Tag: tourism new zealand

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Is a Career in Hospitality Right for You?

Deciding what you want to do and where you want to be in the future is a difficult choice for anyone, especially when you’re young and in need of work experience. Thankfully, there are so many possibilities available for you to try, and a great place to start, for anyone, is in the hospitality industry. The versatile skills you learn in this industry are useful everywhere. Here’s what to consider when planning for a future in hospitality and tourism!

 

Is Hospitality a Good Career Choice?

Pursuing a career in hospitality is a fantastic choice for many, and there are many benefits to be gained within the industry that will help propel you into other great careers, too.

The vast range of hospitality jobs always in supply means you will always be in demand, so there will be many opportunities and a sure chance of employment for hospitality workers. And if your goal is to become a manager one day, you’re in luck! There are approximately 8.9 million job opportunities available every year around the world for qualified managers in hospitality.

Perks of a career in hospitality include:

 

  • You don’t need a degree to enter the industry.
  • There are plenty of hospitality courses available for those who want to broaden their experience and capabilities.
  • Hospitality careers provide excellent on the job training.
  • There is ample room for improvement, progress, and promotions.
  • It gives you a chance to travel and work abroad at the same time.
  • It gives you a way to stay active and social while working.

 

Careers in hospitality

There are many job opportunities and careers available in hospitality! The industry is quite broad so there is bound to be something you’ll love doing! Some of the job types include:

  • Working in hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Cruise lines
  • Casinos
  • Theme parks
  • Other facilities involved in customer service

Most jobs in hospitality work face-to-face with customers, but there are also plenty of jobs available in the industry that require a more behind-the-scenes presence, such as sales, marketing, and accounting jobs.

What kind of person loves working in hospitality?

How do you know if hospitality is the right choice for you? People who benefit the most from this industry love working in active, social environments. They also have an appreciation for the importance of quality customer service.

These qualities make for a great hospitality worker!

  • You like working in a team environment
  • You enjoy meeting people of different cultures
  • You love travel
  • You have high standards and an eye for detail
  • Making other people happy makes YOU happy
  • You like learning new languages and cultures
  • You like working in a fast-paced environment
  • You work well under pressure
  • You want an international career

Hospitality is also a great career choice for anyone who is still deciding on what they want to do. A career in hospitality will give you great work experience and monetary freedom, as well as provide you with more future opportunities for progress.

What skills are useful in hospitality?

Starting with these skills already in your repertoire is a bonus, but even without them, you can start to harness and improve them while working.

 

  • Communication skills (including negotiation and persuasion)
  • Taking initiative
  • Problem-solving
  • Good stamina
  • Team player
  • Leadership skills
  • Time flexibility (many hospitality jobs involve rotating shift work)

 

Who is hospitality NOT suitable for?

The main people who might not find hospitality an enjoyable and rewarding career choice are people who prefer to work independently and find working in a team environment difficult. If you don’t like fast-paced, active jobs, and especially if you don’t find satisfaction in helping others with their needs, then hospitality is probably not for you.

Why is hospitality so important?

Being hospitable, caring, and accommodating towards others is an everyday part of life and is what brings society together. This principle is at the heart of hospitality work.

Think of a customer as a valued friend. When they visit you, you want them to feel welcomed and comfortable in your home. You want them to have a positive experience and let them know you care about them and their needs so they can’t wait to come over again. This is precisely the feeling you want to allow customers to feel in your service.

It is important to note that excellent customer service is valued not only in hospitality and travel industries, but it’s also important within every business that relies on the interest of other people—basically, all jobs.

Even if a career in hospitality is not for you long-term, working in the industry is a valuable experience to have and it will ultimately look great on your CV. Some business owners and managers will hire people specifically because they see you have experience working in hospitality. That is because they understand that customer service takes hard work and diligence.

How to Get into Hospitality

The great thing about hospitality is that you don’t need to have a degree to get into the industry. Much of the work can be learned on the job.

However, if you want to hit the ground running and learn how to be efficient and successful working anywhere in the world, then you’re in luck! We have the best opportunities for jobs in tourism New Zealand has to offer and there are many hospitality courses available to support you as well. Start by exploring our available courses online and find one that speaks to you.

 

Best of luck in your career adventures!

 

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Five Amazing New Zealand Destinations for Your Study Break

five-amazing-new-zealand-destinations-for-your-study-break

We know how hard our students work during the semester. So, by the time study break arrives, we all want to get out of town and relax on the beach. Well, not all of us. Some of us would prefer to put the pedal to the metal and take advantage of all of the adventure tourism New Zealand has to offer. New Zealand is absolutely full of great places to spend some time while you’re on break, but where is the best of the best? We go over five killer locations to spend a holiday!

