OCCUPATION: HOTEL TOUR AND TRAVEL COORDINATOR

Name: Hiroko Dreyfus

Employer: Pan Pacific Hotel, Anaheim

Job description: Hotel tour and travel coordinators assist hotel visitors, particularly international guests, in making transportation and sightseeing arrangements. They make sure the hotel’s food and accommodations are suitable for guests from various cultures and traditions. They occasionally assist the concierge in providing general information and act as a translator.

Thumbs up: “The new management of our hotel believes in teamwork and gave the staff the responsibility for formulating a new mission statement. That brought all of us together toward the same goal. But the greatest reward in my job is the wonderful smiles and shining faces I see when I have been able to help someone enjoy their stay. International visitors are often very overwhelmed and really appreciate my help.”

Thumbs down: “Sometimes I wish I could begin preparing tour agendas and making plans for guests before they check in, since the extra time would really help. It is my nature to be helpful and I always wish I could do more.”

Advice: “To do this job, you really have to like helping people and be willing to put in extra hours. When I’m not at the hotel, I’m on call and it’s really a 24-hour-a-day job.”

Salary range: $25,000 to $30,000 a year.

Hours: Regular business hours, with extra time required on evenings and weekends during special events.

Educational and training requirements: Most tour and travel coordinators have a background in hotel management or training in the travel industry. It is extremely important to have a solid background in at least one other language and culture.

Expected demand: Steady. The strong yen is bringing more Japanese and other foreign visitors to the United States and coordinators are needed to help with arrangements.

Major employing industries: Major hotels and resorts.

For more information: Contact the council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education in Washington at (202) 331-5990.

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Researched by JANICE L. JONES / Los Angeles Times