More than 35 Long Bay College, International Travel College and NZ School of Tourism students participated in the first-ever Tourism and Hospitality career famil, delivered by Go with Tourism and developed in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Commission’s Inspiring the Future campaign. The students, teachers and career advisors were treated to a highly interactive day showcasing the opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industry.
The itinerary began with an ‘Auckland tour’ between the school and hotel, followed by a morning interacting with eight industry role models, including a “Guess Who” career game and a “Career Speed Dating” activity. After lunch, the students were given tours around different departments of Crowne Plaza, with the opportunity to try out the tasks staff complete daily and hear from Hotel employees to understand better the inner workings of a successful, operational hotel.
Programme Director for Go with Tourism, Heidi Gillingham, said that she hoped this would be the first of a regular series of “career famil days” that the government-funded initiative should run nationwide.
“Better connection between industry and education was listed as a key initiative for improving the workforce in the ‘Better Work Action Plan’ released by MBIE earlier in 2023. Go with Tourism is in a great position to make these connections,” said Gillingham.
Sparking interest within the future generation of hospitality workers was viewed as an important aspect of the famil. Gillingham said that career decisions usually form during school years, and it is crucial to showcase the entire industry.
Since 2019, Go with Tourism has delivered a range of services and assets to engage students and teachers about the future possibilities of the hospitality industry. The Inspiring the Future campaign began in 2022.
The hugely successful role model activities from previous ITF events were the first items added to the checklist. Go with Tourism, taking inspiration from the “familiarisation tours” often run in tourism, expanded the event into a full-day “career famil day” experience that only the tourism and hospitality industry can accommodate.
