Poor pay set to continue – Comment by Jeremy Skidmore

A recent survey of wages by the website payfinder.com has revealed the appalling levels of pay in the travel industry.

Call centre staff – who do an important and stressful job – earn just £12,000 and retail travel consultants hardly fare much better on £13,500 a year.

I don’t know anyone who could survive on those wages, particularly if they have to pay rent or a mortgage.

And I’m sure the public would be shocked to learn that shop managers earn less than £17,000.

No wonder companies often have to hire young and inexperienced people: many staff with experience leave the industry to work in more lucrative areas.

The odd familiarisation trip and black tie dinner is good fun while you’re young, but it doesn’t pay the bills.

And while it would be cruel and unfair to coin the phrase ‘you pay peanuts, you get monkeys’ it is unrealistic to expect skilled, knowledgeable and experienced staff to put up with those salaries for long.

It’s no surprise the public complain that shop or call centre staff often don’t have as much knowledge about the industry or destinations as they do.

Salaries are so low because travel companies’ margins are so thin and they simply can’t afford to pay staff any more.

I remember a few years ago when BMW had a recuitment drive and picked up some travel industry sales people who had received a solid training with one of the multiples. The prospect of a BMW to drive around in and some healthy commission levels proved too tempting for some to turn down.

Even in a depressed car market, the mark up on a luxury saloon is a little better than on a standard package holiday.

It has been widely reported how dire this summer is proving for many operators. With so many no-frills airline seats on the market, there is huge oversupply and holidaymakers are enjoying bargains galore.

So there’s no sign of anyone – least of all those at the coal face – getting a pay rise in these circumstances.

Travel can be a rewarding career in many ways, but for it to be financially rewarding there needs to be a radical shake up of the industry.

We need less holidays on sales and that means some companies have to drop out of the market.

Only then will there be a fall in the number of holidays available and travel companies just might be able to get back to sensible pricing and, consequently, be able to give their staff the rewards they deserve.

But don’t hold your breath. Radical restructures don’t happen overnight, so prices and wages won’t be heading north this season.