Welcome back Laura: ITC graduate returns to pursue Disney dream

Laura Orsbourn hopes to work at Disney World after completing the New Zealand Diploma in Tourism Level 5.

After graduating with a Level 4 qualification seven years ago, Laura Orsbourn has returned to ITC to complete the New Zealand Diploma in Tourism Level 5.

Laura has spent the past seven years working in hotels, and is studying Level 5 to pursue her lifelong dream of working at Disney World.

“I have come back to ITC to apply for the Walt Disney Cultural Program 2020,” says Laura.

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Five tips for fast-tracking your tourism career

A great way to fast-track your tourism career is to treat every job like it’s your dream job.

If you’ve been reading the news lately, you’ll know it’s never been a better time to enter the tourism industry.

There are more job vacancies than applicants, tourism businesses are expanding, and international visitor numbers continue to rise.

Tourism is thriving, and that creates the perfect conditions for you to fast-track your tourism career and take advantage of opportunities that come your way.

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Educating more tourism superstars with Gateway resources

Students at the Air NZ Ramp Services Gateway Programme. ITC supplies the Gateway workbooks for this programme. 

At the International Travel College (ITC), we educate young people about tourism in a variety of ways — some of which might surprise you.

In addition to our on-campus and Study From Home qualifications, we also work closely with schools and education providers to make sure they have the resources they need to support the next generation of tourism workers.

For example, we provide Gateway workbooks to education providers. Students complete Gateway workbooks while on work experience in the tourism industry and gain NCEA Level 3 credits.

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ITC students impress industry at NZ Tourism Awards in Chch

Students from the International Travel College (ITC) looking smart at the New Zealand Tourism Awards.

Tourism students from the International Travel College (ITC) made an excellent impression in front of industry at the New Zealand Tourism Awards in Christchurch earlier this month.

Several students volunteered at the awards, giving their time to help Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) run a smooth, seamless event.

“We were so impressed. We could not have asked for more pleasant and switched on volunteers,” says Trina Edwards, TIA Events & Marketing Specialist.

“All were on time, immaculately dressed, enthusiastic and ready to help with whatever they were asked.”

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Tourism businesses inspire next generation of tourism workers at ITC Industry Expo

ITC travel and tourism students loved the opportunity to network with some of Auckland’s leading tourism employers at the ITC Industry Expo in August.

Students on the cusp of entering the tourism workforce got a ‘taste of tourism’ at the ITC Industry Expo in August.

Several leading tourism businesses presented to ITC students, including Jucy, Fullers, AJ Hackett, Explore, Avsec, Customs, Sudima Hotel, and Fat Camel Backpackers.

The purpose of the Industry Expo is to educate students about what it’s like to work in the industry. It also gives tourism businesses the chance to impress the next generation of tourism workers, in the hope of attracting high-calibre staff.

It’s no secret that skilled tourism workers are in high demand, so tourism businesses jumped at the chance to get in front of a group of engaged, motivated tourism students.

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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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