Have a beach day (or two) in the Coromandel

The Coromandel peninsula is an otherworldly paradise full of white sand beaches, dramatic coastlines, native bush, and plenty of sun. Even better, it’s just a few hours from either Auckland, Hamilton, or Tauranga. So, where’s good?

Whangamata is one of the spiritual centres of New Zealand surfing and has great restaurants and bars. Just five minutes north from there, you’ll find Opoutere, a deserted, tree-lined beach which is a hidden gem. On the other side of the peninsula, the beautiful Pinnacles walk leaves from the Thames, and who could forget Cathedral Cove in Hahei—known worldwide since it was used as a filming location for the Chronicles of Narnia.

 

Wellington: A Capital experience

This one’s great for those doing a barista course, or anyone with a taste for culture and urbane living. While Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand, Wellington is known as the cultural capital. It has a strong coffee culture, and while you’re there, make sure you try out a few of the many cafes the city has to offer. The restaurant and bar scene is also thriving, and the nightlife is considered the best in the country.

However, it’s not to say that Wellington doesn’t have anything in the way of natural beauty to offer. Taking a drive around the scenic south coast reveals a rugged and windswept landscape that is utterly captivating. At Red Rocks, you can even see seals. Closer to town, the walk up Mt. Victoria is a must, providing stunning views of the city and surrounds that will make you fall in love with the place.

 

Go thrillseeking in Queenstown

New Zealand has an international reputation as a country to visit if you’re seeking thrills. Adrenaline junkies unite, because Queenstown has everything you could ever want. This is not an exhaustive list, but here you can go: bungy jumping, skydiving, jet boating, white water rafting, ziplining, and much more. Whether you’re after that one experience you’ll remember for your whole life, or you’re trying to fit in as many as you can in the time you have, you’re sure to leave with that adventure itch well scratched.

Of course, Queenstown is more than just adventure tourism. It’s nestled right in the Southern Alps, New Zealand’s biggest and most dramatic mountain range. That means it’s an international snow sports and mountain biking destination, depending on the season. Even if you have no bike or skis, a hike up some of the mountains will do the trick. Try the Ben Lomond climb, located right next to town.

 

A volcanic experience

One of the most unique and beautiful landscapes in New Zealand has to be the central volcanic plateau. Dominated by the three volcanoes Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngauruhoe, this twisted landscape was the filming location for Mordor in the Lord of the Rings for good reason. The Tongariro Crossing is New Zealand’s most famous hike and is a well-maintained trail suitable for anyone with a reasonable degree of fitness. Afterwards, relax in the natural hot springs in Tokaanu—some believe they have healing properties.

Just to the north of the mountains lies Lake Taupo, the largest in the country. The town of Taupo, on the north side of the lake, has accommodation, bars, restaurants, and everything else you could need on your getaway. While you’re there, consider checking out the mighty Huka Falls and the Craters of the Moon geothermal walkway for a lunar landscape of bubbling mud and geothermal vents.

 

Ready, willing, and Abel

Located just outside of Nelson is the Abel Tasman National Park, home to golden beaches and blue water that will make you feel like you’re in a dream. The park is most famous for the Abel Tasman track, one of New Zealand’s great walks. The coastal walkway takes between 3 to 5 days and is world-renowned for its dramatic coastal scenery and beaches.

Nearby are the towns of Takaka and Motueka. These places have an old-school hippie character, and many wandering travellers have blown in and stayed for years longer than they intended. Takaka is the gateway to Golden Bay, a true holiday destination of the finest kind. A shallow coastal area separated from the rest of the South Island by a sharp mountain range, you’ll enjoy Golden Bay’s rugged isolation as much as you enjoy its golden sand and shining seas.

Don’t have a study break to go on?

Study break is the best time of the year, but you don’t get one if you’re not studying. Crown Institute of Studies offers a variety of courses in New Zealand from tourism, to hospitality, to business and English language courses. With us, you’ll get work experience in the industry you choose while you study for your qualification, allowing you to go straight into work when you’re done. Contact us to enrol today and start your New Zealand adventure!

