Ms Jacqui Jones BA (Hons) MA MIH    

Responsible for managing International Travel, Tourism, Events, Festivals and Leisure Resort Management programmes at UWTSD, Swansea and coordinating our exciting International Field Trips, Placements, Internship and Industry Opportunities. This is in addition to being Admissions Tutor and lecturing on all years of all the pathways we offer!

Jacqui has a unique industry background which includes Operational, Management, Marketing and Training experience in Tourism, Hospitality and Events, as well as Sport and Leisure.

With a strong background in sport (competing and coaching), Jacqui’s industry experience began as a teenager working locally. Her interests in Water Sports and Ski-ing along with a passion for Travel took her around the world gaining Operational and Management experience with Tour Operators. Returning to the UK Jacqui developed a management career, before specialising in Marketing, Corporate Hospitality and Sports Events.

In addition to lecturing Jacqui has also run her own consultancy as well as becoming UK Director of Challenger Sports, the world’s leading total soccer company, and managing the Training and Guest Service Strategies for the opening of the £71m Bluestone Resort.

• Institute of Hospitality & Member of the Cymru Branch Committee
• BBC X Ray (Tourism & Events Advisor and Presenter)
• Hockey Wales Regional Board 2014-2018 (Chair 2016-18)
• Volvo Ocean Race Volunteer Events Team (Educational Co-ordinator)
• UEFA Champions League Community Advisory Group
• Olympic SIG and regularly involved in Podium Events
• ABTA (Education Partner) attending Global Travel Convention Abu Dhabi 2017
• Iron Man Wales Volunteer Team since its inception in 2011

Jacqui’s academic interests have for nearly 30 years focused on employability skills and internships. She was responsible for developing a unique and highly recognised International placement programme for Leisure, Tourism, Events and Sport. This includes developing links with key global organisations including Aspen Ski Company, Jumeirah Resorts, Qatar Airways and Ritz Carlton Hotels to name but a few. Many of the students who benefited from the programme are now industry leaders.

In recent years Jacqui has been responsible for Industry engagement developing The World’s Our Lecture Theatre Strategy. This includes working with graduates, business leaders and organising behind the scenes industry visits.

Jacqui has also been responsible for developing and delivering a range of exciting international educational experiences designed to bring the students learning alive. These include organised UK residential trips as well as European Tours to Paris, Switzerland and Spain, and Global Tourism on Tour Academic Adventures to Qatar, Malaysia and Singapore.

Specific Module Responsibilities include

• Global Sports Events Management
• Global Destinations and Resort Management
• Attraction Management
• International Travel Operations
• Hospitality and Guest Service Management
• Professional Development for Placements and Enterprise Projects

Jacqui’s previous research focused on the global employability agenda and experiential learning within International Tourism and Hospitality. Her particular interest is the use of empowerment strategies to develop distinctive graduates with cutting edge guest service skills. This has included presenting at a number of HEA and specialist work based learning and employability events.

Recent research has focused on Redefining Luxury and Harmony Tourism and Events, and includes presenting at a number of specialist Tourism and Hospitality Conferences and the Food and Drink Summit. Internationally Jacqui has presented at the University of Malaya Wales and in China.

Jacqui achievements during the Covid Pandemic were recognised by The World Travel Market Responsible Tourism Awards announcing UWTSD Tourism as “One to Watch”. This was in recognition of the programmes commitment to supporting the industry with a range of innovative new programmes to meet changing needs.

With a strong industry background, Jacqui’s expertise firmly focuses on developing our student’s employability and empowerment skills through an unrivalled placement programme. This is demonstrated by the success stories of our graduates which include… CEO of a leading Tourist Attraction, Managing Director of Global Music Organisation, International Events Managers, Resort Managers, Hotel Directors, Cruise Ship Directors and highly successful Entrepreneurs … and the list goes on….

Over the past 25 year’s Jacqui’s aim has been to bring the learning alive by taking studies outside the class room and using placements and real life industry case studies to reinforce academic learning. During the pandemic she has been working with industry and graduates to develop a series of meet the expert events for students to be able to discuss issues with global leaders along with virtual behind the scenes industry experiences.

During Jacqui’s time as a lecturer at Swansea she has always remained active within the Industry. Her current up to date experience, consultancy projects, community engagement and industry links significantly helps prepare our students for future management careers. Within a fast moving industry this is vital!

Jacqui has been responsible for developing the University’s unique Educational Partnership with Ironman Wales. She is also an Academic Champion of Enterprise.

Due Jacqui’s Programme Management responsibilities publications have been limited, however she has published a number of articles with HEA focusing on developing graduate skills with a strong emphasis on guest services and empowerment. She has also written a number of articles for the South Wales Business Review.

Jacqui has been responsible for developing innovative new programmes to meet the needs of industry. She has been an External Examiner at Bournemouth University covering all placement programmes across the institution and for Tourism and Hospitality provision at Coventry University. She also regularly engages with industry based organisations locally, nationally and internationally, and represents UWTSD at educational events organised by ABTA, Institute of Hospitality and ATHE.