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 Mark Hewitt
President, Tillicum Village
Mark Hewitt grew up in tourism, the son of the late Bill Hewitt, who in 1962 started a Northwest Coast Native American cultural and dining experience called Tillicum Village. Mark's first job was at Tillicum Village and today he serves as company president, overseeing a peak-season staff of nearly 60 and managing one of the region's top visitor attractions.
So, what did that first job entail?
Wrapping the baked potatoes, beginning at age 11 or 12. I also played the role of Little Bear in the dance program.
Have your kids also worked at Tillicum Village?
Yes, Sierra, who is taking business classes at SPU, works for us. Johnathan and Adam fill in when needed, as does as Georgia when she's not traveling. Clint, our 14-year-old, just played a role in our show last month.
The Hewitts are indoctrinated into travel and tourism early in life. Why is that important?
Our 17-year-old daughter, Georgia, is studying in China now and this summer she goes to Tanzania. The opportunity to meet people globally, to find out that they have the same concerns, fears, hopes and dreams, is one of the most useful tools for young people.
Tourism jobs are often thought of as low-paying with little chance for advancement. Is that true?
The hamburger flipper stereotype is unfair. The tourism industry allows involvement at a young age and promotes growth. That's not true in many other industries. I'm on the board for the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, which takes kids into the tourism theater and shows them the breadth of jobs available. Some fellow board members are hotel general managers who worked their way up from the front desk. We tell these kids that everything you do is a prelude to your chosen career. Your life and travel experiences will lend maturity, cultivate focus and offer vital skills for the work world. If you're a chef in a hotel, you can work anyplace in the world. If you have those skills, somebody needs you.
Why do you think the tourism industry is not appreciated the way it should be?
There's still a stigma that tourism is just fun and games. When you look at Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. and what they do to support their tourism industries year-in and year-out, it's just insane that we don't put more money into promoting ours. Our government assumes that tourism will support itself. We bring tourists, they spend money and generate taxes but it's not reinvested in the tourism industry. It's like killing the golden goose. If we reinvested, we'd have more money for education and social programs.
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