‘Three lessons I learned running the Everest Marathon’ – Mel Fey

ITC Tourism Education Team Leader Mel Fey strikes a pose on her trek up to Everest Base Camp.

ITC Tourism Education Team Leader Mel Fey recently ran the Everest Marathon in Nepal; a 42.2km high-altitude run from Base Camp to Namche Bazaar. Below, she shares three life lessons she learned during this incredible, challenging, life-changing experience.

1. You’re always capable of more than you think you are

You read stories all the time of amazing people who, sometimes against all odds, achieve amazing goals. And you might think, “Oh, but I couldn’t do that…”

I’m here to tell you that you can. Don’t sell yourself short. You can achieve anything you want to. You cannot possibly just sit and wait for the impossible to happen without a little hard work.  I always say ‘you cannot make diamonds without a little pressure’.  You need to prepare, work hard or train and participate.

You may not win the race like me but you certainly win in achieving the goals of your dreams.

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ITC Industry News Bulletin #55

In a busy week for New Zealand tourism, Air NZ is commended for environmental sustainability and Rotorua nabs its biggest ever international conference.

TOP STORIES

Air New Zealand wins top spot in Green Ribbon Awards

The Green Ribbon Awards are an annual event recognising efforts around New Zealand made to protect and enhance the country’s environment. Awards are given to communities, businesses, organisations and individuals alike, and this week Air New Zealand has been recognised as part of the Business Leadership category, winning the top place.

Judged on a range of factors including innovation, awareness, education, environmental benefits delivered, and results achieved, the company says that sustainability is a big part of how they do business.

“I am really proud of the work we are doing in this space and of the collective effort our people have made to embrace the programme and it’s fantastic to have these efforts recognised externally,” explained Christopher Luxon, Air New Zealand CEO.

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How to achieve your dreams – according to ITC graduate Charlotte Roberts-Swain

An inspiration to her peers, ITC graduate Charlotte Roberts-Swain loves travelling and working in tourism.

Charlotte Roberts-Swain knows a thing or two about turning dreams into reality. Since graduating from ITC in December 2014, she’s worked on superyachts and at Disney World – and this is just the beginning of her exciting tourism career.

She’s currently travelling in Indonesia, but she generously took some time to write to us about her experience so far. Below she shares some advice for people looking to follow in her footsteps.

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ITC Industry News Bulletin #54

It’s winners all round in New Zealand tourism news this week: Wellington wins a bid for a major business conference and NZ golf wins big.

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Wellington to host major business conference

More than 600 public management scholars will visit Wellington in 2019 as part of the XXII Annual Conference of the International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM).

A conference of this size and importance is estimated to be worth $1.38 million for New Zealand’s economy.

Professor Brad Jackson is the Head of School of Government at Victoria University in Wellington, and is the man who made the bid for the city as the conference host. He said that “Tourism New Zealand and Business Events Wellington played a vital role in our successful bid to host in 2019”.

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Introducing Melissa Switters

A former flight attendant, Melissa Switters is a new full-time tutor at ITC’s South Auckland campus.

Melissa Switters recently joined ITC’s South Auckland campus. In the below blog post, she introduces herself and tells us a little bit about her career history and passion for all things travel and tourism.

Welcome on board everyone, I am Melissa a new full-time tutor at the International Travel College of New Zealand.

I would like to take you on a personal flight through my life. The beautiful beginning of my life started off in a town called Leeuwarden, which is located in The Netherlands, and where I lived for the first 13 years. Then, on the 26th of October 2005, my family and I immigrated to New Zealand – this was a huge and positive life changing decision. After immigrating we settled down in Papakura, South Auckland where I spent my secondary school years at Rosehill College.

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ITC Industry News Bulletin #53

This week’s airline, travel and tourism news includes a fallout over budget cuts, changes to regional flight routes, funding for new attractions, and more.

