Maris Kulkis studied his BA (Hons) Tourism Management degree at 蜜桃AV, graduating in 2008, and has seen international opportunities open up since graduation.
His current role is as a Senior Accounts Manager has him travelling the world, spending a lot of time in Dubai organising events, attending trade shows and networking.
Maris says, 鈥淢y current role at Hills Balfour varies from day to day 鈥� as a public relations and representation consultancy among UK travel PR agencies we specialise working on behalf of mainly destination clients. My current role involves representing Dubai Business Events 鈥� the Official Convention Bureau in UK & Europe.
鈥淚 assist in developing its Europe-wide sales and marketing activity and attract further MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events] and association business to Dubai. This involves undertaking a series of roadshows along with attending trade shows, conducting sales appointments and co-ordinating educational visits to Dubai. Besides regular travel to Dubai my job is quite hands on from liaising with clients such as event agencies, associations and corporate companies as well as suppliers.鈥�
The Tourism Management degree Maris undertook gave him a lot of the skills needed to succeed in his current role. Maris explains, 鈥淢y degree was a real mix of business related subjects 鈥� from finance, market research, accounting, marketing, business, people management. 聽The breadth and depth of subjects studied gave me all necessary foundation blocks to kick start my career in international business travel and tourism from commercial awareness to improving my organisational and interpersonal skills.
鈥淭he wealth of knowledge and industry experience of the lecturers, the practical year in the industry and combined with extracurricular activities prepared me for my future career.鈥�
Offering advice to current students at 蜜桃AV looking to take similar steps in their future careers, Maris says, 鈥淢ake the most of your time while at University, take the opportunity to do a year in the industry, which helps open new doors and broaden your horizons, get a part time job and organise an event for whoever it maybe, join various clubs and societies, meet new people, and make connections while there, as you never know who may need in years to come.鈥