Beyond Expectations – ITC Famil Trip February 2013

Another semester, and another group of ITC students get to experience the fabulous North Island famil trip. The trip never fails to impress our students with the adventure, the beautiful destinations, and the professionalism that the New Zealand tourism industry has to offer. This semester’s trip was no exception.

The first mention of famil got us all excited; we had very high expectations, and right from the start it exceeded those expectations. Our bus driver was a real character and things got a little bit crazy on the bus ride, but with everyone’s levels of excitement rising, who can blame us? Besides who can say no to a good old sing-along?

On arrival at Base Rotorua, our rooms were sorted quickly. The addition of a swimming pool at the backpackers was not wasted on any of us! After settling in, we set off for the Tamaki Maori Village. This was a genuinely culturally enriching experience, and as soon as we arrived we felt engulfed in Maori culture. On the way to the village we elected a male student to play the role of the chief when the powhiri was performed. The ceremony seemed intimidating at first, but finished with the village chief laying down a peace offering. Our elected chief stepped forward to accept the offering.

We then ventured into the village where we were fortunate enough to learn more about Maori culture. A traditional haka was performed in one part of the village, with students joining in on the fun. In another area of the village a group of Maori women performed with poi, and again many of us joined in to try this traditional art. We also witnessed some traditional Maori games.

One aspect of the Maori culture that we were able to truly experience was the hangi. The meal had something for everyone and was enjoyed all round, with pavlova and steamed pudding finishing off the evening. With day one of our famil over, we headed back to our accommodation to get a good night’s sleep in preparation for day two.

Day two was adrenaline-filled and showed us the best side of adventure tourism. We kick-started the day with white water rafting with Kaitiaki Rafting, and those of us looking for a little adventure gladly took the opportunity. White water rafting was an experience I will not soon forget. It was as terrifying as it was exhilarating as we overcame three waterfalls, including one 7-metre fall, continuous rapids along the river and a few other bumps along the way.

To top off the day we headed to Agroventures for another adrenaline rush. We had the option to take part in one of four activities: the Agrojet is equivalent to a formula one racing car – on water; the Swoop raises you over 40 metres into the air, and then drops you to swoop over the ground at 130 kmph; the Freefall Xtreme gives you an experience similar to that of a skydiver; and last but not least, the Shweeb is the world’s only human-powered monorail racetrack. There wasn’t a dull moment while visiting Agroventures!

Early on Wednesday morning we departed Rotorua and headed to Whakahoro. Our destination was Blue Duck Station, but we made a quick stop at the lovely Huka Falls just out of Taupo. On arrival at Blue Duck Station the first thing we noticed is that surrounding scenery is absolutely beautiful. It’s a place where you can truly just soak up the magnificent atmosphere, and part of that are the great people working on Blue Duck Station.

We settled into our rooms and then set off for a beautiful walk down the beaten track with our guide Maggie, who told us the interesting history of the station along the way. One of the greatest things about Blue Duck Station is that it is an exciting location for eco-tourism, with its huge conservation area focused on the endangered blue duck.

We followed another one of our guides, Wendy, down to a well-known spot for seeing blue ducks, but unfortunately it wasn’t our lucky day. We then headed down a narrow and exceptionally muddy trail to the bottom of a waterfall where we took turns kayaking through a beautiful and undisturbed natural wonderland. The narrow river took us down a peaceful path covered in parts by overhanging trees, which made the area seem surreal.  To top off the evening the staff at Blue Duck Station served us a delicious home-cooked meal. Our night ended on a high note as we celebrated one of our fellow student’s birthdays and cooked marshmallows over a bonfire.

Thursday morning’s bus ride home contained a group of exhausted students all ready for a good night’s sleep in their own familiar bed. The famil was an exciting experience for all – whether it was white water rafting, dancing on the bus or encountering the serenity of kayaking on Blue Duck Station – but one thing is for sure, this famil went above and beyond everybody’s expectations.

ITC Excels with International Student Success

International students make up around 10 per cent of the International Travel College of New Zealand’s (ITC) student body. Recent education performance indicators reveal a strong 95 per cent course completion rate for these ITC students.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with that result,” says ITC’s Marketing Director, Claire Huxley. “We do a lot to support our international students, so it’s fantastic to know that it is working.”

ITC’s International Marketing Manager, Lesley Brough, says that she regularly gets positive feedback from the students and thank you letters from parents.

“It’s a big deal to send your son or daughter overseas to study, for any parent from any culture,” says Lesley. “They are genuinely pleased to have made the right choice for their child.”

Lesley credits the college’s small class sizes, the strong tutor support and the “personal touch” as contributing to the success of ITC’s international students. 

“Before they arrive we give them a lot of help and advice about what will happen when they get here, how to set up a bank account or get accommodation in Auckland, for example.”

