Letter of motivation - Dringend

Hallo an Alle!
...
Viele Grüße

(text in German removed by mod. English only, please!)




Dear Sir or Madam,

I first heard about HPU when I met one of the International Admissions Coordinators while I was studying in Germany. As I knew right away that HPU was the ideal place for me to achieve my goal, I would very much like to be considered for a HPU scholarship to gather practical experience in the travel & tourism industry while learning the theory required for career success.

Having recently acquired the professional qualification of a state-certified international tourist assistant, I am now very keen to study Travel Industry Management at your distinguished university in order to experience the greatest possible breadth of education.

The tourism and hospitality industry is a vast one - encompassing markets as diverse as hotels, clubs and resorts, airlines, tourist and leisure attractions, travel retail, tourism promotion, MICE, food and beverage services and many more.

Today, the industry is a widely dispersed economic giant. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council the contribution of the Travel & Tourism economy to total employment is expected to rise from 219,810,000 jobs in 2009 to 275,688,000 jobs by 2019. I would like to contribute to its continued growth.

Wishing to become a part of the world's fastest growing industry I am prepared to invest effort and time to acquire the necessary skills from a management perspective which will be invaluable in seeking to understand what the tourism industry needs to do to improve their competitive edge, grow their business and seek out new business opportunities.

It was in high school that I found I had an aptitude for learning languages. As well as English, I studied Spanish: language is inevitably the key component of communication in successful international marketing, and Spanish is the world's second language, in terms of business opportunities. Combined with French and German, these languages have given me a firm foundation for the study and practice of principles and techniques of travel management.

The numerous travel experiences I have made, generated a keen interest in foreign cultures and influenced my decision of studying Travel Industry Management. In addition to the linguistic benefits, experiencing different cultural backgrounds has contributed to my better understanding of how to market tourism products to specific target groups, since different cultural values require different marketing strategies. During my travels to Tunisia, Australia and several EU countries, I have not only enjoyed the local cultures and their heritage, but also gained invaluable insights into the needs and motivations of people which will enable me to manage businesses that conceptualize, develop and deliver interesting and innovative experiences for clients.

Having worked as an customer-service executive at Frankfurt airport for two years, I became thoroughly familiar with providing services, handling complaints, dispensing information, coordinating schedules and interacting with people of different cultures. This work experience solidified my interest in tourism and exposed me to the enormous potential of this developing field.

During my studies I was able to acquire further work experience during a placement with the Sunshine Castle in Bli Bli. The intensive period of work there gave me a valuable practical insight into the tourism, event and hospitality industry. My duties included organisation and coordination of weddings, functions and events, marketing assistance to the management, preparing and coordinating staff rosters, cash handling, providing accounting assistance, front of business customer service and, last but not least, the day-to-day handling of incoming and outgoing correspondence.

After several years of professional experience, I believe that I am ready to take the next step toward my goal of being an successful travel manager.

I am applying for the TIM program for three reasons. The first is that the course precisely matches my particular area of interest in travel industry: namely, travel industry marketing and hotel and resort management. The second is the high reputation of your school for producing outstanding graduates and keeping pace with changes in the travel industry. And the third is your close relationship with well known global companies, which gives students the opportunity to gain invaluable insights and experiences toward developing and charting their future careers in hospitality and travel industry. The combination of these factors makes your TIM program the natural choice for me at this point in my career.

The ideal education for me includes the comprehensive courses and small-size classes coupled with unique experiences like the cooperative education and the internship. Perhaps even more importantly, I hope to benefit from the HPU environment - an environment of boundless innovation. HPU will give me the opportunity to apply the theory, strategies and techniques I learn in the classroom to the real world. I intend to join the Travel Industry Management Student Organization and the activity advertising club, which will not only help me form lifelong friendships with fellow students from all over the world, but also give me exposure to top firms and successful entrepreneurs in Hawai'I's travel industry.

The reasons I think I should be seriously considered for this scholarship are that I have the ability to take on new information quickly and to put it into operation immediately. I can think well on my feet and deal with pressure situations extremely well. I really enjoy taking on as much responsibility as possible and making a difference in whatever I apply myself to.

Beyond simply possessing an outstanding commitment to service and an abiding love for the tourism profession, I also feel myself well-qualified academically to become a highly successful entrant with your TIM program. For one thing, I was an excellent student with a strong concentration in both tourism marketing and in languages. Additionally, I am naturally inquisitive and this has fostered a personal interest in all aspects of the travel world. In light of my strong work ethic, my unwavering commitment to developing my talents to the full, and my studious nature, I feel that I will be an exemplary student at your institution.

Personal satisfaction plays a key role in my career decision. While monetary rewards are of practical importance, true job satisfaction springs from the opportunity to grow and learn within an industry. I enjoy acquiring new information and skills, which help me to grow as a professional. In addition, a career with open prospects would give me constant incentive to improve myself and to gain more knowledge.

After graduating from HPU, I will seek a position in international marketing or as an hotel manager. With a solid foundation in academic theory on customer service, marketing strategies, management, strategic planning, market research and project management gained through the Bachelor's Degree program in Travel Tourism Management at the HPU I am confident that I will have the skills, knowledge and contacts that will enable me, as tourism industry manager, to deal with the complex issues of the tourism industry.

Thank you very much for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to your positive response.

Yours faithfully