Meet ITC’s incredible new addition to the Schools Team – Ruth Betham
Ruth Betham is ITC’s newest member of the Schools Team!
Just when you think we’ve already got the most passionate, awesome, experienced travel and tourism team in New Zealand, we go and find someone like Ruth Betham.
Ruth is a recent hire on our Schools Team, and she’s excited to share her skills and knowledge with young students just getting started in the travel and tourism industry.
We asked her some quick questions to learn more about Ruth’s background, and what she brings to the team!
How did you begin your passion for the tourism industry?
I have always had a heart to serve people! From the young age of 16 when I landed my first job in retail (while still attending high school). It was from that experience I knew I had a passion to help and serve others.
I love working with people and really enjoyed customer service roles. I then was encouraged by my mother to look into studying travel and tourism when I finished school, as it was once a dream of hers to become a flight attendant. So I decided to give it a go, looked into studying tourism and to fulfil her wish I wanted to give it my best shot while I was still young. What better way to serve and meet people than through travel!
What does your travel industry history look like?
So after studying travel and tourism for one year in tertiary education, I gained a certificate in travel and tourism. From there I applied for the Disney internship college program and had the opportunity to work at the “happiest place on Earth” for six months in Orlando, Florida at the age of 19.
After my Disney experience (which was amazing and eye opening!!), I knew travel was definitely for me. I returned home and began my journey as a flight attendant with Air New Zealand a short time after. Working in two different fleets – Short haul for two years flying on the A320 airbus, and eventually went international with Mid haul flying on the 787 Dreamliner aircraft for 3 years. I was able to live out my DREAM career which I absolutely loved! It did require a lot of continuous studies and hard work and dedication right through, but was well worth it as I made so many friends within the industry and created so many memories.
I was able to discover the beauty here at home around NZ and overseas travelling all across the globe learning about different cultures – I travelled to the Pacific Islands, Australia, Singapore, China, Japan, Hawaii, the United States to name a few. I worked as a flight attendant for Air NZ for five incredible years and had many pinch myself moments exploring all these different destinations until COVID 19 hit and affected many of our tourism industry and I was made redundant.
But very thankful for God’s timing as I was on my way on to maternity leave and was carrying my son. Around that same time COVID lockdown happened and it was time for me to hang up my wings!
What was your favourite job you’ve done (aside from your new role at ITC!)?
Flight Attending for Air New Zealand for sure was a huge highlight and part of my life journey and it was a very exciting career path. One day I was home in the winter and the next I was in a completely different destination on the other side of the world enjoying the summer season.
It taught me a lot about the industry, the different cultures and even taught me a lot about myself. I am so grateful I was able to explore much of the world we live in and also connect with so many beautiful people along the way.
How will your experience help support students?
I believe through my work experience I am able to help and hopefully inspire students to be more prepared and equipped for the big world and a lot of the reality and behind the scenes action that will be required (that many are just unaware of).
I believe it is through our work experience and life lessons that we are able to share wisdom, knowledge and bring understanding and value to our students and the upcoming generation of what to expect, especially if they want to succeed in the travel and tourism industry.
What are you looking forward to the most in your new role?
I am really looking forward to encouraging our students! To have a positive and impactful influence on our students when it comes to them discovering their dream career path and purpose in life! I am excited to share my experiences with them of what success can really look like and that anything is possible!
It is so important that our students have great support and mentors/tutors around them for guidance, to help build their confidence and to lead our students in the right direction with the right resources. Whatever they choose to do in life, I hope I will be of great service to get them there. I look forward to building great connections as we prepare the next generation.
What do you think are the most important skills to have in the tourism industry?
I believe important skills to have would definitely be a positive can-do attitude, friendly nature, strong work ethic, time management, great customer service, people skills, confidence, commitment, teamwork, communication and listening skills and most importantly a teachable spirit always willing to learn! It will get you a long way if you continue to apply everything that you are learning even if it is through tough lessons and just apply the learning with ACTION!!
What is your best advice for those getting into the industry now?
It might sound a bit cliche – but I would say never give up on your hopes and dreams! Keep going and take all the necessary steps to get to where you want to be, even if it is baby steps towards that dream career. It might not happen overnight but enjoy the process and the journey, it means you will have more reason to appreciate it when you do get there.
The travel industry has so much to offer! The jobs within this space here are endless, having had all the work experience and travel that I had, to now being able to pass on that same wisdom and knowledge to others just proves how amazing and incredible this industry really is. Oh the story you will tell!!
ITC in Schools
Ruth is joining our Schools Team, which works with high schools around Aotearoa to help offer valuable travel and tourism courses. These courses help to lighten the load of teachers and school administrators, while giving students a fun way to earn NCEA credits and discover their interest in the industry!
Contact us here to learn more.
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