Introducing Celeste Cakau

A warm welcome to Celeste Cakau – a new tutor at ITC’s City Campus.

Live. Laugh. Love. As cliché as it is, these three words are what sparked my interest in the airline, travel and tourism industry.

I started my working life as a teller/banking consultant, dealing with customers. I enjoyed playing with everyone else’s money, however this was not where my heart lay! LOVE. They say if you love what you do then it won’t feel like work, so… I decided to make a change.

In 2009, I completed a Tourism and Aviation Certificate with the Air New Zealand Aviation Institute and started working with Menzies as a Passenger Service Agent. In 2010, I became a flight attendant with Jetstar, flying Domestic and Trans-Tasman routes. I also worked part time in the office helping with rosters and banking (couldn’t stay away from the money!).

In 2012, I became a Cabin Crew Trainer, training new recruits and assessing current crew in emergency and standard operating procedures. This is where you could say the LIVE part came in as I was mainly based in Melbourne but also trained out of Brisbane. I was literally living out of a suitcase and couldn’t tell you what day of the week it was.

In the same year, I also helped to set up the Jetstar Auckland Base Training at the Air New Zealand Aviation Institute (coincidentally where I did my travel and tourism course). Glad to be back in NZ and wanting to continue teaching to help students prepare for the travel and tourism industry, I became a training facilitator with the Air New Zealand Aviation Institute. I have a passion for teaching and like to make learning fun by having a lot of laughs.

I was lucky enough in 2013 to tick my dream destination off my bucket list….. EGYPT – my first ever tour with Top Deck Tours. It was amazing!!

My advice to you is work hard so that you can play hard. The Travel and Tourism Industry is by far the most challenging & exciting industry to work in where no two days are the same.

– Celeste

ITC graduate becomes Bon Voyage’s new Travel Apprentice

ITC graduate Shannon Bailey has landed an exciting new role with Bon Voyage travel specialists in Parnell.

When Shannon Bailey graduated from the International Travel College of New Zealand (ITC), she had a few goals in mind. One was to land a dream job in the tourism industry. Little did she know what was just around the corner!

Shannon has landed more than a dream job – she’s kickstarted a dream career. She was recently picked to be Bon Voyage’s new ‘Travel Apprentice’. Bon Voyage is a specialist travel agency based in Parnell, Auckland and one of New Zealand’s top selling consultants.

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ITC Student Lisi Kaihau Lands her Dream Job

ITC student Lisi Kaihau who has been studying on the ITC Certificate of Aviation course, has just been accepted to her dream job as a flight attendant for Emirates.

Our Botany Campus Manager, Natasha Allen, who was formerly a senior flight stewardess for Emirates, and tutor Ashley Mailei who flew for Polynesian Airlines have both given Lisi plenty of encouragement and support.

“We are all very proud of her,” says Natasha, “not to mention a wee bit envious of the lifestyle she is about to embark on!”

Natasha talked to Lisi about her interview experience with Emirates.
 
Natasha: Congratulations, Lisi – what an achievement!

Lisi: I feel very excited and can’t believe that it is happening to me – it’s a dream come true.

Natasha: What was the interview process like?

Lisi: I actually really enjoyed the whole interview process, although it was quite intense! It was in three stages. The first stage was the Open Day, which was quite daunting – over 200 people turned up! We all handed in our CVs and they took our measurements and height. 

I think that the first impressions we created at this stage were incredibly important because we were notified that night or the next day if we were successful.

Natasha: What was the next stage of the process?

Lisi: The next stage was Group Assessment Day.  There were two groups of 25 and the day was spent doing role plays and team games. For example, we broke into groups of five and had to collectively agree on five items that we would take with us if we were stranded. 

Our role play was a lot of fun – my group had to pretend that we were on a flight where a passenger fell in love with a flight attendant! 

At the end of the day we were given a piece of paper that said whether we had been successful or not. When I was given the piece of paper my nerves were at their highest and I really expected it to be a rejection.  When I opened the piece of paper and it said “Congratulations” I had to read it a few times to really believe it!  Only 12 candidates were selected from our original group of 25.

Natasha: What was the third stage?

Lisi: That was the one-on-one interview. It was one hour of answering questions about customer service, my experience and how I would deal with complaints – it was very challenging. 

Natasha: How did you feel you went in the interview?

Lisi: I actually felt quite positive that I had performed well, but then you really just don’t know.  They said we would receive a phone call in a couple of months – and when I did I really couldn’t believe the news – I had got it!

Natasha: What advice would you give other students who want to get into the travel and tourism industry?

Lisi:  This whole experience has really shown me that what the tutors say to us at ITC is true – they push and encourage students to go for their dreams and never give up.  My training at ITC has definitely helped me with my confidence and knowledge of the travel and tourism industry and thanks to them and my hard work it has all paid off, and in August I will be flying to Dubai to embark on an exciting career as flight attendant for Emirates!

Congratulations to Lisi from everyone at ITC!

Passing on the dream…

International Travel College (ITC) tutor Tonya Cole talks about her career in travel and how she came to work with ITC.

I started my career in travel after completing a Diploma in Travel, Tourism and Business. My first role was with a large wholesaler as a long-haul consultant selling travel to the UK, Europe, the USA and Asia.

After a few years, like many Kiwis, I left New Zealand for my big OE. I was based in London for several years and travelled extensively throughout Europe.

This experience was fantastic for its own sake, but it also added a great deal to my later ability to talk passionately to customers about their travel plans and to help them figure out the best kind of trip for them.

When I returned to New Zealand I decided to further my education and began a science degree in psychology and nutrition.

I continued to work in the travel industry while I was studying. This included roles as a travel consultant selling travel to Greece, Turkey and Italy, and as a product supervisor for a cruise company. In that role I was involved in marketing and advertising the company’s product, so I’m really excited that one of ITC’s new eBooks is on the cruise industry – it’s a really fun industry to work in and there is so much to learn that is relevant to any job in travel and tourism.

Studying and working was sometimes difficult, as many of our students know, but it really helps with your time management skills and gives you a real sense of accomplishment.

Ultimately, it was my passion for travel and my love of education that led me to ITC, where I truly love encouraging and motivating students to achieve their goals and dreams – as I have.   

Pictured above from left to right, Sera, Rachel and Tonya at the recent Graduation at The Langham Hotel in Auckland.

Do you want your career to fly high??

After having been a stay-at-home mum for a number of years, Pauline Ratumu decided to pursue her dream of working in the travel and tourism industry.

Pauline was thrilled when she found about ITC’s Certificate in Aviation course. “Hearing that the qualification specialised in the airport/airline industry and knowing that this course offered the foundation knowledge for that specific side of the industry sparked my interest,” she says.

Since graduating Pauline has attained a job as a flight attendant for Air New Zealand. She is enjoying every minute of it and says the only downside is the irregular schedule. She says she loves having the opportunity to travel and to meet so many new people “and, of course, the duty free discounts!”

Pauline says that her study at ITC set her up well for her new role: “When I went through my training with Air New Zealand I found that what I studied in class was very useful as I had already covered certain areas though my Certificate in Aviation course.”

Pauline is looking forward to her future career, which could include working on long-haul flights and, in time, senior roles in the airline.

And she has some good advice for others looking for a future in the industry too. “Have respect for yourself and be yourself. Have a good, positive attitude in everything you do, and don’t let anything put you off or hold you back from getting you to where you want to be!”