Introducing Shane Te Waa

Shane Te Waa is a new tutor at ITC. Here he tells us about his love for and experience in this “rich and dynamic industry”. (more…)

Auckland Airport and ITC Volunteer Work Experience Programme

One of the benefits of studying with ITC is the great industry connections we have. One of those connections is with Auckland Airport, and we have placed over 20 proactive students in volunteer roles as Domestic Terminal Airport Hosts. This is a fantastic stepping stone to a career in the aviation, travel and tourism industries. (more…)

ITC Announces Flight Attending Workshops

ITC’s one-day Flight Attending Recruitment Workshop will get you ready for an amazing career as a flight attendant.

Students who have taken part in this workshop have found it extremely beneficial and great value for money. “I learnt so much on this course, it really has made me re-asses when and how I apply to the airlines to be a flight attendant” said Matthew. “You don’t realise how much you need to know and be prepared for”.

All the content has been carefully compiled and prepared by several of the ITC tutorial team, of whom 9 have all worked for airlines as cabin crew or on their recruitment teams.

For only $99 you get:
• A full-day of training;
• Hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art Aviation Training Centre;
• Advice from a guest speaking flight attendant;
• A student notebook of work and information from the day; and
• A certificate of completion.
PLUS: The $99 is redeemable on one any one of ITC’s six-month courses!

You will leave this workshop with a better understanding of what the airlines are looking for and a career development plan for your dream job. This is your chance to be be fully prepared for any recruitment process and understand what the airlines are really looking for.

You can book on the course online click on this link http://itconlinetraining.com/course/flight-attending-recruitment-workshop/ or call us 0800 868747

With rolling intakes throughout the year we can’t wait to get you trained so you can get out there and live the dream.

Introducing Alison Rigby

New Short Course Tutor, Alison Rigby, tells us how the travel bug brought her to ITC.

Alison initially studied animation for three years. After completing that course in 2008, she moved to Vancouver where she worked at Grouse Mountain Ski resort.

“That was the start of my love for working within the tourism industry,” she says. “I spent the year working and travelling Canada and the United States. And I soon realised that the travel bug was well and truly alive in me!”

Alison moved to Melbourne, working in customer service jobs and extending her skill set while she saved to get to Europe.

In 2012 she moved to Amsterdam where she had a role as the new Meeting Point Manager for Sandemans New Europe Tours.

“In this position I was required to manage the tour guides’ schedules, the timing of the tours and banking. I was the face of the company and the first point of contact for tourists.

“No day was ever the same, and I had to be able to think on the spot and problem solve, as any experienced traveler knows not everything goes according to plan.

“I loved my time with this company and the amazing people I met along the way. In my spare time I was lucky to be able to do what I do best – travel!”

Alison had been travelling and living abroad for over 6 years when, in 2013, she decided to return to New Zealand and study to become a teacher. She completed the Trinity Certificate in TESOL and began teaching pre-intermediate level teens at Unique New Zealand on a short-term contract.

“I absolutely love teaching,” says Alison. “It’s an amazing feeling to connect with and help students reach their potential.”

When she saw the advertisement for a Short Course Tutor at ITC Alison says she knew this was the job for her.

“I am thrilled to be working here and able to share my experiences and passion for travel and tourism with the students.

“This role combines my two loves – travel and teaching – and I look forward to guiding students and opening their minds to the endless opportunities awaiting them in this wonderfully exciting industry.”

ITC Voted Leading Travel Training Institution

The team at ITC are thrilled to be winners again!!

The International Travel College of New Zealand (ITC) has been voted New Zealand’s Leading Travel Training Institution in the Travel Digest Travel Industry Awards 2013.

“What makes this award such an honour is that it is voted for by members of the industry,” says ITC’s Marketing Director Claire Huxley.

“We have such a strong focus on making sure our graduates are genuinely prepared for work in travel, tourism and airlines, and this award acknowledges that we are getting it right.”

Travel Digest also lists ITC’s achievement of Category One status in the NZQA EER audit (the highest education rating) and its membership of internationally recognised quality brand Quality Education as contributing factors to its success.

