Earlier this month at the ITT Conference I took part in a panel discussion on whether the travel industry is in danger of undermining its talent pipeline by replacing entry level jobs with AI.
Matthew Gardener, who chaired the panel debate, claimed “The question for leaders now is no longer whether AI will impact working travel – it already has.” He went on to say “junior talents aren’t just task completers. They are the future leaders of this industry. People learn by doing, by making mistakes, by developing judgement, by getting out into the real world and meeting customers. If we automate too much of the foundation, where does it leave us in terms of future expertise?”
Dr Kate Harland, Assistant Professor at Northumbria University and a member of the ITT’s Education and Training Committee, believes there’s a growing knowledge gap between students’ exposure to AI and how it is being deployed in businesses. Harland’s research revealed that 95% of students are using AI in their assessments and assignments, however only 48% feel they have the skills to be able to use that AI effectively.
From my perspective, I can certainly see a skills and adaptability gap. But this is somewhat understandable given the relatively recent – and rapid – rise of AI. So perhaps we shouldn’t be overly concerned, at least in the short term.
From the many CVs that we at Gail Kenny Executive Recruitment receive every day, AI is only just starting to appear among people’s stated skills and competences. Candidates aren’t really claiming their experience in AI just yet.
TProfile Chief Sales Officer Bhav Taylor, suggested that travel could to look what other industries are doing, such as the motor industry, where transitioning to EV production means the manufacturers now need to employ software engineers.
Matthew Gardiner reiterated that one of his biggest concerns was AI replacing junior roles, and in doing do, depriving the industry of its leaders of the future. “If we’re automating that junior, entry level, where do our future leaders learn their craft?” he warned.
I take a slightly different view, believing this is really about evolution. I asked the audience how many had started their travel careers as holiday reps, and many acknowledged they did. For quite a long time now the role of holiday rep has ceased to exist, but I don’t think it’s robbed us of talented leaders. It’s more about the evolution of the type of roles that exist in organisations.
No one can predict the future, but it appears to me that currently the roles most under threat of being replaced by AI are in IT, as increasingly new coding is being produced by AI rather than human programmers.
All three panellists were asked for a summary sentence. Bhav Taylor said with AI here to stay, travel had to embrace it – and to work closely with academia to maximise its potential. Kate Harland urged business leaders to put their faith in young people – travel’s future “superstars”.
I advised delegates to start with the people in their organisations that don’t believe in AI and turn them into advocates.
By Ian Brooks, Co-Founder of Gail Kenny Executive Recruitment
