Certificate in Advanced Travel, Tourism and Business

The course

Sir George Seymour's Certificate in Advanced Travel, Tourism and Business is a 37-week full-time course that prepares people for a career focusing on outbound travel within the travel and tourism industry.

This accelerated programme offers four qualifications accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), as well as an International Air Transport Association (IATA) qualification that is recognised internationally.

The certificate is designed to provide students with an understanding of the business of travel and tourism, including airfare construction, rules and regulations of international travel, foreign exchange, customer service and communication skills, intercultural communication, the Galileo computer reservation system, land transport and accommodation.

Students complete the course in unit standard blocks, with a focus on the practical skills required to work in the industry. They use the same computer systems, forms and jargon they would when working in travel. The course also covers employment skills such as preparing a CV, interview techniques, personal presentation and employment strategies.

To gain entry, applicants must have NCEA level 2 (60 credits) plus NCEA Level 1 (20 credits) or the equivalent, which could be work experience. Students must also be 18 years on entry to the course. This age limit reflects the higher level of study required in the course which includes a NZQA level four qualification. Sometimes 17-year-olds may be accepted if turning 18 shortly into the course.

The advanced certificate is offered at campuses in Christchurch, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin. There are regular intakes through the year. Total course cost is $6590.

What graduates think

Jason Russell, 24
Travel manager (consultant)
FCm Travel Solutions
Auckland
Graduated 2004

After spending almost four years travelling and working in hospitality, I came back to New Zealand and felt it was time for a change. I really enjoyed travelling and decided I would like to help other people to travel.

I chose to train at Sir George because I heard they had a good reputation. I found the advanced certificate a lot of fun, with some great teachers. I liked the way the year was spent on a broad range of topics with regular internal assessment, rather than just one big cram at the end of the year.

Learning GDS systems like Galileo has helped me most with my current job by giving me a good understanding of fare construction and quoting.

The practical focus of the course increased my understanding of the most popular destinations visited by Kiwis and the practicalities of international travel, which backed up my own travel experiences overseas.

I started working with FCm Travel Solutions in the Corporate Connections area, which is tele-based, but as soon as a corporate consultant position came up I applied for it because that is what I trained specifically for. I thought why wait, I should use the information I learned on the course, and give it a go.

Sir George gave me a good base, and I've also learned a huge amount since taking up the role of corporate consultant.

What employers think

Fran Purcell
Area leader
FCm Travel Solutions
Auckland

Jason started in a telebased role to get his foot in the door but quickly moved to his current role as travel manager which means he has control of a corporate portfolio.

With the labour shortage as it is, we need to look outside the square and think about employing people without a history of travel industry experience. We look for people with the drive to succeed, excellent customer service and the right cultural fit.

Jason has all those qualities as well as the technical skills he developed through the Sir George Seymour course, such as airfare knowledge and flight bookings.

Someone like Jason coming in with knowledge of programmes such as Galileo is perfect for us because Galileo is one of our main GDS programmes.

The advanced certificate is definitely a good course because it forms a solid practical base for us to build on. This, combined with our in-house training, means our travel managers develop a strong rapport with clients to provide the level of service required.

The qualification

Certificate in Advanced Travel, Tourism and Business

Sir George Seymour National College of Tourism and Travel
Phone: 0800 10 10 20

Salary: $25,000-$35,000 (first year)


www.sirgeorge.co.nz

info@sirgeorge.ac.nz