Tools for excellence in tourism

Chantelle Khan credits her impressive career progress to the skills she developed while studying at VU. International placements, industry-relevant course content, and supportive teaching staff are just some of the ways VU helped her get the job of a lifetime.

"Back in high school I wanted to be a heart surgeon, but then I realised that I wasn’t very good at math, so I turned my focus to another passion of mine: travel. I enrolled in Bachelor of Business (tourism management specialisation) at VU and figured if the travel part fell through, at least I’d have business skills!

I loved studying at VU because the lecturers and tutors were all really approachable and I always felt comfortable asking for help. The best part though, was that my course kept me interested - every single subject and topic was relevant, current, and intriguing.

As part of my study I completed an amazing industry placement year at Hallmark/Qantas, Los Angeles International Airport. Not only did I meet some incredible people, I was able to connect more strongly with other students in my course. It kept me motivated and helped me figure out what I wanted to do when I finished uni.

While completing my course, I secured a casual position at Gray Line, which complemented my study hours. When I graduated, I took on the role full time. I’ve been working there for 11 years now and my current position is Sales and Marketing Coordinator, which encompasses a broad range of tasks. Through initiatives at VU I’ve also volunteered for various charities, Melbourne Airport, City of Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. I believe that I’ve been able to progress this far in my career because VU set me up with the skills I needed to succeed in the tourism industry."