Chris learned from the best at BNIT
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Leanne Townsend with tourism students
Brisbane North Institute of TAFE (BNIT) students learn from the best when it comes to travel and tourism, according to student Chris Rose, who secured a job at a successful Brisbane travel agency before finishing his Diploma of Tourism at BNIT Ithaca (Red Hill) campus.
Chris, 25, of Paddington, is now manager of Discover Travel and Cruise in The Gap, a position he secured through his studies at BNIT and attributes in great part to his teacher, Leanne Townsend.
"I'm very grateful to have learned travel and tourism from Leanne because she really is the best. As well as being extremely knowledgeable, she is very personable and approachable," Chris said.
"Leanne is an excellent teacher and always provided that bit extra. She has extensive industry experience and contacts, and this meant she gave us inside information and knowledge essential to the industry. Her real-world experience really made an enormous difference.
"It was through her contacts I was able to get my current job; in fact she recommended me for it! I'm really glad I had Leanne as a teacher and we still keep in touch – she is a mentor as well as a great contact and I hold her in high regard."
To highlight this outstanding teacher expertise in vocational education and training, BNIT has launched an integrated marketing campaign profiling a number of teacher ambassadors, of which travel and tourism teacher and travel agent of 18 years, Leanne Townsend, is one.
"Over the years I have built up many close partnerships with local travel agencies and airline workers who are more than happy to keep me up to date, and whom I visit to update my skills," Leanne said.
"BNIT graduates get jobs because we are well known in the travel industry as having a standout training program. We were named Best Registered Travel Training Institute at the AFTA National Travel Industry Awards in 2011 and 2010 and have worked hard to make the travel and tourism program at BNIT focused on the needs of the travel industry.
"Our tourism and travel team are all industry current, have large networks and great relationships with many industry employers. This is great news for our students as we are able to tap into these networks for job opportunities.
"BNIT graduates are now managers and team leaders in the travel industry across Brisbane and beyond, and
many would attribute studying at BNIT as a major contributor to the success of their career."
For more information on the teachers and travel and training programs at BNIT, please call 131 248.