“Once they are here we meet with them regularly to make sure we know how they are doing; and we hold international student lunches every three to four months to help them connect with and support each other. Our tutors make sure the students get extra personal or academic support if they need it.”

Lesley also keeps the overseas students in touch with what’s happening around Auckland, sending regular emails about events such as the recent free movie nights at the Wynyard Quarter’s Silo Park or ideas for what they can get out and do over a long weekend.

And, as with all ITC students, says Claire Huxley, the international students benefit from ITC tutors’ industry experience and the college’s commitment to providing work experience and employment opportunities through its industry contacts.

“We help our students prepare their CVs for the New Zealand market, hone their interview skills and guide them through the employment process, which is often different from what they are familiar with,” says Claire.

“It all goes a long way to providing a secure and supportive environment for our international students. And their strong completion rates are a fantastic indicator that we are providing what they need.”

ITC Spreads Christmas Cheer to Those in Need

International Travel College has been helping Auckland City Mission to provide gifts and food for families in need this festive season.

The Auckland City Mission relies on the generosity of the public to be able to continue to provide its increasingly stretched services to the Aucklanders who need them most.
 
The team at ITC worked closely with the Mission this year by creating three themed weeks for its students to get involved in: the themed donations focused on cans, sweets and biscuits, and noodles. ITC donated additional items that the Mission could use as gifts for Christmas.
 
Last year barely half the queue outside the Auckland City Mission was able to receive gifts for their families and, sadly, some were turned away. 

This year ITC did its part to provide gifts for more families by creating an appeal and spreading the word through social media.

“Our mindset was that every little bit counts,” says ITC’s Melissa Verwijmeren. “We had an incredible response from a number of companies that meant we were able to provide an abundance of useful items.”

Companies such as Ezibuy, Creo Gyms and many Twitter users followed ITC’s Facebook invitation and the college was able to deliver numerous gifts and food parcels in weeks leading up to Christmas.
 
“For a small idea to become such a huge success gave the team at ITC a huge feeling of gratitude,” says Melissa. “Not to mention the warm fuzzy feeling of helping so many people in need this Christmas season!

“Many of us are going home to our friends and family and just having a simple appreciation of how lucky we all are.”

“ITC is proud to support the Auckland City Mission in its care of families in need, and it’s been a great way for us to start the festive season,” says Melissa.

Guest blogger – Blogger at Large!

In this blog, we would like to introduce you to Megan Singleton who has been travel writing for 12 years and blogging for 6. It’s been a fantastic ride (as you can probably guess). She has over 400 posts here where you’ll find reviews, tips, itinerary ideas, recommendations for places to stay and things to do and all sorts of tidbits from her travels.

She has been chuffed to receive the US Travel Association Travel Writers Award in 2009 and 2011 and she is on the list of NZs Top 50 Tweeters.

Imagine dropping your camera down the squat toilet, chicken that gives you diseases and a belching masseuse. These are just some of the funny things you can encounter on your travels.

Check out this funny blog from ‘Blogger at Large’

http://www.bloggeratlarge.com/bizarre/my-worstfunniestcringiest-travel-moments/

A long way to travel

One of ITC’s latest International Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management students has travelled a long way to be here.

Nurul is from Singapore, which she describes as “a little red dot in the world map.”

After graduating from high school Nurul began work in a restaurant, but she had always wanted to be part of the travel and tourism industry.

Checking the internet for available courses, Nurul came across ITC.

“My mum and I got interested,” she says, “so we made some enquiries via email since we’re 8404km apart!”

After receiving more information Nurul decided to enrol for the October intake.

She and her mother travelled all the way from Singapore for ITC’s open day – a definite first for the college!

“I was really impressed with the college and especially how friendly the college’s personnel was!” says Nurul. “Lesley got me all excited to start my course. It definitely had a positive impression on my first visit there. We took a look around and I was happy that I made the right choice.”
 
Nurul says she has never regretted the decision to move to New Zealand and study at ITC.

“The environment is safe and conducive to learning; the tutors are really helpful too. ITC is more than just a college; it’s my second family!”

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New cruise line opportunity for ITC students

International Travel College of New Zealand has formed a strong new alliance with Renaissance Tours, which will see many of its students gain experience in the cruise ship industry.

Renaissance Tours made contact with ITC’s Account Manager Ceri Jenkins to offer its students the opportunity to fulfill some passenger check in roles for their work with cruise ship company Celebrity Cruise Lines. 

Initially Renaissance Tours was looking for approximately 20 staff and was hopeful ITC could go some way to supplying that number. 

“Through our work with other travel and tourism companies looking for casual staff, I was very confident that we could easily provide more than 30 students for the first round of interviews,” says Ceri.

A job outline was sent to ITC and the college informed all its students throughout both campuses and its distance learning programme of the vacancy.

