Disney celebrating its 50th anniversary this year!

Walt Disney World in Florida is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Walt Disney World is celebrating its 50^th anniversary, which is big news for the tourism industry, and for some of our wonderful ITC graduates.

The celebrations began in October last year, and will run throughout 2022 and into the start of 2023 as this beloved worldwide brand marks half a century of entertainment and joy.

Here’s a little more about the celebrations, and why it matters for tourism and ITC. (more…)

What’s happening around the world? An update on travel and tourism around the globe

The world is starting to open up. Here’s an update on what’s happening around the world in travel and tourism.

Here in New Zealand we’re working on getting our vaccine numbers up before really relaunching travel and more ease of movement, but overseas the travel and tourism industry is already heating up.

Thanks to increased vaccination rates and measures such as vaccine passports on planes, more and more countries have been able to open up for travel, and there are countless new headlines about this travel boom every single day.

With travel being so popular and airlines operating at higher levels, it has meant that incredible employment opportunities are becoming available worldwide.

Here are a select few to keep you updated. (more…)

New influx of jobs available in tourism and travel industry in New Zealand

Despite lockdowns, we’re still seeing plenty of new roles coming available in travel and tourism.

Lockdown has been tough on everyone, especially those in Auckland who remain in level 4. Yet this time around, the feel has been quite different, especially for businesses and employers in the travel and tourism industry.

Instead of hitting pause and wondering what happens next, many employers have been taking the pause to prepare for what happens next – lower levels, a mini post-lockdown boom, summer holidays, and hopefully, borders that start opening safely in the new year.

That’s why we’re seeing hiring continue and new jobs being advertised, even though travelling is limited right now. (more…)

Updates: The world is beginning to open up again!

The world is starting to open up again – do you want to be part of it?

In March last year, countries around the world slammed their borders shut. It was a shocking move, and one that largely stopped international tourism in its tracks.

Yet in an incredible collective effort, it has taken little over a year to create and roll out a vaccine, and that has meant many countries are once again looking to open their borders and welcome international tourists back in.

Here’s a little more about what’s happening around the world! (more…)

An influx of available roles sees many ITC students find industry work

Huge industry demand for qualified workers has seen a large number of ITC students and graduates gain roles.

With hope, excitement, and relentless positivity, we’re looking ahead to a spring and summer that are bustling with tourism as New Zealand opens bubbles with Australia and the Cook Islands.

And it’s not just us preparing for greater numbers of travellers in the months to come.

Countless tourism and hospitality businesses around New Zealand have started hiring new staff to cater to the crowds.

Here’s what we’re seeing in terms of new roles coming available, and what we’re celebrating in terms of ITC graduates filling so many of them. (more…)

ITC tutor Daniel Maine’s Rarotonga getaway: “I had the whole island to myself!’

ITC tutor Daniel Maine recently visited Rarotonga. Hear about his incredible experience!

On May 17, New Zealand opened a two-way bubble with the Cook Islands, allowing visitors to enjoy quarantine-free travel in both directions.

One of the very first to fly from New Zealand to Rarotonga was ITC’s own Daniel Maine, who was kind enough to share his experiences with us when he got back.

Read more about Daniel’s incredible trip and what it was like to travel in a bubble! (more…)

Tourism update: How is New Zealand going with our travel bubbles?

It’s been over a month since the Australian bubble, so how is it going?

Thanks to our successful management of the virus, and that of our neighbours across the Tasman, we’ve been able to create one of the first quarantine-free travel bubbles in the world.

It has now been a little over a month since New Zealand’s travel bubble with Australia opened, and a week since the beginning of the bubble with the Cook Islands.

So how is it going? And what does it all mean for the tourism industry? (more…)

New Zealand set to host major events – and needs workers

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is just one of many major events coming to New Zealand over the next few years, and the industry will need staff to make it happen.

New Zealand has long been a fantastic destination for tourism, and more recently, it has become increasingly popular as a destination for major events.

Of course, we’ve just enjoyed hosting the America’s Cup, but there’s plenty more coming up. From sporting events to performer tours, artistic and cultural celebrations to foodie festivals, the annual calendar is filling up with exciting major events.

Here are a few of the most anticipated events on the horizon, and what that means for our tourism industry. (more…)

Fact vs fiction: Which tourism news stories are actually true?

New Zealand’s tourism industry is a topic of hot debate. But which stories are actually true?

As New Zealand passes its one year anniversary of closing the borders and locking down, the news has been spending a lot of time reporting on, and speculating about, the tourism industry.

Of course, with the borders closed and no international tourists coming in, tourism operators have not enjoyed the same level of business as they usually would. But that’s not to say tourism is dead, or that it will never return, or that those working in the industry are completely out of luck, or even that those who want to get into the industry should think otherwise.

There’s simply a lot of half-truths and overly negative press coverage at the moment, and we’d like to offer a more positive point of view and set the record straight! (more…)

Kiwis explore their new-found appreciation for New Zealand travel

The latest Tourism New Zealand webinar has highlighted how Kiwis have found a new appreciation for local travel.

Tourism New Zealand has been keeping a close eye on travel and tourism within New Zealand, and has recently released its latest survey findings on the attitudes and goals of Kiwis when it comes to exploring their own backyard.

The January webinar hosted by Tourism New Zealand to discuss their findings was exciting, enlightening, and educational, and an important roadmap for tourism operators around the country.

Here are a few of our favourite highlights from the webinar. (more…)