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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ITC Earns Finalist Spot in the 2026 New Zealand Tourism Awards

ITC is ecstatic to be named as a finalist in the 2026 New Zealand Tourism Awards.

The International Travel College of New Zealand (ITC) was delighted to receive the best possible gift on our exact 30^th anniversary this week: A finalist spot in the 2026 New Zealand Tourism Awards.

We are a finalist in the FareHarbor Tourism Collaboration Award category, alongside ChristchurchNZ, Native Nations, and Kiwi North.

The FareHarbor Tourism Collaboration Award recognises tourism organisations, businesses, or partnerships that have aligned or partnered to successfully maximise their tourism industry impact and results.

Aside from it being our 30^th anniversary as a travel college, this year is also special as it saw a record number of entries. There were 177 in 2026, which is up from last year’s record of 150.

Rebecca Ingram, Chief Executive for Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) says that the increased popularity of the annual awards is a sign of a thriving tourism industry.

“We’re delighted with the record number of entries received from a range of individuals and tourism businesses across the country. It shows that people in the industry are proud of what they’ve achieved over the past year,” she explained.

ITC’s Chief Executive Officer, Claire Huxley, shared her excitement for the announcement.

“We are incredibly excited to be named a finalist,” said Claire, “it is a wonderful recognition of the passion and hard work our team puts into this project and has done for 10 years now. We’re grateful to Ceri, Mel, Mike, Brooke and Lisette and everyone who has supported us and helped make this achievement possible.”

We’re also grateful to Explore Group, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Hundertwasser Art Centre, and Bay of Islands Parasail, who all assisted our application with letters of support.

Winners will be announced in person at the New Zealand Tourism Awards Dinner on 4 November 2026 at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, following the Tourism Summit Aotearoa.  

ITC Turns 30! 30 Years of Making Dreams Happen

Tomorrow, 3 September 2026, ITC turns 30.

Thirty years ago, ITC began with two travel industry professionals, a passion for education and a belief that the right skills, knowledge and opportunities could help people build incredible careers.

Three decades later, that belief is still at the heart of everything we do.

ITC was established in 1996 by founder Karen and her business partner Treena, two experienced travel industry professionals.  As the business grew, they expanded into full-time training and moved into 150 Hobson Street in Auckland’s CBD.  They built ITC from the ground up, writing course materials on an old IBM computer and Underwood typewriter and doing whatever needed to be done to make the business work.

By 1999, 300 full-time students were graduating from ITC, and the College had established a strong reputation for producing quality graduates. From those humble beginnings, ITC continued to grow and evolve.

Today, ITC is led by CEO Claire, Karen’s daughter, continuing the legacy her mother started 30 years ago. Thirty years of career journeys. The industries we prepare students for have changed enormously since 1996, but our purpose hasn’t.

We’ve had the privilege of watching thousands of students begin their careers with ITC and go on to become flight attendants, travel professionals, tourism operators, managers, entrepreneurs, leaders and educators.

We’ve watched people travel the world, build businesses and create careers they may never have imagined when they first walked through our doors. We’ve also learned that careers don’t always follow a straight line.

For some, ITC has been the beginning of a first career. For others, it has helped launch a second or even third career. That’s why our commitment doesn’t end when you graduate.

Our promise of lifetime support means that when you become part of the ITC whānau, you stay part of it. Whether you need career advice years down the track, want to explore a new direction or reconnect with the industry, we’re still here.

30 years of industry knowledge

One of the things that makes ITC special is the experience behind the education.

Our tutors bring real industry experience into the classroom, while our relationships with airlines, tourism operators, travel companies, employers and industry professionals help students understand what the industry really expects.

After 30 years, we’ve built an incredible world of knowledge and connections and we’re still learning every day.

It’s about people.

The students who found their confidence. The graduates who landed their first job. The tutors who made a difference. The industry partners who opened doors. The school staff and whānau who supported our students. And the graduates who came back years later to share where their journey had taken them.

So, as part of our 30th birthday, we want to hear from you.

If you have an ITC memory from the last 30 years, we’d love you to share it with us. Whether you’re a graduate, current or former staff member, industry partner, school staff member, whānau member or simply someone who has been part of our journey, your story is part of ITC’s story.

Share Your ITC Story – Celebrating 30 Years

We’ll be sharing some of these stories throughout our 30th year because we don’t want to simply tell you what the last 30 years have looked like. We want to hear it from the people who were there.

There are young people deciding what comes next, graduates looking for their next opportunity and career changers wondering whether it’s time to take a different path.

So today, we’ll pause and celebrate how far we’ve come, thank everyone who has been part of the journey and feel incredibly proud of the thousands of people who have helped shape ITC over the past 30 years.

Then we’ll get back to work. Because 30 years isn’t the finish line. It’s another milestone. There are more careers to launch, more dreams to chase and many more stories waiting to be written.

30 years of helping people turn dreams into careers.
30 years of industry knowledge and connection.
30 years of lifetime support.

And we’re just getting started.

Happy 30th Birthday, ITC 🖤✈️What’s your favourite ITC memory? Where has your ITC journey taken you?

Share your ITC story with us here.

We can’t wait to hear your stories and celebrate the next chapter with you.

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…)

2027 Te Tai Tokerau Business of Tourism Academy Expressions of Interest Open Now!

Te Tai Tokerau Business of Tourism Academy gives students hands-on learning from skilled tutors.

It’s that time!

Expressions of Interest are now open for the 2027 Te Tai Tokerau Business of Tourism Academy, and schools are invited to help identify students who could thrive in this exciting opportunity.

This academy gives Year 12 and 13 students the chance to learn more about New Zealand’s exciting tourism industry while still in high school.

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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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From Studying the Business of Tourism Academy at High School, to ITC Graduate Working at Disney!

From learning about travel and tourism to Disney World Florida – all with ITC!

Sometimes, we meet a student while they’re still at high school as they take our Business of Tourism Academy. Then we cheer them on as they become full-time students with us at ITC – then we celebrate as they are accepted into their dream role working at Walt Disney World in Florida!

That’s the story of ITC graduate Meleena Beatty, who discovered her love of travel and tourism early, and has been going from strength to strength ever since.

We chatted with Meleena to ask all about her time with ITC, her experience on the Disney Cultural Exchange Program, and more. 

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