“It’s important to us that our quality is made visible through NZQA audits and through our connections with associations like Quality Education,” says Claire.

“It’s critical that our students have confidence in us, and it inspires all of us at the college to keep contributing to this industry that we love.”

ITC’s students certainly reap the benefits of the college’s strong industry reputation. Numerous opportunities to explore the industry first hand through trips and hands-on work experience and job placements all add to the college’s high job placement rate.

“This is an industry where the strength of your contacts is crucial. Our students constantly make us proud by showing employers their commitment and passion for this sector. And employers repay that by providing employment and training opportunities for our students.”

“We are grateful to Travel Digest for running these awards that showcase the best of our industry, and we would like to thank the people and organisations who voted for us.”

“An Excellent Match” – ITC’s new partnership with Sterling Business College

The International Travel College of New Zealand (ITC) has forged a partnership with Sterling Business College in Perth, Western Australia. The partnership will see students pathway from Sterling’s Level II – IV certificates to higher study at ITC.

“We are thrilled to be working with Sterling Business College,” says ITC Marketing Director Claire Huxley. “They offer one of Australia’s best travel and tourism programmes, and we have a lot in common in terms of the aims we have for our students.”

Sterling’s Principal Janelle Dawson agrees: “This partnership is an excellent match, as both colleges provide quality training and have great student outcomes.”

Both ITC and Sterling pride themselves on their personal investment in each student.

“People know each other at ITC,” says Claire. “Students study and work closely with each other, and the tutors know each of the students and what their dreams are. It’s a very personalised approach. Sterling has the same philosophy of working with each of the students to help them realise their goals.”

Both colleges encourage international students and Claire sees the possibility for ITC students to also spend time at Sterling.

“This partnership opens the door to opportunities for ITC students in Western Australia. This industry is all about making connections across the globe and we are thrilled to have made this connection with Sterling Business College.”

Janelle also sees the positive impact this will have on her students.

“We are delighted to extend this great opportunity to our students to be able to further their studies in travel and tourism in New Zealand. They now have the opportunity to travel, study and live in two different countries. What could be better for a tourism student?”

A Magical Holiday

The International Travel College’s (ITC) Justine Glackin, in charge of accounts, celebrated her 10-year anniversary with the college earlier this year. To thank her for her hard work and dedication, ITC rewarded Justine with a trip to the value of $10,000.

Justine initially worked in ITC’s student services. After two years she took time off for maternity leave. She returned in 2006, went on maternity leave again in 2007 and returned again the following year.

Managing Director Kerry Priestley says they were always thrilled to have her return. “Justine has a fantastic sense of humour; she’s a good team player and is just great to work with.”

Justine recently came back from her trip and here she shares with us what she did on her dream holiday.

You have $10,000 to spend on travel, where would you go? It’s a bit like asking what you would do if you won Lotto. You just have to narrow down the choices! Having been lucky enough to go to Disneyland as a five year old I wanted to be able to take my own kids so when I was given the opportunity to choose a holiday thanks to ITC it was actually a fairly easy decision to make.

We had three full days in Anaheim, two of those at Disneyland and California Disney. Both these parks are amazing and we arrived on opening and didn’t leave until closing time, about 10 hours later. Particular highlights were Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, The Mattahorn, It’s A Small World, Carsland Racing, the Hollywood Tower of Terror and California Screamin’. Having photos with Mickey, Pluto, Donald and Buzz Light Year (to name a few) has resulted in some fantastic family pictures.

After the excitement of Disney we headed to Santa Monica. We were within walking distance of some amazing shopping and the beach. An open topped double decker bus tour was a fantastic way to see more of L.A. and we took in the sights of Rodeo Drive (no shopping there though!) plus the La Brea Tar Pits, The Farmers Market for a yummy lunch, Beverly Hills and Hollywood for the stars on the footpath plus various weird and wonderful characters trying to make it big in show biz.

It was a fabulous place for relaxing as well as exploring. We hired bikes and rode to Venice Beach, and Muscle Beach where you can work out under the Californian sunshine while homeless people sleep under trees in the parks. We caught a bus to Malibu and wandered along the beach and pier, watched people surfing and paddle boarding and also saw some amazing looking homes right on the beach front.

