Ruth Brodeen started the speech with sharing her personal experience, when she studied in Germany for her minor degree. The main lesson she learned is the fact that the world is small and if you are passionate about your career, you will definitely reach success. She also shared that a few years ago when she was travelling, the only option to go abroad was the travel agency because there were no computers at that time. This fact describes how fast the tourism industry changes and develops every day. Clearly, in the present, there are more opportunities to choose a hotel, location and transport on the internet. Many times Ruth Brodeen points out the importance of discovering yourself and the world. In fact, the SAGE offers college levels internships during which students can really learn how the tourism industry operates from the inside. Therefore, the main lesson she learned in her career is that it is crucial to challenge yourself, go beyond your comfort zone and join the program abroad. I think these lessons are still relevant in today’s tourism industry because almost in every career a person should learn how to be flexible and adapt quickly to changes. Moreover, the tourism industry is always changing; thus, it is important to be able to adapt quickly to these changes.
Although the article is mostly focused on the problem, with which the Californian tourism industry can encounter, the author supports the Ruth Brodeen’s point. Apparently, due to the recent bombings and numerous terrorist attacks in Paris, the United States were forced to change their visa policy (Wire, 2015). Therefore, the article points out the importance of being adaptive and flexible to endless changes in the tourism industry.
References
Wire, S. (2015). California tourism groups worried about changes to visa program. latimes.com. Retrieved 17 February 2016, from http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-visa-program-tourism-worries-20151125-story.html
Colorado State University Master of Tourism Management,. (2014). NRRT679 Ruth Brodeen, SAGE 9-30-14. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGkdRXUIw4w&list=PLjaMuiwSZ1odmdZDxDz1NwC85j2n
