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.
Upcoming events in New Zealand
One of the biggest events coming up is the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is being jointly held between Australia and New Zealand. The opening match will be in Auckland, with other games played in Dunedin, Wellington, and Hamilton.
Another women’s sporting event, Rugby World Cup 2021, has been moved to 2022 and will be held in Auckland and Whangarei from October to November next year.
In the world of mountain biking, there is no bigger event than Crankworx, and for the first time ever, Rotorua will host the final stop in this round-the-world tour. This event will be held over the first week of November this year.
During the same week as Crankworx, Piha will be showcased with the World Surf League’s Piha Pro Challenger Series.
General Manager – Destination, Steve Armitage of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), explained just what this means for Aotearoa tourism.
“This news is sure to generate a great deal of excitement in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, and further afield. We are thrilled that this global event will be held in such a treasured part of our region, renowned for its great surf conditions and natural beauty,” Armitage said.
For music fans, Guns N’ Roses will be arriving for shows in Wellington and Dunedin this November, followed by performances from My Chemical Romance, Kings of Leon, and Rod Stewart in 2022.
All of that is on top of the countless major domestic events held each year, such as the World Buskers Festival in Christchurch, the Marlborough Food & Wine Festival, Art Deco Weekend in Napier, the Queenstown Winter Festival, the World of Wearable Art, Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne, and many, many more.
New Zealand needs workers
Even the smallest of these events requires vast support teams to operate smoothly. From greeters and information stall workers, to catering staff, door staff, organisers, and promoters. And that’s not even mentioning the huge numbers of workers needed to support the surrounding industry, such as hospitality workers, hotel staff, tour guides, and retail staff.
And despite New Zealand not even yet being open to the world, the industry is already struggling to gain the workers it needs to support the current demand. Hotel and hospitality businesses in Queenstown haven’t been able to hire enough workers to meet staffing needs for the winter season, and we’re seeing plenty of jobs come available within the industry, which we share on our job opportunities page.
Nicky McCutcheon, one of ITC’s dedicated employment consultants, had this to share.
“New Zealand has attracted a lot of positive attention worldwide recently, therefore making it a very attractive country to visit. Travel and Tourism providers are looking for people who are able to hit the ground running with great knowledge, training and passion for the industry, creating a memorable customer experience for all of these events.”
“The demand is already starting to outweigh the supply. We have had a variety of specialist airport roles sent through to us since the talk of the travel bubbles expanded and our ski resorts, hotels and holiday parks throughout NZ have been another really great example of where there are so many gaps and opportunities available but not enough trained people for these roles. It’s a really big concern as we need to be ready to welcome these visitors back to get NZ moving again! These providers are coming through to us with multiple vacancies looking for graduates ready to start work.”
“Many are now being innovative with their recruitment process and stepping away from the traditional methods of interviews by hosting recruitment expos or assessment days to try and create awareness of the industry, encourage skilled and qualified people to apply or to start their career path.”
If you’re interested in entering this exciting industry, ITC offers the skills and qualifications you’ll need to land a role. Get in touch today to find out more about our courses!
Campus Study – college@itc.co.nz 0800 TOURISM (0800 868747) or https://www.itc.co.nz/contact-us/
Posted in News, Study inspiration, Travel and Tourism News | Tagged Employment, ITC Award winning training, New Zealand Tourism, tourism jobs | Leave a reply