All in all an absolutely magic family holiday that still makes me smile and one that makes us want to go back and explore some more.

A Tahitian Welcome

Lesley Brough, ITC’s International Marketing Manager, went to Papeete in September on a work trip with Christine Lynch from NZIE. She shares some of her memorable moments.

Tahiti knows how to welcome people like no place else! As we arrived from our Air Tahiti Nui flight, we were treated to Tahitian singing and dancing. There was an even better surprise outside, with one of our wonderful International Travel College (ITC) graduates Christelle Ho and Ariitea waiting for me with a lovely frangipani flower lei. Now that’s a nice welcome!   ITC has three graduates who currently live in Tahiti, and I was lucky enough to catch up with them all. Tiffany Harry, now working at Easy Tahiti travel agency in Papeete, was a superb tour guide on our day off. Together we caught the ferry, which in just 35 minutes took us to beautiful Moorea, where Tiffany’s sister Vaima met us.  Vaima, her husband Patrick, and nephew Rahiti had planned a wonderful day for us, which included taking the family boat out.   This was to become one of my most memorable days ever! The outer reef shelters a lot of the coast of Moorea, and the water is incredibly calm, clear and a gorgeous aqua colour. Patrick drove the boat along the coast past over-water bungalow resorts (the likes of which I had only seen in magazines before) until we arrived at a very special spot. Here we had the opportunity to swim with blacktip reef sharks and stingrays. The water was chest high and while the sharks got close, they were still about a metre away (and thankfully harmless!). The stingrays were also harmless but incredibly friendly. They swam right up to us and swept across our arms, legs and even our chest. Did you know that they eat not only through their mouth, but also through two holes at the top of their heads? That was pretty neat to watch and to feel their soft, spongy bodies.   From here we journeyed to an island for a picnic, where the picnic table and chairs were put straight into the metre-deep water on a sand bank. Now this was fun!  Vaima had packed a beautiful lunch for us all, which included lots of fresh fish in coconut milk and other Tahitian dishes. We were very spoilt. After lunch I snorkelled with the numerous tropical fish.   As we were heading back to the house on the boat, we came across two humpback whales (a mother and baby) in the harbour. Apparently no one had seen whales inside the reef for many years, so it was quite amazing. With the words “You only live once!” Tiffany jumped in to swim with them. Patrick and I agreed and jumped in too. The water was very deep here (between 50 to 100 feet deep). It was scary, but this was definitely something I didn’t want to miss out on. These whales were HUGE! We could only see a small part of their bodies from the boat, so looking at them in the water with goggles was amazing.

To finish of this amazing day Patrick took us for a 4WD experience up the back of their property to view their pineapple plantation.

On another day I was able to visit Christelle at her work at Deep Nature Spa located at the Intercontinental Hotel. The spa was stunning and the hotel has its very own seawater lagoon that guests can swim in with the tropical fish.

One evening Christelle and I met with another ITC graduate, Alexandra Lion. We had a special night that included dinner at Christelle’s family roulotte (food truck) and ate her mother’s famous mahi mahi grilled fish.   It was a lovely surprise to be invited out to dinner by the parents of Mani, one of our current students. Daniel, Mahinateata and I had a lovely meal at The Royal Tahitian Hotel and we spotted the Brazilian beach soccer team who were staying there for the FIFA world beach soccer tournament. The opening night of the tournament was a great spectacle that included shutting down the main road, four stages of live music and a huge firework show. Papeete was the place to be on that night!   On our last day in Tahiti we went to a half-day student fair and spent the afternoon being driven around Tahiti (which takes 2-3 hours) by the lovely Poe Bessert and her wonderful mother LANI.

We saw the only white sand beach in Tahiti (all the others have black sand), fern grottos, waterfalls, a blowhole and the beautiful east coast. On the way we also met up with Danilo and Cecile who gave us each a stunning handmade poster of French Polynesia, drawn by Danilo. The drive ended at sunset at the spot where James Cook landed at Tahiti.   When it was time to say leave it was wonderful to have Christelle, Ariitea and Alex all come to the airport to say goodbye and give me a shell necklace (a tradition in Tahiti when someone leaves).

