Tourism by numbers: Five key stats about NZ tourism

With scenery like this, it’s easy to see why New Zealand attracts millions of visitors each year.

It’s no secret that tourism is one of New Zealand’s biggest industries. But just how big and how important is tourism for our country? That’s a story best told in numbers.

Here are five key stats about New Zealand tourism to help you better understand the significance of the industry.

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From tourism student to Director of Sales & Marketing: This is Lisa’s story

Lisa Breckon, the Director of Sales and Marketing at CPG Hotels New Zealand, studied tourism at ITC.

Lisa Breckon has enjoyed a wonderful tourism career so far – and she says it all began at the International Travel College (ITC).

Today she is the Director of Sales and Marketing at CPG Hotels New Zealand, and she still remembers the excitement of studying at ITC.

“The environment sold it for me. It was a boutique place to train with specialised tutors and it had a great feel about it,” says Lisa.

“It wasn’t your normal ‘cookie cutter’ university and it felt right for me.”

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Words to live by: “Effort always leads to something good”

Putting in effort often leads to opportunities you didn’t even know existed.

Studying is hard work sometimes (although it’s also a lot of fun). Sometimes it requires effort, commitment, and sacrifice. But you know what is great about putting in effort? It almost always leads to a reward of some kind.

We were reminded of this recently thanks to wisdom in the For The Interested newsletter. The writer, Josh Spector, included this sage piece of advice:

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Why ITC students strive to never miss class

At ITC, students are encouraged to treat studying like their first job – and that means no skipping class.

Skipping class is a normal part of being a student… or is it? Not at the International Travel College (ITC). At ITC, students strive to never miss class because they have their eye on a bigger prize: a 100% attendance record.

Achieving 100% attendance is one of the highest honours an ITC student can graduate with, as it immediately makes a good impression with tourism employers. If a student achieves 100% attendance, it shows employers they are dedicated, committed, reliable, and professional — all attractive traits when it comes to working in the industry.

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Five ways ITC teaches cultural awareness

A performance during Global Wednesday, a student event that teaches about cultural awareness.

To thrive in the tourism industry, it’s essential to cultivate a deep and genuine appreciation of different cultures. Cultural awareness is one of the best skills a tourism professional can possess — which is why ITC teaches it in several ways.

One ITC graduate — Madison Ryan — is now working in customer service for Explore. When asked to name a skill she learned at ITC that she uses every day in her career, she said cultural awareness. So did Gerrit Faalogo (who is in Aviation Security Service), Mikaela Rivers (who is working for a hotel), and Jasmine Tua (who is working for Menzies Aviation), as well as many more ITC graduates.

Jasmine Tua says studying at ITC helped her “gain confidence when speaking to new people travelling from the other side of the world”.

So how does ITC foster a sense of cultural awareness in its students? Here are five innovative ways ITC teaches cultural awareness to tourism students.

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ITC students visit tourism businesses in Christchurch

ITC’s Chch students recently visited two hotels and a Flight Centre to learn more about working in the local tourism industry.

Students from ITC’s Christchurch Campus recently visited local tourism businesses to see firsthand what it’s like to work in the industry.

They visited Flight Centre, Breakfree Hotel and Crowne Plaza in one epic, eye-opening day.

ITC Level 3 student Ja Kharkrang was really impressed with how much she learned on the site visits.

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ITC Graduation is in 10 days – have you got tickets?

ITC Graduation is an unmissable opportunity to celebrate your achievements with friends and family.

There are only 10 days until the “highlight of the year” – ITC Graduation. Have you got your tickets?

The Graduation Ceremony is on Thursday 2 August at the Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre. There are still tickets available – just ask at reception or email college@itc.co.nz for more information.

Graduation 2018 will be an amazing evening. It’s an opportunity to celebrate your achievements alongside your friends, family, ITC tutors, and tourism industry professionals.

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Five reasons to volunteer for unpaid work experience

Volunteering for work experience is a great opportunity to meet employers in the travel and tourism industry.

If you dream of working in the airline, travel or tourism industry, a great way to kickstart your career is to volunteer for unpaid work experience.

Unpaid work experience might not pay in cash, but you will reap plenty of other rewards in exchange for just a few days (or hours!) of your time.

Here are five reasons to give unpaid work experience a try.

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Would you want an employer looking at your social media?

Whether you agree with it or not, most employers will check your social media before meeting you. So it’s important to create a professional online presence.

Imagine you are going for a job interview. You choose a professional outfit, practice speaking in front of the mirror, and get ready to impress your interviewer with your experience and dedication. You know you are going to make a wonderful first impression.

But, what if your first impression wasn’t when you walked into the interview room to meet your potential employer?

What if your first impression was when they did a quick Google search of your name and viewed your social media accounts?

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One month until ITC 2018 Graduation

A proud ITC graduate poses with staff at last year’s graduation ceremony.

The countdown is on until ITC’s biggest event of the year: Graduation.

On August 2, hundreds of graduates will celebrate their achievements with family, friends, tourism industry representatives, and ITC staff at the Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre. (more…)