ITC Students WOW Trade Manager on Work Experience
ITC students Ladelle and Natasha at a recent trade event.
Tourism Events Queensland recently hosted a VIP Brand Launch, with networking opportunities, a spa activation, a seated dinner, and formal presentations. Trade Manager at Brand USA Elaine has brought in ITC students for work experience in the past, and once again put the call out to see if any students would like some incredible experience at an industry event.
Two students – Ladelle James and Natasha Hilton – both signed up immediately.
“Their duties included supporting the general event setup, helping prepare the welcome area, greeting and checking in guests, managing the coat check and name tag distribution, and assisting with guest movement into the networking space. Toward the end of the evening, they also helped distribute gift bags and ensured guests were reunited with their coats and belongings,” explained Elaine.
What Trade Manager Elaine thought of our ITC students
“Both students played a key role in the smooth delivery of the event, assisting with a variety of responsibilities.”
“Throughout the event, Dell and Natasha conducted themselves with professionalism and enthusiasm. Natasha demonstrated strong leadership qualities — she was quick to identify what needed to be done, implementing systems that improved the efficiency of our welcome area. Her initiative and confidence were impressive. Dell brought a warm and respectful approach to every interaction. His can-do attitude, friendly manner, and excellent customer service skills made him a true asset to our team on the night.”
“It was a pleasure working with both students, and I have no hesitation in recommending them for future opportunities in the tourism and events industry. Their contribution truly added to the success of the evening.”
How Ladelle and Natasha found the event
How did you first hear about this event and how did ITC help prepare you for it?
“I first heard about the Queensland Brand Launch event through ITC communications and staff announcements. ITC helped prepare me by providing clear instructions beforehand, outlining expectations, and offering support through pre-event briefings. Their guidance made me feel confident and ready to contribute meaningfully.” – Ladelle
“I heard about this friend through my friend Dell, who is in my class and who I did the event with. I prepared for the event by going to get the correct attire and asked Sarndra how to prepare and what I should expect.” – Natasha
What was the highlight of working at this event?
“One of the highlights was the opportunity to network with industry professionals and witness the unveiling of a new regional brand. It was exciting to be part of something impactful and see firsthand how much effort goes into brand strategy and community engagement.” – Ladelle
“Highlights of this event was meeting the guess and working with the event staff to present a successful night. Also having an insight on the tourism industry for Queensland and how to produce your travel product to vendors.” – Natasha
What did you learn?
“I learned a lot about event coordination, time management, and the importance of brand storytelling. Observing how each element—from visual design to public speaking—comes together to form a cohesive message was especially insightful.” – Ladelle
“I learned about the work that needs to be taken into consideration when needing to promote a new travel product and work an event.” – Natasha
How has this helped you?
“Participating in this event boosted my confidence in professional settings, improved my communication skills, and gave me a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes in event planning. It also reinforced the value of teamwork and adaptability in dynamic environments.” – Ladelle
“This has helped me by preparing me for selling, producing and promoting items in my career for the future in the travel and tourism industry.” – Natasha
Do you have advice for anyone who may be thinking of helping at such events in the future?
“Absolutely—say yes! Volunteering or assisting at events like this is a great way to build real-world skills, meet inspiring people, and gain exposure to industries and roles you might not have considered before. Be open, ask questions, and take every moment as a learning opportunity.” – Ladelle
“Bite the bullet and take the plunge. Go for it, for any opportunity that is presented to you, take it as it can take you, lead you and give you a different insight from what you might be set on to do something different potentially. Also it is actually a lot of fun.” – Natasha
Study at a college where you can sign up for industry experience
ITC is renowned for many things, from our passionate team to our industry-recognised qualifications. Importantly, we also have a lot of industry contacts, which means we often have opportunities for our students to sign up for work experience in the field.
That means our students don’t just have qualifications when they graduate – it means they can also have invaluable work experience, and even contacts in the industry of their own.
Learn more about our course options here, or get in touch with any questions about studying with us here!
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