Young tourism leaders named as YoungTEC Award Winners

YoungTEC proudly announced the winners of their 2019 Excellence and Go with Tourism Rising Star awards.  With a record breaking year of entries, these awards recognise the outstanding efforts and contribution of YoungTEC members to the development of New Zealand’s tourism industry.

Go with Tourism Rising Star Award

The winner and finalists are:

  • Ella Spittle, Southern Discoveries, Queenstown (Winner)
  • Zac Watson, ATEED, Auckland (Finalist)
  • Moerangi Vercoe, Rotorua Canopy Tours, Rotorua (Finalist)

Ella presented her success of redefining Southern Discoveries brand and launching the campaign ‘go further, get closer, discover more’.  The judges emphasised her initiative with sustainability and her holistic approach to innovation in all parts of the business.   She is clearly a passionate and skilled marketer.

The Go with Tourism Rising Star winner receives complimentary registration to the 2020 Tourism Export Council Annual Conference, YoungTEC Summit and Xmas Symposium, as well as $500 to assist with travel expenses courtesy of the TECNZ.

Tourism Export Council of New Zealand’s (TECNZ) Chief Executive Judy Chen says “Congratulations to Ella.  She is an outstanding example of a rising star that has demonstrated strong leadership skills and introduced impactful initiatives at Southern Discoveries.  We are proud to have her as a member of YoungTEC, and now as our 2019 Go with Tourism Rising Star award winner.”

Excellence Award

The winner and finalists are:

  • Rachel Leinhardt, Skyline Rotorua, Rotorua (Winner)
  • Nicole Botting, Maverick Digital, Auckland (Finalist)
  • Anthony Longman, Tourism Central Otago, Central Otago (Finalist)

Rachel’s achievements are highlighted with the marketing campaign and strategy she has obtained over the last four years at Skyline Rotorua.  Her passion for the tourism industry is evident through the voluntary work she is involved in, including being a BYATA Board member and YoungTEC mentor.

TECNZ’s Chair, Anna Black says “All three finalists this year were of such a high calibre it was difficult to separate them. Rachel’s passion for the industry was evident. She demonstrated an impressive ability to learn from experiences and apply those learnings to continuously improve herself, her team and the industry as a whole.”

The Excellence award winner receives a two-week professional development placement in one of Tourism New Zealand’s international offices, return economy flights sponsored by Air New Zealand, and two weeks accommodation courtesy of TECNZ.

Thanks to our partners Air New Zealand, Go with Tourism and Tourism New Zealand for supporting us.  Also, thanks to the judges involvement with this YoungTEC initiative.

ENDS.

About YoungTEC

YoungTEC is an organisation of young tourism professionals under the age of 36 years who are members of Tourism Export Council companies. A YoungTEC membership offers regular networking events with other young professionals in the tourism industry, educational workshops and a professional development programme complete with a mentor which gives you the most up-to-date tourism information and tips to take into your own workplace.

For more information on YoungTEC and to find out how to become a member visit www.tourismexportcouncil.org.nz/ytec or go to their Facebook page www.facebook.com/youngtourismexportcouncil.

For more information please contact:

Louisa Turner  – Tourism Export Council of NZ

027 480 7252

office@tourismexportcouncil.org.nz

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