EF Travel S.A

Placement organization

Name of organization: EF Travel S.A
Town/city: Madrid
Country: Spanje
Website: http://eftours.com

Student

Name of student: Malou Poos

Specialist area: MT
Placement period: 2013-2014

Information about placement organization

Type of organization: Tours
Organization’s activities: Selling tours to North American high school students and their teachers
Target group of the organization: US and Canadian High school students and their teachers
Company culture: The working atmosphere is informal, casual, flexible and relaxed. Everybody is very social and they make you feel like a colleague instead of a trainee.
Number of employees: 3
Dress code: casual
Did the organization meet the agreements you made beforehand? yes

Information about your placement

In which department(s) are you working? Regional Office Madrid, Tours department
Brief description of your daily activities: Sending out information to tour directors
Sending out information to other Regional Offices
Help with the selection and training process
Administration
Write a trainee manual

Brief description of your company assignment: I had to search for new optional activities who customers can book extra on their tour in Spain and Portugal. I first did some research to the company itself and the external environment like the competition. After this I searched for some new optionals to offer the customers.
Comment briefly on your supervision by the organization: The supervision is good. They really help you and make you feel like a colleague instead of a trainee. The make you feel at home. You need to take initiative in getting any feedback on your own work, but when you ask it you get some good feedback.

Requirements for students on placement

What kind of personal skills are required for this placement? independent, teamplayer,organized, sociable, responsible, flexible, stress-proof
Additional company requirements for this placement? MS office
English: Advanced
Spanish: Basic
French:
German:
Italian:
Other languages:

The trip

Mode of transport to reach your destination: Airplane

Accommodation

How did you arrange your accommodation? internet
How did you go to work every day? foot or public transport

Visa / work permit / vaccinations

Do you need a visa? no
Do you need a work permit? no
How did you arrange the necessary documents:
How much time did it take to arrange the necessary documents?
Did you need certain vaccinations? No
How long in advance?

Language course

Did you take a language course before you started your placement? Yes
Would you recommend to have a language course prior to this placement? Can but it not really necessary

The costs in euros

Travelling expenses (e.g. return ticket): € 130
Accommodation (monthly): € 350
Local transport (monthly): € 35 max
General costs of living (monthly): € 100 but depends
Costs of visa: €
Costs of work permit: €
What did the company pay for/to you? The company paid my return ticket, transport in Madrid during my placement and 5 euros meal allowance everyday during my placement.

Culture

How did you prepare for the country’s culture?
Read some information on the internet.
Did the culture of the country influence your performance during the placement in any way? no

Future students on placement

Future students are free to contact me for further information: Yes
My e-mail address: 112161@edu.nhtv.nl

Other information

Recommendations on what to do and what not to do: The best way to start the placement is to go on week earlier to the city and get to know your way around. Go to the company to introduce yourself and to get some information for the first week. Be honest, open-minded and ask feedback. Give your opinion and feel free to ask questions. The working atmosphere is really informal and casual so be open and just tell Roberto what is on your mind, he is really friendly and always want to help with anything.
Leisure possibilities in the city/surroundings of where the placement took place: Besides all the sightseeing like Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Palacio Real, park el Retiro etc. Is one of the best leisure possibilities to feel really like a Spaniard is to go to a game of Real Madrid. Here you will be between all the Spaniards and you feel their energy! It´s a great experience.

There are also a lot of cities and places around Madrid who are interesting to visit like Toledo, Segovia and Escorial.

Media

Youtube link Youtube placement video link