Training is key for industry growth

In today’s fast paced world, training has become an important asset in the travel and tourism industry. A workforce, which is properly trained, turns out to be profitable at the end of the day. Shakir Kantawala, Co-founder and Managing Partner, WingsWay Training Institute LLC (Dubai) and WingsWay Global Training Academy (India) shares with TRAVTALK.

Shehara Rizly

How critical is training and upskilling for our industry workforce?

Upskilling and re-skilling has gained importance in a stiff competitive work environment.  Training existing and new talent is the bridge between the current state of our industry and a successful future.  Efficiency and profitability depend on a well-trained workforce. Continuous ‘learning and development’ are a must to maintain the competitive edge and deliver customer delight. This is due to the industry’s rapidly evolving nature, emerging technologies, new-age developments, regulatory changes and shifting customer preferences.

Investing in the right training ensures we stay informed about the latest industry needs, adapt to new challenges, improve productivity, and contribute to the organization’s overall growth, while keeping clients happy and loyal. Being imparted training boosts the emploee’s morale, motivation, professional growth, career progression and prosperity.

Which roles in company hierarchy can benefit from education?

Relevant training and certifications benefit the employee and the employer. Frontliners, sales teams, operations department, contracting team, accounts and finance, senior-management, all will benefit if they are trained and certified. The industry thrives on ‘continuous improvement’ and adapting to the rapidly evolving landscape is essential to maintain your competitive edge. Consistent training is useful for the workforce to remain agile, and provide outstanding levels of service.

What is the impact of advanced tech in travel and tourism?

ChatGPT is one of the many emerging technologies options available such as AI. These new-age developments may not lead to any immediate job losses in the travel and tourism industry, but not effectively embracing these technologies can make you redundant. Travel, tourism, and aviation industries remain experiential and hands-on in nature.  Replacing this aspect will not happen soon. The impact will be slower due to adaptation issues and steep costs of implementation. WingsWay’s training and upskilling programs help professionals develop the required skills to understand, implement, and manage them effectively. This ensures the industry remains competitive and innovative.

How can the travel trade ease their back-end processes using emerging technologies?

Emerging technologies can redefine business models, enhance customer experiences, and streamline operations.            Superior data-analysis with AI, will provide better understanding of client preferences, allowing us to recommend better suited personalized travel arrangements enhancing loyalty and satisfaction. Chatbots will provide real-time client support with lower operational costs. Blockchain will enable secure transactions and offer more payment options. Simplification of processes will save time.

Are Gen Z & Millennials keen to join aviation, airports, travel and tourism industries? If so, why?

Yes. We can see Gen Z and showing interest to join the aviation, airports, and travel and tourism.