November 5, 2013
MEDIA RELEASE FROM QUEENSTOWN RESORT COLLEGE
Advisors learn about careers in tourism
Queenstown Resort College will next week show careers advisors from around New Zealand that tourism is a serious
vocation.
The tertiary education provider will host the official welcome ceremony for the annual Careers And Transition Education
(CATE) Conference, to be held in Queenstown on November 13-15, 2013. It plans to give the 550 CATE delegates a taste of
what it’s like to work in tourism and hospitality at an action-packed welcome ceremony at the AJ Hackett Bungy Centre on
November 13.
The three-day conference, held at Queenstown’s Millennium Hotel, features keynote speakers deputy Prime Minister Bill
English, television personality and clinical psychologist Nigel Latta, and former Education Minister, now Massey
University Vice Chancellor, Steve Maharey – but Queenstown Resort College’s chief executive Charlie Phillips has an
equally-serious message.
He wants careers advisors and transitions consultants to recommend to youths and school leavers that studying tourism
and hospitality can forge successful, long-term careers.
“Tourism has suffered as an industry under the false impression that tourism provides jobs while you figure out what you
want to do. Our message is that tourism is a serious career option,” he says.
“With tourism being New Zealand’s second-largest export, employing one-in-10 New Zealanders and contributing $23.5
billion to the economy, it is a career of the future,” he says.
“Depth and quality is the major issue within the workforce. If influencers of youth had a greater awareness of the
career opportunities, then a greater quality of employee will enter the industry. And a greater quality of employee will
result in businesses being better-managed – greater efficiencies and, in turn, greater career opportunities.”
Queenstown Resort College offers Diplomas in Hospitality Management and Adventure Tourism Management. Graduates are
scattered across the globe – with many now working as restaurant managers, events coordinators, marketing communications
account managers, marketing assistants, jump operators, guides, duty managers and owner-operators.
About Queenstown Resort College
Queenstown Resort College is a unique, privately-owned tertiary education provider that offers world-class diplomas in
hospitality management, adventure tourism management, executive education, customised programmes and short courses.
Working with experienced industry practitioners, graduates end up equipped with the skills and qualifications to
progress in career pathways in a competitive, challenging and exciting global industry.
ENDS