Luke Treacher – BBs in Tourism and Event Management

Name: Luke Treacher

From: Meath

School: Ratoath College

I’m from Meath and decided to go to college in the west of Ireland as I felt college in Dublin would not be for me. I wanted to have a real college experience by moving away from home and learn to become more independent. As well as moving away from home, it was the course that attracted me to ATU Sligo. A business degree that specialised in tourism and event management together. I realised the course in ATU Sligo would allow me to learn about tourism in the west of Ireland and see first had the various tourism businesses along the Wild Atlantic Way.

I particularly enjoy the variety of modules on the degree as they range from the core business subjects to real tourism and event management specific modules. These include Tourism Marketing & Management, Adventure Tourism, Business and Marketing Technology, Culture and Creative tourism, Ecotourism, Innovative Tourism Customer Service, Experiential Tourism Marketing, Events Project Management and Tourism Entrepreneurship. These are just some of the amazing modules!

I enjoy the practical side to the course too, including the variety of field trips to tourism attractions/destinations in the west and the variety of tourism entrepreneur guest speakers. The hands-on six months paid work placement that is carried out in year two of the degree gave me real insight and valuable experience in a tourism organisation. It’s an amazing part of the course and can be a stepping stone in the right direction to what area of business, tourism or events you might want to enter when you graduate. The class size is also great as you get to know your classmates and lecturers really well.

My advice to incoming first years? Get stuck in from the very beginning and take any opportunity that gets thrown at you! Ask many questions and engage with your class group and lectures as this will build on your skills and knowledge. Also, join clubs and societies as you will meet new people and make loads of new friends.

Aside from my studies, I am currently working with Richmond Marketing as a brand manager for Red Bull. I have been in this role for a number of months now and I am absolutely loving it! The role involves building creative and engaging ways to market the product and grow the user base.

My long term plans include a lot of travel! I want to travel the world, explore and experience new cultures and potentially work abroad in a tourism marketing or management related role. I know that this and lots more will be possible with my Business in Tourism with Event Management degree from ATU Sligo!

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