 

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A Day in the Life of a Flight Attendant

a-day-in-the-life-of-a-flight-attendant

If you’re looking at pursuing flight attending as a career, travel and tourism courses open tons of opportunities that will lead you right to it! Studying to become a flight attendant is nerve-wracking, yet exciting in all aspects. Being able to travel to new places, meet new people, and explore different cultures sounds exactly like the dream! Don’t get us wrong, though, it’s also a lot of hard work! If you’re serious about taking your dreams to greater heights and are up for the challenge, discover what your typical day would look like up in the skies!

Pre-flight

It’s not uncommon for flight attendants to start their day in the wee hours of the morning. Since you have to be well-prepared before take-offs, flight attendants need to get up early and should be ready to go at least two hours before their flight. It’s not just so they can spend some serious time perfecting that primed flight attendant look! All cabin crew members also have to go through a customary briefing before boarding the plane.

Crew members run through topics such as safety, security, and first aid. Then, there’s a quick Q&A test before the flight attendants are allowed to operate the flight. After which, they are given flight details such as what specific meals are loaded in the plane, passengers that need special care, and if there are any turbulences to expect during the flight. Finally, flight attendants are assigned to specific positions which determine their responsibilities on the day’s flight.

 

Onboard the Aircraft

The first task required of flight attendants while onboard the aircraft is to make sure that the aircraft is ready for onboarding. They start by checking all the necessary emergency equipment (safety cards, life jackets) and making sure each seat has a complete kit in usable condition. They then test the entertainment system and ensure lavatory equipment is functioning and that supplies are ample.

Since flight attendants are given designated tasks according to your role for the day, responsibilities may vary. You could be the one assigned in the aisle section or you could be tasked with counting all the meals and trays for the flight. You may also need to document the locations for inflight service items and ensure the total amount of supplies are enough for the total passenger load. We know, it’s a lot of responsibilities! But not to worry—flight attendants work as a team. The success of the flight doesn’t solely rely on just one person, it relies on the overall cooperation of each team member!

The cabin manager who leads the cabin crew then calls for boarding and the rest of the flight attendants make their way to their boarding positions. While passengers aboard the aircraft, flight attendants can help passengers with their load. Though not a required procedure, it’s always a nice gesture to offer a lending hand to families – especially those with children, to carry and lift their bags so that other passengers can get to their assigned seats faster.

Once everyone is settled, the flight attendants close the overhead bins, close the doors, and prepare to head to their demo positions. They will demonstrate aircraft emergency procedures and safety features to passengers. After the demo, flight attendants will check the seatbelts and make sure passenger are seated safely. Once they finish their respective sections in the aircraft, they head on to aft galley and the cabin manager lets the captain know that cabin is secure.

 

After take-off

As the seatbelt sign turns off, the flight attendants can begin their service. They make their way to the aisle to turn on the entertainment system and start distributing customs cards to passengers. After that, they start to serve the passenger meals, followed by rolling out the beverages.

Next, they come back out with the empty carts from meal services and collect all the rubbish. Some passengers will request for different beverages after the meal service. Flight attendants are also tasked to process credit cards and passenger’s change as they run orders. It’s all hard work! But at the end of bar service, it’s usually break time for the crew!

 

After landing

After the seatbelt signs are turned off, flight attendants help passengers get off the aircraft. The cabin members stand alongside the captain at the front of the aircraft and bid farewell to the passengers.

 

Post-flight

Depending on a flight attendant’s flight schedule, there may be enough time for downtime where they can hang out, take a nap, work out, or have a sit-down meal. Other times, in-between flight schedules are just too tight that they go straight from one gate to the next. But it’s okay, some trips will allow you days off in a new country which gives you more time to explore and become a tourist yourself!

 

Different days, different time zones

Being a flight attendant doesn’t limit you to flying the same schedule you have flown countless times. It’s not routine work, nor is it a 9 to 5 job. Each day looks different when you’re a flight attendant. You never know what to expect or who you will meet on a particular day. And that is why each day demands a fair share of mental, physical, and emotional preparation. There is paperwork to finish, demanding passengers to deal with, unexpected situations to overcome, and routine preparation to accomplish. Yet, along with it comes some of the most memorable and meaningful experiences you will take part in. You will explore new places, get to meet new people, and experience soaking in different cultures! Each day holds a different kind of surprise but expect tons of lessons to pick up en route to every destination!

 

 Ready to fly high?

Crown Institute of Studies offers the best courses in tourism New Zealand has to offer! We can help shape you to become a professional in your chosen career path including flight attending! Crown also provides business and other hospitality courses that will help you succeed in your chosen industry. Dream big and soar high. We’ll help you get there!