ITC Turns 30! 30 Years of Making Dreams Happen
Tomorrow, 3 September 2026, ITC turns 30.
Thirty years ago, ITC began with two travel industry professionals, a passion for education and a belief that the right skills, knowledge and opportunities could help people build incredible careers.
Three decades later, that belief is still at the heart of everything we do.
ITC was established in 1996 by founder Karen and her business partner Treena, two experienced travel industry professionals. As the business grew, they expanded into full-time training and moved into 150 Hobson Street in Auckland’s CBD. They built ITC from the ground up, writing course materials on an old IBM computer and Underwood typewriter and doing whatever needed to be done to make the business work.
By 1999, 300 full-time students were graduating from ITC, and the College had established a strong reputation for producing quality graduates. From those humble beginnings, ITC continued to grow and evolve.
Today, ITC is led by CEO Claire, Karen’s daughter, continuing the legacy her mother started 30 years ago. Thirty years of career journeys. The industries we prepare students for have changed enormously since 1996, but our purpose hasn’t.
We’ve had the privilege of watching thousands of students begin their careers with ITC and go on to become flight attendants, travel professionals, tourism operators, managers, entrepreneurs, leaders and educators.
We’ve watched people travel the world, build businesses and create careers they may never have imagined when they first walked through our doors. We’ve also learned that careers don’t always follow a straight line.
For some, ITC has been the beginning of a first career. For others, it has helped launch a second or even third career. That’s why our commitment doesn’t end when you graduate.
Our promise of lifetime support means that when you become part of the ITC whānau, you stay part of it. Whether you need career advice years down the track, want to explore a new direction or reconnect with the industry, we’re still here.
30 years of industry knowledge
One of the things that makes ITC special is the experience behind the education.
Our tutors bring real industry experience into the classroom, while our relationships with airlines, tourism operators, travel companies, employers and industry professionals help students understand what the industry really expects.
After 30 years, we’ve built an incredible world of knowledge and connections and we’re still learning every day.
It’s about people.
The students who found their confidence. The graduates who landed their first job. The tutors who made a difference. The industry partners who opened doors. The school staff and whānau who supported our students. And the graduates who came back years later to share where their journey had taken them.
So, as part of our 30th birthday, we want to hear from you.
If you have an ITC memory from the last 30 years, we’d love you to share it with us. Whether you’re a graduate, current or former staff member, industry partner, school staff member, whānau member or simply someone who has been part of our journey, your story is part of ITC’s story.
Share Your ITC Story – Celebrating 30 Years
We’ll be sharing some of these stories throughout our 30th year because we don’t want to simply tell you what the last 30 years have looked like. We want to hear it from the people who were there.
There are young people deciding what comes next, graduates looking for their next opportunity and career changers wondering whether it’s time to take a different path.
So today, we’ll pause and celebrate how far we’ve come, thank everyone who has been part of the journey and feel incredibly proud of the thousands of people who have helped shape ITC over the past 30 years.
Then we’ll get back to work. Because 30 years isn’t the finish line. It’s another milestone. There are more careers to launch, more dreams to chase and many more stories waiting to be written.
30 years of helping people turn dreams into careers.
30 years of industry knowledge and connection.
30 years of lifetime support.
And we’re just getting started.
Happy 30th Birthday, ITC 🖤✈️What’s your favourite ITC memory? Where has your ITC journey taken you?
Share your ITC story with us here.
We can’t wait to hear your stories and celebrate the next chapter with you.
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