216 Letter from Kim Werner

Dear future women tourism researchers,

I want to tell you a short story – my story:

I have always been involved with tourism. It all began with an immense passion for travel and a desire to explore the world. After I finished school, I completed a two-and-a-half-year apprenticeship to become a travel agent and, upon completion, spent six months in the Canary Islands (specifically Lanzarote) as a representative for a German tour operator. I then started studying International Tourism Management, a degree programme that required a stay abroad (at least one semester of studies at a foreign university plus an internship abroad) and therefore fully fitted my personality. I spent a semester in Barcelona and six months in New Zealand, working for Lufthansa German Airlines. After graduation, I worked for several travel & tourism companies in Germany – and gradually shifted into the events area more and more. My path was not straight – I tried out different things, always on the look for what I really wanted (which – I guess – is something very well-known to many women). During that time, I also did some guest lectures at German universities next to my jobs – and suddenly I knew exactly what I wanted to do: become a lecturer and maybe even a professor one day. I simply love(d) being around young people, teaching them about our exciting field while at the same time learning from them. So that’s why I embarked on a PhD journey at AUT in Auckland/New Zealand, combining the topics of destination marketing and mega-events. And I really enjoyed this experience and the journey involved. I then lectured event management at AUT university in New Zealand before returning back to my home country Germany where I became a professor of event management. So – with passion, dedication and commitment you can achieve your goals, I am living proof :).

And I enjoy my time in academia – even though the days are often long and work never stops and there is SO much bureaucracy. I particularly enjoy the different parts of the job – teaching (we have quite a high teaching load here at the Universities of Applied Sciences in Germany), supervising theses, and also working on different research projects with some of my favourite colleagues. The job is so diverse, and it makes me happy that no day is like the other. So, dear future women tourism researcher – based on my story, here’s the advice I would like to give you (and perhaps also my younger self – if I had the chance again):

• Try things out – it doesn’t always go to plan, and it doesn’t need to – there are several pathways that lead you to achieving your goals and sometimes it is not the most direct one that works for you.
• Trust in yourself – if you are committed, dedicated and prepared to work hard, you will succeed.
• Ask for help – there are some great people out there in this industry willing to help and give advice.
• Look out for mentors – I’ve been privileged to have some great mentors in my life – people (both men and women) who have supported me along the way. So find your mentor! I’m sure there is one person that you admire for their work and who is willing to help and support you. There will be some drawbacks along the way (especially for us as women!) – but please stay strong and committed to your goals. Don’t give up! A mentor will be able to help you with that too.
• Build your network – women often underestimate how valuable their networks are. Go to conferences and talk to other researchers – also the more mature ones. Don’t shy away! Nearly all of them are open and helpful. Establish connections and stay in touch with them. Academia is small – and the academics in tourism know and support each other.
• Have fun – I think, something that we tend to forget (particularly when the work is overwhelming) is that we sometimes need to stop and pause for a while and do the things that we enjoy the most – whether it is networking at a conference, engaging in Zoom meeting with colleagues from all over the world or simply sitting outside in the sun having a coffee and chat with a wonderful colleague.

I wish you the best of luck along your way!

Kim Werner

Hochschule Osnabrück, University of Applied Sciences, Germany