ITC’s Connections with International Working Holidays and Disney – Check Out The Stats!

ITC graduate Leandri at the Ocean Reef Club in Florida.

Studying at ITC can open doors to exciting career opportunities, both in New Zealand and around the world.

Two of the exciting exchange program pathways available to eligible ITC students and graduates are International Working Holidays and the Disney Cultural Exchange Program. Read on to learn a little more about what they are – and some incredible stats about students who have gone through these programs!

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Industry Expo Day 2026: An Industry Professional’s Experience!

Gail from First Light Travel Group at the Industry Expo Day, 2026.

The annual ITC Industry Expo Day is one of the highlights of the year for students and tutors alike. It’s when we welcome industry professionals to campus to chat about their work, roles available, tips for young learners and a little of everything in between.

This year, the expo was held on Wednesday, October 7, and we were excited to see another great turnout from major travel and tourism companies.

One of those companies was First Light Travel Group, which offers tours all over New Zealand and the South Pacific. Gail MacSween, Organisational Development Manager for First Light, had some fantastic feedback to share about the day.

“I just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to present at the Expo today. It was fantastic to meet you all and spend time with the students.”

“A huge congratulations to you and the team for organising such a significant event. It was incredibly well run. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and look forward to working with you all in the future”

Not only that, she also had some updates for us about ITC graduates who are now working with the company!

ITC Graduates at First Light Travel Group

Gina O’Neill
Joined us as a Travel Designer in 2022 and quickly took on additional responsibilities as a Team Leader. Gina then progressed into a Travel Design Manager role, where she supports her team to achieve their sales goals while fostering their professional growth and development. 

Tatyana Kelenc
Tatyana is one of our Travel Designers. Throughout her time with us, Tatyana has developed specialist expertise in the Northern Territory and has always had a particular passion for and interest in Tasmania. 

Meli Ganilau
Meli joined us for a one-week work experience placement in 2023 before coming on board in an entry-level role. Since then, he has gained experience across multiple areas of the business before discovering his passion for Guest Experience. He has since stepped into the role of Guest Services Manager, leading our Guest Services team and ensuring our guests receive the five-star service we are known for.

Marcella Johnston
Marcella has held several roles within the business and recently returned from a year working remotely as a Travel Designer from Sydney. She has now taken on the role of Supplier Relations Manager, ensuring our valuable supplier partnerships remain strong and well supported. 

Tahlia Cooper
Tahlia is our most recent ITC graduate and has been making a fantastic impact in our Reservations team. After joining us for a one-week work experience placement, she impressed us so much that she was offered a role almost immediately. Tahlia now looks after bookings, travel documentation, and supplier communications, playing a key role in delivering a seamless experience for our guests.

The ITC Industry Expo from a professional’s perspective

Curious about Gail, First Light Travel, and their connection with ITC, we asked a little more about the experience!

“First Light Travel and ITC have been working together for a number of years. My involvement started mid-2023 when we had our first work experience student and we haven’t looked back since!” she said.

When asked about what the goal was for First Light Travel when taking part in these days, Gail said it was to help the students.

“It’s great to help students understand that inbound is a great option and to show them what we do and why we love the industry. It doesn’t hurt to get our name out there to great potential future hires too.”

As for her favourite part about the day, it’s all in interacting with the students.

“Seeing their passion for the industry and helping them make plans for the future is so fulfilling.”

And to finish, we asked Gail what kind of skills and knowledge they’re looking for in students, and her advice for those looking to get into the industry.

“Passion is the main thing, everything else we can teach but a love for tourism and people is a must.”

When it comes to advice, “a couple of the biggest things are to get out and experience as much as they can, take a road trip, go out hiking and start building knowledge as well as starting to  make connections now, whether that is their classmates, their tutors or the presenters from the expo, you never know when a connection is going to come in handy farther down the line. Setting up a quick LinkedIn and starting to build their networks will really help.”

Study with ITC for Industry Connections

At ITC, we know exactly what Gail means when she talks about connections being so important. That’s a big part of the reason why we host the Industry Expo Day – and so many other events – throughout the year.

Between that, our work experience opportunities, our dedicated Employment Consultant, and our entire team being comprised of industry pros, we set the standard for helping our students and graduates find fulfilling work.

Contact us today to learn more about how we take our students from enrolment to graduation to industry employment!

