well as interesting and useful information on how things work from the delegates working in other travel and tourism companies.

The format of the course is flexible – I chose to do two modules simultaneously and delayed another one due to how my job commitments worked out. The first assignment is always the hardest but they do get easier!