ITC students enjoy confidence boost with X Factor fun

Every year the ITC Botany Campus holds an X Factor style competition. This is a great way for students to practice their teamwork skills and overcome stage fright.

“The tourism industry is all about people.” This is something ITC students hear multiple times from their tutors throughout their studies. ITC places a huge emphasis on customer service skills, as there’s nothing more important in the tourism industry than being able to work with a variety of different people – all while maintaining a bright smile and friendly attitude.

For some people, great customer service comes naturally, but for others – especially those who are shy – it can be hard to talk easily to strangers. The ITC tutors do their best to give shy students a confidence boost, through effective training and support.

However, sometimes the best confidence boosts come through trying something a little bit different!

Every year the ITC Botany Campus holds an ‘X Factor’ style competition. This student event is designed to be a bit of fun, but it has the added bonus of helping people overcome their stage fright and learn how to speak with confidence in front of crowds – a skill that is invaluable out in the industry.

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ITC Industry News Bulletin #19

In this week’s industry news, New Zealand’s tourism outlook continues to go from strength to strength, we reflect on a busy winter season and much more.

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TIA: “It’s an exciting time to be in tourism”

The Tourism Industry Association (TIA) published another bright outlook regarding New Zealand’s booming tourism sector late last week, with Chairman Grant Lilly commenting “it’s an exciting time to be in tourism”. New Zealand is on track to achieve its Tourism 2025 goals and there’s no doubt the future is looking excellent.

However, Mr Lilly did acknowledge a couple of key challenges, such as attracting the right talent to the industry and ensuring businesses can cope with fast growth.

“The speed of growth is certainly creating some challenges for us, amongst them the persistent issues of seasonality, lack of regional dispersal, insufficient infrastructure investment and the growing demand for people and skills,” Mr Lilly said.

Mr Lilly added that the demand for trained tourism workers is especially important, as “many sectors are striving to attract more people and skills, so this is not a problem that is unique to tourism […] it does mean we have plenty of competition for the best and the brightest.”

The Chairman’s comments are a further reminder of the importance of quality tourism courses and training in New Zealand.

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Introducing Lara Penfold

Introducing Lara Penfold, ITC’s new Academic Services Co-ordinator

Originally from England, Lara Penfold recently joined the friendly ITC team as our new Academic Services Co-ordinator. She tells us a little bit about herself, why she moved to New Zealand, and what she hopes to bring to this role. 

I moved to New Zealand with my family in May 2015 from England after many years of wanting to experience living in another country. We looked at a few options, but the more we researched about New Zealand, the more interested we became in the country, the variety of cultures and the working opportunities available.

As a child I grew up in a guest house, owned by my Mum and Dad. It was always very busy with different guests coming and going, I remember helping out with serving breakfasts and dinners, checking people in, cooking and preparing for functions, cleaning rooms and helping guests with directions and information about the local area.

Having travelled to a variety of places throughout England and Wales, I have also travelled quite substantially internationally too, visiting places such as Thailand, Australia, New York, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, Egypt and now of course New Zealand. In each place I have had unique experiences and hold wonderful memories.

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ITC Industry News Bulletin #18

In this week’s airline, travel and tourism news, i-SITEs around New Zealand are celebrated, the TIA supports the construction of a new hotel on Auckland’s waterfront, the Government opens a new round of tourism funding, and much, much more.

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Opportunities for tourism industry investment

The Tourism Industry Association (TIA) is pleased that a new luxury hotel is being constructed on Auckland’s waterfront.

According to TIA chief executive Chris Roberts, projects like the Park Hyatt development are exactly the type of investments New Zealand needs to stay on track to achieve its Tourism 2025 goals.

“To meet the goals of Tourism 2025, it is essential that we encourage investment to improve the quality of current infrastructure to meet rising visitor expectations, as well as creating a positive environment for investment in new facilities,” Mr Roberts said in a statement.

He added that new investment projects also create jobs, boost local economies and contribute to “building vibrant communities to live, work and play”.

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ITC connects high schools with tourism industry

Teachers from around Auckland enjoy a fun afternoon at Rainbow’s End as part of an ITC Professional Development Day

On Tuesday 25th August a group of high school teachers, career advisors and STAR/Gateway coordinators became students for the day at the International Travel College of New Zealand (ITC). Every year ITC hosts several professional development (PD) days to educate secondary school professionals about the tourism industry.

