Catching up with Leandri: ITC Graduate Making a Splash in Exciting New Role!

Leandri is an ITC graduate living her dreams, and has recently moved back to New Zealand and started a great new role.

It’s been a year since we chatted to Leandri, an ITC graduate who was doing an International Working Holidays internship in Florida – and loving it.

At the time, she was one of just five team members (out of 1,300!) nominated for the coveted title of Associate of the Semester at Ocean Reef Club, which is a huge achievement on its own.

We couldn’t have been more excited that Leandri then went on to win the Associate of the Semester award!

But that’s just one of the exciting updates on Leandri’s journey so far as an ITC graduate, as she is now back in New Zealand and working in another great role. We chatted to her for more updates and news! 

(more…)

Experts predict gap between tourism demand and available tourism workers

With New Zealand’s ongoing tourism boom, experts are predicting a shortage of skilled workers to keep up with the demand.

New Zealand’s tourism is absolutely booming. We’ve seen nothing but constant positive news stories about how much tourists are spending in New Zealand, rising visitor numbers, and more and more international conferences being held here.

It’s no wonder that now, experts are predicting that we simply won’t have enough workers in the tourism and travel industry to accommodate all of these visitors.

(more…)

Meet Mercedes Laing, mother of two and Level 5 ITC student (with plans to become a pilot)!

Mercedes is a seriously impressive ITC student – with plans to become a pilot!

Mercedes Laing is the kind of student who is exciting to watch. She has returned to study after raising her children, is about to graduate from Level 4, and will be getting started on her Level 5 training in July.

But that’s not all – she has aspirations to fulfil her lifelong dream of becoming a pilot, and we couldn’t be more excited to be the first step on that journey, and to cheer her along the way!

For anyone who has ever thought about returning to study, or wondered if it was too late to make a career change, read on for some serious career inspiration!

(more…)

5 statistics that will make you want to study travel and tourism!

Our Airport Training Centre is just one of the many perks of studying at ITC!

Every year, the Ministry of Business, Innovation, & Employment releases their annual Tourism Sentiment Survey. This survey offers an insight into how Kiwis are feeling about all things tourism, and if the recent release is anything to go by, it’s an exciting time to be in the industry!

Here are just 5 of the coolest facts from the latest survey results!

(more…)

Meet Rose, the student who found ITC and happiness after years trying other paths!

Rose tried lots of study and work options, but wasn’t truly happy until she switched to Travel and Tourism!

It’s incredibly tough to know what you want to do with your life at just 18. Once you get a little older, you realise how challenging it is to have to try to pick a career path at that age – and then stick with it forever!

Rose was one of those students. Throughout her 20s, she studied all manner of pathways, and worked in all manner of jobs. But she knew none of it was really for her. That’s when she took interest in travel and tourism, discovered ITC, and made the life-changing decision to enrol.

Rose’s story is a particularly inspiring one, and one that will resonate with anyone who has ever been unsure of which path to take! (more…)

Switching to ITC: Your FAQs Answered

Thinking about switching to ITC? Here are some of the most common questions we hear!

Note about Fees Free: The Government has confirmed that final-year Fees Free will finish at the end of December 2026. Learners who complete an eligible provider-based qualification or work-based programme in 2026 will remain able to apply for their final-year Fees Free entitlement within 12 months of completion, up to 31 December 2027.

Sometimes we chat with students who are already studying at a tertiary level, but want to learn more about how we do things at ITC.

These students might already be studying travel and tourism, or they might be enrolled in a completely different course. They might be local and keen to join us on campus, or they might live elsewhere in Aotearoa and want to try our distance learning option with Study From Home.

Whatever the case, we’re always here to answer your questions – and perhaps even to welcome you to our ITC whanau!

Here are some of the most common questions we hear, and how we answer them.

(more…)

Meet an inspiring Level 4 Study From Home Student: Savannah Larkin!

Savannah Larkin is studying our Level 4 certificate from home, all while still working!

Savannah Larkin went to Mountainview High School in Timaru, so when she wanted to begin studying for a qualification in Travel and Tourism, she didn’t have a huge range of options.

That’s when she discovered Study From Home, and was inspired by another online learner who graduated with us before landing her dream job. Savannah is now studying our Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Travel – all during her downtime from her job! 

Here’s what she had to say about the experience.

(more…)

Free ITC Open Days Coming Up! Stop in to Check Out Your Future!

Want a peek at what your future might look like?

Join us for a free Open Day at one of our campuses – or online!

ITC will soon be hosting Open Days where potential students (and their friends and whanau) can drop in to learn about your career opportunities and course options, meet your tutors, and take a guided tour of the campus.

It’s a great way to get a feel for what studying with us will look like, all before you enrol, and all without paying a cent!

(more…)

Take your first step into the world’s fastest growing sector!

Travel and tourism is one of the world’s biggest employers, and the fastest growing sector!

It’s a strange time for anyone starting their careers right now. The rise of AI has started to change the jobs landscape, which might be making it scary for people making career decisions.

And then there’s tourism and travel.

(more…)

Meet Anetta: ITC’s newest family member!

Anetta has a fantastic travel and tourism background, and can’t wait to share it with students!

Anetta Kusa is ITC’s newest family member, where she has recently joined as the Academic & Quality Manager.

Adding to the team’s array of experience, Anetta brings her own history of travel and tourism adventures. She started out in Poland, and has now spent more than 20 years here in Aotearoa!

Read on to learn more about her background, experience, and advice for ITC students!

(more…)