College 'responds to industry'

Today 49 students will graduate from the Queenstown Resort College.

QRC chief executive Charlie Phillips said he was "delighted" with the calibre of the students who had been studying in Queenstown for the past two years.

Of the 49, 14 would become Adventure Tourism graduates and 35 would be Diploma of Hospitality graduates.

"After getting to know these students, I feel confident in saying that New Zealand's future in the adventure tourism and hospitality industries looks extremely bright with the wealth of very talented and motivated young people going out into the work force.

"They're world class professionals ready to hit the ground running and I think they'll really make a difference to our industry both here and overseas."

Mr Phillips said the college and its courses were continuing to evolve in response to industry needs, and as part of QRC's partnership with NZSki, the first Snowsports Business Management course in the southern hemisphere had been launched.

"We now offer New Zealand's only Diploma of Adventure Tourism Management specialising in snowsports management, aimed at producing graduates who are not only passionate about the industry but who have strong business skills.

"As part of their diploma, students are guaranteed a work placement at Coronet Peak, the Remarkables or Mt Hutt for a winter season."

At this afternoon's graduation ceremony, Ngai Tahu Tourism Southern Region general manager and former Destination Queenstown chief executive David Kennedy would be the official guest of honour.

Mr Kennedy said he felt privileged to be asked to impart some words of wisdom to the country's next generation of tourism and hospitality leaders.

"Tourism is the biggest and fastest growing industry in the world and qualifications are becoming crucial in order to get ahead.

"Queenstown is internationally renowned for its wealth of tourism and hospitality infrastructure and QRC works closely with the industry to provide students ready to move straight into the workplace.

"We've had several of QRC's Adventure Tourism Diploma students work for us at Shotover Jet and Dart River Jet Safaris and we've been really impressed with their high standard of professionalism, commitment and understanding of the tourism business.

"As they go out into the world as fully fledged alumni following their chosen career paths, they'll have the full support of Queenstown's tourism and hospitality operators and I have no doubt they'll be outstanding ambassadors both for QRC and for Queenstown," Mr Kennedy said.

The graduation ceremony will be at Queenstown's Heritage Hotel from 2pm today, with a function at QRC Lodge, the college's new Hall of Residence being held after the graduation.