ITC Industry News Bulletin #8

Once again, this week’s tourism news is incredibly positive, even as we head into the winter months.

TOP STORIES

New Zealand favourite film destination

According to a study by the HBO television network (Game of Thrones, The Wire, etc.), New Zealand is the most popular film destination in the world. This is largely thanks to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said ‘film tourism’ continues to be a strong aspect of New Zealand’s marketing strategy.

“We have continuing interest from film makers wanting to use New Zealand as their backdrop and we are confident our role of film tourism is going to keep us top of mind for those people wanting to live the dream and visit their favourite film locations,” Mr Bowler said in a statement.

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ITC Industry News Bulletin #6

In this week’s Industry News Bulletin, autumn arrivals continue to drive positive growth, Rotorua tourism industry sees unusually busy winter and Qatar Airlines is once again named Airline of the Year

TOP STORIES

 Autumn arrivals continue to drive positive growth

2015 is shaping up to be an amazing year for the tourism industry, with Tourism New Zealand reporting ‘record-setting’ holiday arrivals in autumn. In May alone total holiday arrivals were up by 16.5 per cent. Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said the latest data “brings us even closer to an annual arrivals figure of three million”.  (more…)

ITC Industry News Bulletin #2

In this week’s Industry News Bulletin we cover the Government’s proposed travel levy, increased arrival numbers and Tourism New Zealand’s off-season marketing campaign, plus more of the latest airline, travel and tourism news

TOP STORIES

NZ annual arrivals heading towards 3 million

Data released late last week shows yet another increase in visitor arrivals. Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said these figures are encouraging and suggest that New Zealand’s peak season “is slowly extending later into the shoulder months”. (more…)

ITC a ‘second home’ for short course students

The ITC Travel Short Course finished on a high note, with a cultural themed shared lunch. The students all made a wonderful effort with their costumes

For many secondary school students, attending a short course at the International Travel College (ITC) is the first time they experience life at tertiary level.

It can be quite daunting, leaving the familiarity of high school and travelling into the city for a course taught by an unknown teacher, in an unknown environment.

That’s why the team at ITC strives to create a warm and welcoming environment for every student that enters its doors. From the moment they step into the college, they are part of the ITC family. (more…)

Thank you Disney World!

Cara Adams has been living and working at Disney World since graduating from ITC. Here she is pictured in her costume for the ‘Honey I Shrunk the Kids’ playground.

ITC graduate Cara Adams has been living and working at Disney World for the past year. What a journey it has been! She shares some of her favourite memories as she prepares to fly back home to New Zealand.

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Study for free at ITC!

Are you passionate about travel? Motivated to succeed? Love learning? Then you might want to apply for a 2015 scholarship at the International Travel College of New Zealand (ITC).

We are looking for talented, ambitious individuals who are keen to make their mark on the airline, aviation, travel or tourism industries. If this sounds like you, you could qualify for a scholarship to study for free at ITC.

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Introducing Jess O’Connor

Jess recently joined the ITC Marketing Team

Jess is our new Marketing Executive. You can find her at the City Campus writing all sorts of exciting marketing material or perhaps updating one of ITC’s social media accounts. She tells us how a recent holiday in Ireland inspired her to come back to New Zealand to pursue a career in travel and tourism.

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ITC hosts professional development day for teachers

Teachers from across New Zealand join ITC on a mini Harbour Bridge Climb as part of a professional development day

Last Tuesday ITC welcomed a group of teachers to its City Campus for an interactive professional development day.  ITC Account Manager Ceri Jenkins hosted the event, providing the teachers with industry knowledge – and plenty of coffee and chocolate biscuits to keep them going!

These events are a great way to update teachers about what’s happening in the travel and tourism industry, so they can best inform their students about career opportunities.

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Mel joins Manurewa High School on trip of a lifetime

ITC Short Course Team Leader Mel (4th from the right with short sleeves and hairband) and students from Manurewa High School at Auckland International Airport

ITC’s very own Short Course Team Leader Mel Verwijmeren is currently on a trip of a lifetime in Southeast Asia. Mel joined Manurewa High School’s fourth HALP (Humanitarian Aid Leadership Programme) expedition to Thailand and Laos, of which ITC is a proud sponsor.

The trip is an amazing opportunity for students to see first-hand what life is like for people in this part of the world. For many students, it is their first time out of New Zealand, making it a significant life-changing experience.

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“The happiest place…”

Cara (left) working at Disneyworld in Florida after completing her course at ITC, with Natasha (right) ITC Campus Manager Botany

Natasha Allen, ITC Campus Manager Botany, recently returned from a trip to the happiest place in the world, where she caught up with ITC graduate Cara Adams.

Natasha says the excitement of the trip started before they had even left New Zealand at the Koru Lounge at Auckland’s International Airport where she, her husband and their two very excited children sampled the complimentary food (and Natasha and her husband the wine) before boarding their flight. (more…)