The level of interest was extremely high, as many students saw the opportunity to gain some valuable work experience and enhance their employability when they graduated. 

ITC provided all interested students with guidance on how to prepare and present themselves for the group interview, with a key focus on making very positive first impressions. 

The students were invited to ITC’s city campus for three-hour group interviews, which included a presentation about the companies involved, role outlines and company expectations. A question and answer session was then followed by a test of the students’ reservation booking skills using the check in training programme. 

“The outcome of the interviews was beyond even our expectation,” says Ceri. “All 32 students were offered employment!”

The feedback from the interviewers was glowing.

 “Your students were the best prepared we have interviewed, they asked a range of insightful questions,” said one.

“There was a very professional feel about the students and the college as a whole”
 
“The students were very well presented and all had made a very big effort with their standard of dress and presentation in general,” said another interviewer.

“One of the company staff commented that the students were able to present their individual personalities on the day with a number of them being very humorous but professional – just what they were looking for,” says Ceri.

“That is just fantastic feedback. Alongside the hard work, travel and tourism is such a lot of fun, and we really encourage our students to take advantage of the vibrant nature of the industry.”

At the end of the busy day of interviews, the company said: “We are so impressed with the high standard of students we have met today we are very keen to forge a strong relationship between Renaissance Tours and ITC for future cruise ship seasons.”

The students are now looking forward to the start of the busy cruise ship season and ITC looks forward to another strong industry relationship that will benefit its current and future students.

From Rotorua to Whakahoro – The time of their life

A recent ITC famil trip to Rotorua, Taupo and Blue Duck Lodge at Whakahoro made a huge impression on the students.

Many of the students valued the opportunity to visit Tamaki Village and learn more about the Maori way of life, but perhaps none more so than Maori student Neil Wharekoka. Neil was glad of the chance “to show my class how my people lived in the old days – I ended up being the chief of our bus, because I know what to do on the marae. They had the meanest hangi there; it was beautiful,” says Neil.

Like a number of the students, Charlie notes that, despite being from New Zealand, “the places we went to like Rotoroa and Taupo I had never been to before. It was good to see just how beautiful our country really is.”

And the opportunity to socialise and get to know each other was something numerous students commented on.

“I really love my class. They’re awesome!” says Ginalee. “And without them this trip wouldn’t have had so many memories.”

“Our last night in Blue Duck Station was cool; we all sat around the fire just laughing.  It was good to just sit down and talk and get to know everyone,” says Margaret.

The students loved the huge number of exciting activities they were able to take part in from white water rafting, four-wheel driving, and bush walking, to bungy jumping.  A number of students got out of their comfort zones, including student Taima who braved the Agrodome’s Swoop, despite her fear of heights.

And the bigger picture of what it was all about wasn’t lost on the students.

“I learnt so much during this fantastic adventure,” says Tia. “The experience that I gained will help me to grow in the tourism industry. Being able to go out and gain experience at first hand was the greatest feeling. For me it’s what ITC and the tourism industry is all about. It’s about going out of your way to experience things that your client might like to do when they visit New Zealand.”

And Dinah offers some final words of wisdom for other ITC students who haven’t yet been on a famil trip: “Complete your assessments, attend class and you too could experience the time of your life!”

ITC It’s all right here!

Just thought you might like to see our new ad staring our very own Malia! She is a real star and shows people who are keen to get ahead into the airline, travel and tourism industry what we have to offer!!! Real world training, to help our students get the best start in this fun industry! An ad with ‘real’ people and ‘real’ students, no actors needed!.

What do you think? We would love your feedback. And for all those students starting their NCEA exams this week, GOOD LUCK :)

ITC Welcomes Lorna Cuddy

Lorna Cuddy says she was born with aviation fuel in her veins: “My dad was an aircraft engineer for T.E.A.L. (now Air New Zealand), so outings to the airport were a regular activity – watching planes take off and land and admiring the elegant air hostesses, handsome pilots and the courteous ground staff – it all looked so glamorous, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
 
Lorna’s introduction to the industry was in a receptionist position with David Jones Traveland in Sydney. She worked hard to gain experience booking flights and excursions, issuing vouchers and tickets, and typing up itineraries.

Then she got the travel bug herself and set off for London via Europe on her OE.

“I had only been in the UK for two weeks when I landed my dream job at Heathrow Airport as a ground hostess with Pan Am,” she says. “It was only part time, but it was a foot in the door.”

In those days, says Lorna, training was all on the job. With great determination and commitment, she worked all the overtime that was available until she was fully trained and eventually offered a permanent, full-time job.

After 10 years at Heathrow, Lorna got the urge to return home to New Zealand. 

“Fortunately there was a vacancy at Auckland Airport and I was able to transfer with Pan Am.”

