Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/19029
TIMEMANAGEMENT FOR TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS In March 2010, travel professionals of color were surveyed to ascertain their level of job satisfaction in the current eco- nomic climate, and to encourage reflection upon how well they manage time in the workplace. Of the thirty-six respondents, 53% view the travel profession very favorably, and 33% view it exceedingly favorably. Fifty-eight percent (58%) say that the recession has unfavorably or slightly favorably affect- ed their business, while 14% say that it has had no effect. Fifty-eight percent (58%) also say that the reces- sion has somewhat affected their ability to manage time in the workplace. Regarding time spent at work, 31% of respondents report that they work eight to 10 hours a day. Twenty-eight percent (28%) work four to six hours, 19% work 10 to 12 hours, and 17% work six to eight hours. Twenty- five percent (25%) of r e s p o n - d e n t s BY MONIQUE Y. WELLS enough sleep, and 36% say that they always spend enough time with fam- ily and friends. Fifty-one percent (51%) indicate that they sometimes engage in physical exercise, and 45% report that they frequently feel empowered and energized. The majority of respondents have worked at least 10 years in the travel industry, with 28% reporting 10 to 15 years, 25% reporting 15 to 20 years, and 25% reporting more than 20 years. Most respon- dents indicate that they would (27%) or might (48.5%) be willing to par- ticipate in training to improve their time s a y that they find time management in the workplace slightly challeng- ing for them, while another 25% rate it as challenging. Twenty-eight percent (28%) say that time management is very challenging for them. Most respondents rarely miss deadlines (61%), confuse efficiency for pro- ductiveness (45%), or confuse activity for productiveness (51%). External influences such as meetings, phone calls, and e-mail some- what affect 47% of respondents’ ability to accomplish tasks each day, whereas these influences have negligible or no effect on 38% of partici- pants. A clear majority of participants (59%) indicates that they procrasti- nate sometimes, while a larger majority (73%) indicates that they are able to frequently focus on an individual task. Forty-four percent (44%) are fre- quently able to prioritize their tasks and are sometimes able to organize their workspace. Organization of workspace is the greatest time man- agement challenge cited by participants (24%), followed by procrastina- tion (21%) and prioritizing tasks (18%). On a personal level, 30% of respondents say that they always get management skills. Dr.Monique Y. Wells is co- founder of Discover Paris! – Personalized Itineraries for Independent Travelers www.discover- paris.net. She is a Certified Success Coach™ and the cre- ator of the Time Management: Inspiration and Implementation™ for Travel Professionals coaching program. For more informa- tion, contact Dr. Wells at info@discoverparis-.net. Black Meetings & Tourism September/October 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 21