TOP STORIES

TIA ‘dismayed’ by funding cuts

The latest New Zealand budget has just been announced, and it includes a cut to the funding for the Department of Conservation (DOC). In the last budget, just over $378 million was set aside for DOC expenditures, while the 2016/17 plan has dropped to almost $345 million.

The TIA is ‘dismayed’ by this move, which sees funding drop by almost 10 per cent. Chief Executive Chris Roberts is concerned about how these cuts might impact the tourism sector.

“DOC has two core functions. The first is protecting our natural heritage – our indigenous species and the habitats and ecosystems that support them. The second is facilitating recreation and tourism, so that New Zealanders and our visitors are enriched by outdoor experiences,” he explained.

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ITC Industry News Bulletin #52

In this week’s New Zealand tourism and travel news, the country is breaking records for tourism spend, the cruise industry is going from strength to strength, migration is on the rise, and much more.

TOP STORIES

International tourism spend tops $10 billion for the first time

Tourism New Zealand recently announced that spending from international visitors has now surpassed $10 billion for the first time ever.

Arrivals from the USA, India and China have all bolstered these numbers, which are up for the year ending April by 10.6, 11.4 and 29.2 per cent respectively. There have also been more arrivals from the UK and Germany, while Australia remains in first place with the most arrivals, which continue to grow steadily.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler was excited by the news.

“To see this level of growth in off-peak arrivals is exceptionally good news for the industry – by extending the traditional peak season it enhances employment opportunities and the value growth is bringing significant economic benefit to the country,” he explained.

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Introducing Dan Ranginui

New ITC tutor Dan Ranginui is passionate about travel, tourism and inspiring people to follow their dreams. Welcome to the team, Dan!

Dan Ranginui is a new tutor at the ITC City Campus. He tells us about how he fell in love with the travel and tourism industry, the exciting places his career has taken him to-date and what inspired him to teach.

My passion for the travel industry began as a young boy when at 10 years old I did my first overseas trip! And from there I got the travel bug. At 14 years old my parents thought it was a great idea to send me to Japan on a student exchange – hmmm was that just a way of getting me out of the house!? Anyhow it worked!

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ITC Industry News Bulletin #51

This week in NZ travel news, a prediction shows just how much tourism could grow, an exhibition moves to Christchurch, and the TIA gets a new name.

TOP STORIES

Tourism set to rise in NZ

Tourism figures have recently hit all time highs around New Zealand – and these statistics are only set to climb further, according to Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett.

She says that expenditure could increase by as much as 65 per cent by 2022, bringing the annual revenue to $16 billion. Bennett made these statements during the TRENZ national event in Rotorua last week, as part of the New Zealand Tourism Forecast 2016-2022 report.

At this stage, Australia is the largest source of income for the industry, but the forecast predicts that China will overtake our Tasman neighbours within the next two years.

“I encourage the sector to make use of this information which is aimed at helping the industry plan and invest strategically,” she said.

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Good luck Mel! Tourism Education Team Leader takes on Everest Marathon

ITC Tourism Education Team Leader Mel Fey (centre), with Marketing Director Claire Huxley (right) and Head of Group Services Michelle Chatfield (left).

She’s called ‘Manic Mel’ for a reason – ITC’s bright, energetic Tourism Education Team Leader earned her nickname for her adventurous physical pursuits and bubbly personality. And the latest challenge in her path is a little more manic than most: the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon.

Yes, you read right – Mel Fey (also known as ‘The Energizer Bunny’) is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, a 42.2km run on Mount Everest. The super-fit tutor recently landed in Nepal to begin the acclimatisation process. The marathon is scheduled for May 29, but there’s a lot of fun to be had before then, including a trek to Base Camp (where the marathon begins).

The run is downhill, but with limited oxygen and potentially icy tracks, it’s going to be a huge physical and mental challenge – but it’s one that Mel can’t wait to begin. She’s been preparing for this marathon for three years, and was due to run it at this time last year – only it was cancelled due to Nepal’s devastating earthquakes.

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