When Jennifer Swan started working at Scandinave Spa as a guest service agent, she never imagined that she’d one day be the massage therapist manager there. She took that frontline position while finishing her school to become a registered massage therapist but soon learned that the tourism industry and the spa were both things she enjoyed. “Tourism was never something that I expected to stay in but the more I worked here the more I realized that I really enjoyed my days, the people and the environment,” explained Swan.
Swan worked as an RMT at Scandinave (after her front desk job) and when the massage therapist position opened, Swan applied and drawing on her previous management experience, was quickly hired. “I never had big expectations of moving up here, but doors opened, and I walked right through them. The opportunities are there if you want to take them. There are lots of places you can use your past experience as a mature person entering the tourism industry as a second career,” said Swan.
Education: Registered Massage Therapist, Business Administration Degree
First Tourism Job: Guest service agent at Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain
Current Job: Massage therapist manager at Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain
Years in the Tourism Industry: 12
Why would you recommend this path to someone: Because you can advance from the front line to a higher-level job