Nena Compagne
“During my Tourism Management degree, I really enjoyed working with people from different cultures. Students came from all over the world, so I learnt how to work with different personalities and working styles. Group projects taught me how to find a balance between those differences and work towards the same goal. That experience later proved very valuable during my internship.”
From internship to management
“During my fourth year, I completed an internship in Aruba at Casago, a holiday rental company. I worked as a coordinator in an international environment and gained a lot of practical experience. The HRM module from my degree was particularly useful because I could immediately apply what I had learnt about recruitment and performance appraisals. It was also my first real experience of managing staff. After my internship, I was offered a position at Casago and continued working as a coordinator. After just six months, I was promoted to Operations Manager. It was a completely new responsibility for me, but I felt confident taking it on because of the knowledge and skills I had gained during my studies.”
Building on my experience
“After about two years, I returned to the Netherlands and started working as an Area Manager at Bookatrekking.com. I organise trekking trips in Italy, manage bookings, stay in contact with guests and local partners, and coordinate operational processes. Looking back, I can see how much my studies and internships have shaped the way I work. The experiences I gained at NHL Stenden gave me a strong foundation and helped me grow into the role I have today.”
Where could Tourism Management take you?
Want to find out more about the Tourism Management programme? Explore the programme or join one of our events.