“Our PD days provide that critical link between the high schools and industry,” says ITC Account Manager and PD day organiser Ceri Jenkins.

“Many of the high schools have no links with the industry and therefore have very little firsthand knowledge to pass onto the students. Once teachers have attended a PD day, they will walk away with 4 or 5 new contacts who are all keen to come in and talk to their students about what’s happening in the tourism industry.”

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ITC Industry News Bulletin #17

In this week’s airline, travel and tourism news: Queenstown NZ launches a new marketing campaign, Tourism New Zealand reports increased numbers of business visitors, cruise season looks to boom over summer and much, much more.

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New campaign encourages a ‘sick day-stow away’ to Queenstown

Queenstown NZ has launched a brilliant new tongue-in-cheek marketing campaign designed to convince Australians to ‘pull a sickie’ and visit the city for a long weekend. This video perfectly captures the appeal of Queenstown in a fun and humorous way, which is bound to capture the attention of our friends across the ditch.

The clip is fronted by Australian comedian Dan Ilic, who highlights that the video is meant to be taken as a joke (sickies not condoned!).

“The team at Destination Queenstown felt they might get in trouble if they were to teach the entire Australian workforce how to skip work and escape to the snow,” Dan said. “As a comedian, they thought I might get away with it.”

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ITC Industry Expo brings students face-to-face with top tourism businesses

ITC students Faustina Tevaga (far left) and Patricia Tosoga (far right) with Emma Holly and Chrissie Urlich from Air New Zealand.

Students at the International Travel College (ITC) recently had the amazing opportunity to meet representatives from some of New Zealand’s leading tourism businesses.

The annual ITC Industry Expo was held on August 27 and attended by Air New Zealand, Auckland Bridge Climb and Bungy, AVSEC, Nomads Backpackers, Maritime Museum, Intercity and ATEED. Representatives from each of these successful companies took time out of their busy schedules to share their experiences with ITC students, creating a unique chance for the students to learn directly from the very best in the industry.

Event organiser and ITC Account Manager Ceri Jenkins said this day arms students with the information they need to have a successful career in airline, travel or tourism, including CV tips, interview advice and more.

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ITC Industry News Bulletin #16

Aviation news is dominating the headlines this week, with Jetstar announcing new regional flight routes and China Southern Airlines unveiling additional flights to the South Island.

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New air services boost regional economies

New Jetstar flights to Nelson, Napier, New Plymouth and Palmerston North are expected to have a positive impact on regional economies, according to Tourism Industry Association chief executive Chris Roberts.

“We support their approach of building up a sustainable network that will encourage visitors to get off the beaten track and see more of New Zealand,” Mr Roberts said in a press release on Monday.

The new flights are also expected to boost domestic tourism.

“New Zealanders travelling within their own country contribute $37 million in economic activity every day. Offering them more good value options for flights will definitely boost that spending,” Mr Roberts added.

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ITC Red Nose Day fun raises over $230 for Cure Kids

The generous students at ITC raised a total of $232.10 for Cure Kids on Red Nose Day

Students at the International Travel College (ITC) aren’t just known for their passion for airline, travel and tourism; they’re also gaining a reputation for being incredibly generous!

ITC regularly runs bake sales, mufti days and other student events to raise money for New Zealand charities. These events are a great way for students to socialise and have fun, while at the same time contributing to an important cause.

Friday August 21st was Red Nose Day, a fundraising campaign for Cure Kids New Zealand – the charity that funds important medical research into conditions that affect Kiwi kids.

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ITC Industry News Bulletin #15

In this week’s airline, travel and tourism news, New Zealand surpasses 3 million annual overseas visitors, new Easter Sunday trading laws announced, Air NZ reports record growth and much more.

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Overseas visitors hit 3 million milestone

The number of overseas visitors to New Zealand surpassed 3 million for the first time ever late last week, Statistics New Zealand revealed. From July 2014 to July 2015, a record-breaking 3,002,982 visitors entered the country – a 7 per cent increase from the year before.

Statistics New Zealand population statistics senior manager Vina Callum said increased arrivals from markets such as Australia and China helped achieve this important milestone.

For more coverage about this milestone, and how it relates to the Tourism 2025 goals, see these statements from the Tourism Industry Association and Tourism New Zealand.

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