I would love to say a big thank you to Christelle, Ariitea, Tiffany, Alex, Vaima, Patrick, Rahiti, Poe, LANI, Mary, Daniel, Mahinateata, Danilo and Cecile; and of course to Christine and Chris (my fellow travel buddies). Tahiti was a stunning place to visit and you all made my trip truly amazing.

Students and employers meet at ITC Botany

ITC’s Botany Campus held its industry expo on 3 September. As always the campus and students were looking immaculate.

Another excellent group of speakers , with guests from American Express Travel, AVSEC, Auckland Bridge Climb and Bungy, Explore NZ, Harvey World Travel and Intercity.

Each presenter was assigned two students to help them set up and to keep a steady stream of tea and coffee flowing. As many excited students had arrived early, a number of presenters had to walk through the crowd by the entrance to the college, with one commenting that it was like being a film star on the red carpet!

The students were very impressed with each of the presentations, but the array of prohibited items confiscated by AVSEC at the airport caused the most interest – it is amazing to see what people think they can legitimately bring through security at our airports!  The goodies from American Express were also a big hit, especially the flasks.

Employers certainly view the ITC expo as a recruitment tool and are always on the lookout for their next super star. The presenters discussed the students, particularly those who asked questions throughout the presentations – those students did their employment chances no harm at all. Every year there are a number of students at each campus who gain part-time or full-time employment due to first the impression they make in the presenters during the expo.

The day finished with staff and presenters sharing a well-earned lunch, which allows ITC staff to interact with the industry representatives in an informal setting with a lot of information gathering and sharing on both sides.

The students got a great deal out of the day and their feedback was overwhelming positive:

“Helped by explaining different options that I hadn’t thought about before.”

“The day helped me to broaden my career thoughts and expand my knowledge on companies that I never would have though of as a career choice.”

“Gave me options to think about. Positive thoughts gained.”

“Made me realise there is more to life than flight attending.”

“Described the things we needed to have to be able to apply for their jobs.”

“Presenter spoke clearly and had valuable info about the company.”

“Very organised, was a good speaker and the content was interesting.”

“Explained more about what we should know about the job and also the qualification and requirements that they needed.”

“They made me want to apply for their job, presented it well.”

ITC Students meet the Industry!

ITC’s City Campus held its industry expo on 27 August.

Presenters from seven companies came to speak to the students and we are very grateful to AVSEC, American Express Travel, Auckland Bridge Climb and Bungy, Eco Zip, Intercity, Renaissance Tours, and Stray for their presentations.

The expo had a professional feel, as ITC wanted the students to experience a real industry event. The presenters had banners and posters promoting their businesses and the students all arrived looking very professional.

The students were organised into seven groups and each presenter gave a 20-minute presentation to each of the groups throughout the morning.

The main purpose of each presentation was to enlighten our students about the company, the sector of travel and tourism in which the company specialises, the speaker’s story of how they got to where they are today and some useful recruitment information. The presenters do amazingly well to fit all this into 20 minutes!

Most of the presenters brought an ITC graduate who is now working with them. This gave the current students are real sense that the careers they were discussing were achievable, as the students could identify with the graduate as someone like themselves.

The day went without a hitch, with students moving quickly between sessions and quiet reigning over the whole college during the presentations.

The expo was also open to our Distance Learning students and it was great to see a number of them there on the day, with one even organising her own work experience with one of the presenters.

The day went extremely well with extremely positive feedback from students:

“They were very informative and I enjoyed the vibe in the room while they were presenting.”

“He was passionate, had great knowledge and sold it as a fun way to work or experience.”

“He was very outgoing and easy to understand, he was funny and had good body language, which gave us a good impression.”

“She was really passionate about her job and shared her experiences with us.”

“They were lively, and made the audience participate in their presentation to help remember their information.”

”Made me think that anything is possible and there is so much you can put into travel and tourism.”

“Opened my eyes to many career paths.”

“Eco-tourism is a new product that has just come into the tourism industry and it really sparked my interest to start a career.”