“Then one day we day we learnt that Pan Am was selling their Pacific routes to United Airlines and we were handed new uniforms – the good news was that we could all keep our jobs plus our years of service!

“Alas, United Airlines ceased flying into New Zealand in 2003 and I was forced to ‘retire’.” 

After nearly 29 years in the same job Lorna decided it was time to pursue her other passion: cooking.  

But when she signed up for Certificates in Cookery and Patisserie at AUT she didn’t realise it would spark a new interest in teaching. After working in a private training establishment teaching travel and tourism she went back to AUT to undertake a Certificate in Tertiary Teaching.

Since 2004 Lorna has taught at a number of tertiary institutions, including AUT, and says she is now delighted to be part of the team at ITC. 

“I’m looking forward to sharing my knowledge and experiences with the learners at ITC and helping them achieve their goals and ambitions,” she says.

ITC is thrilled to welcome someone with Lorna’s experience and knowledge. Her airline career is an outstanding example of how the travel and tourism industry rewards passion, hard work and a can-do attitude.

Welcome Lorna!

Discovery, excitement and adventure!

A group of ITC’s City Campus students and one very brave tutor set off on a wintery morning for four days of discovery in the mighty Waikato region.
The aim of this journey was to enhance the students’ knowledge of the travel and tourism industry within the Waikato region by showing them some of its main attractions.

Day 1 – The group was fortunate enough to secure the services of a Stray bus and driver and guide Dave (better known as Gollum). Dave provided commentary about each place the group passed through, and the journey was filled with lively music and banter.
 
The first stop on our journey was at Hobbiton. This was an ideal opportunity for the students to discover the “real” Middle Earth from The Lord of the Rings movies on a piece of picturesque private farmland near Matamata.

Base Rotorua was the students’ home for the first two nights. The hostel overlooks the beautiful historic Kuirau geothermal park and is within a few minutes’ walk of the lake and Rotorua’s cafè and shopping precinct. Excellent service and well-maintained accommodation makes it a great location for backpackers or those looking for stay-over accommodation.
 
Doug Tamaki, founder and owner of Tamaki Maori Village, briefed us before we headed off to the village. A truly inspiring leader with amazing stories, Doug shared the journey he embarked on many years ago in his quest to establish the village – a must-see for anyone new to New Zealand or those of us looking for a true heritage experience. En route to Tamaki Maori Village the guide, Kau, instructed the students on the protocol to be observed on the marae. Kau is a true professional who takes pride in his role.  As the visiting tribe, the group appointed tutor Jacques as the chief who would accept the peace offering and represent those on the coach. Representation of the group in this manner is considered an honourable task in Maoridom.
 
The group enjoyed the active participation in traditional ceremonies and being a part of a “living, working” Maori village. Students were taught how to perform the haka and had the opportunity to learn the art of flax weaving.
After some time exploring the village, the hosts invited the group to the hangi pit area.  The students participated in the hangi lifting and enjoyed a succulent meal.
After a busy first day, the members of the group retired to their rooms but many continued the festivities until early morning!
 
Day 2 – After breakfast in Rotorua, the group travelled to Rainbow Springs – an attraction like no other in the world! Upon arrival, Tony, the marketing manager, gave his insights into the workings of the sanctuary and the inner workings of the business. During the visit students had the opportunity to take part in several different activities, such as feeding native birds and fish, finding kiwis and experiencing the adrenalin rush of the Big Splash. A truly memorable experience that left a lasting impression on everyone.

The next stop was Agroventures. situated within the world-famous Agrodome. There, the students had the opportunity to choose one of four activities to participate in – the AgroJet, Freefall Extreme, Swoop and Shweeb.  This was definitely the highlight of the famil experience. The students loved these action-packed activities!
 
After lunch they enjoyed the natural hot spring, Kerosene Creek, on Old Waiotapu Road near Rotorua. It’s a beautiful hot spring in the middle of native bush with its own small waterfall.
Upon returning to Base Rotorua, the students relaxed the Lava Bar.
Day 3 – The morning of day 3 saw some tired-looking students dragging themselves to the bus to continue on their journey. The scenic route running along the foothills of Mt Ruapehu provided many photo opportunities and the group was awed by the beautiful surroundings.
 
Located in the Ruapehu District, Blue Duck Station is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground. Greeted by a typical farm setup with gumboots and off-road vehicles in the waiting, this was no ordinary city slicker experience!  The students were split into two groups with one group venturing off to find the elusive Blue Duck, while the others embarked on a kayaking adventure.
Back at the Lodge, the group roasted marshmallows and exchanged experiences. The consistent theme of conversation was that if you were looking for a conservation package that also provided excitement and adventure, Blue Duck was where you wanted to be.
Day 4 – After four action-packed days in the Waikato Region, it was a very quiet ride home, with everyone thankful for the great adventure they had experienced.