Meet Jessica Fuiono – ITC graduate and one of AJ Hackett’s newest team members!

Jessica Fuiono discovered her love of adventure tourism through ITC – and now works for AJ Hackett!

At first, Jessica Fuiono didn’t know what she wanted to do with her career. She tried another study path elsewhere, but quickly realised it just didn’t feel right for her. That’s when she came to us at ITC, where we introduced her to some of the many pathways you can take in travel and tourism. 

All it took was jumping off the Auckland Harbour Bridge to discover her passion: adventure tourism. 

Jessica then did her work experience with AJ Hackett Auckland, but even though they loved her, they didn’t have a job for her at the time. ITC Employment Consultant Sarndra knew that Jessica was considering a move to Brisbane when an AJ Hackett job came up in Queenstown… so Sarndra sent the application link though anyway.

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Have changes to the Jobseeker benefit made you consider further study?

Thinking about more study now that it’s harder to get Jobseeker benefits? Consider ITC!

Changes to the Jobseeker benefit are coming in November of this year, which may make it harder for some 18 and 19 year olds to receive support during their job search.

That might mean that some of you are looking at other options instead – such as studying travel and tourism!

And whether you’re fresh out of high school, or are already in a career and are looking for a change, or even if you’re simply wanting to upskill in your current career, ITC could help. 

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ITC Celebrates 30 Years: Memory Lane with our Industry Partners

Roy’s most recent visit to ITC!

ITC is celebrating 30 years of being one of the most trusted providers of tourism and aviation education in New Zealand.

As part of our celebrations, we reached out to old graduates, tutors, industry partners, and others who have been part of our story… then we watched the memories roll in!

Two of the first to respond were Andrea Cameron and Roy Quispe. Both were industry partners, with Roy working with us through Disney International Programs.

“I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and recruiting many incredible ITC students and graduates over the years, helping them take their talents from New Zealand all the way to Walt Disney World!” said Roy.

Walk down memory lane with us as we share more about these two fantastic humans!

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Strong Industry Partnerships Create Incredible Student Opportunities

AJ Hackett Bungy NZ reached out to ITC looking for 3–4 students to feature in an upcoming SkyWalk promotional photo shoot at the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

At International Travel College of New Zealand (ITC), we believe the best learning happens when students experience the industry firsthand. That’s why we work hard to build genuine relationships with some of New Zealand’s leading tourism and adventure operators.

One partnership we’re incredibly proud of is with AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand (AJHBNZ).

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Meet our new Student Services Team Member: Leilani Leith!

Leilani is recently back from a Disney Exchange overseas, and is now our newest Student Services team member!

Sometimes, new team members feel like they’re just meant to be part of the whanau.

That’s certainly the case with Leilani Leith, our newest Student Services team member. She joins us to replace Leilah Va, who has just left to begin her Disney Exchange. Making this hire even more impressive is the fact that Leilani has just returned from her Disney Exchange!

Of course we wanted to learn a little more about Leilani’s background, her travels, and her advice for anyone considering a career in tourism or aviation! (more…)

Why Learning from Industry Experts Makes All the Difference

We think we have the best team in the world!

When you’re choosing where to study, it’s standard to compare courses, qualifications and campuses. But there’s one thing that can completely transform your learning experience: The people teaching you.

At ITC, we believe the best education comes from people who have actually lived it.

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Dream of Working on a Superyacht? Here’s Why ITC Could Be Your Perfect Starting Point

Dreaming of sailing the world working on a superyacht? ITC could be your starting point!

Imagine waking up in the Mediterranean, serving guests in the Caribbean, exploring remote islands in the South Pacific, or spending your days aboard some of the world’s most luxurious superyachts.

Popular TV shows like Below Deck have made this career path even more enticing than it already was, especially for young Kiwis who are eager to explore the world and meet people from around the globe.

While you will need a couple of specialist qualifications to work on a superyacht, any career in travel and tourism can begin with the key information and skills that you will learn right here at ITC.

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Where Can an ITC Qualification Take You?

One of the questions we’re asked most often is, “Where do your graduates end up working?”

The answer is exciting… and incredibly diverse.

Every year, ITC graduates step into roles across New Zealand and around the world, building careers in airlines, airports, travel companies, hotels, attractions, events, cruise operations and international tourism.

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