Minister awards top tourism and hospitality students

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The future of tourism in NSW is looking positive with 23 outstanding hospitality and tourism students recognised for their potential at the Minister’s Student Achievement Awards last night.

Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay congratulated the students from NSW education institutions at a ceremony attended by more than 500 leading industry representatives in Sydney.

“These outstanding young achievers demonstrate the type of people we want to drive tourism in NSW – they are innovative thinkers who are passionate about the industry,” Ms McKay said.

“They are building great opportunities for themselves and developing the future of tourism – a future that will benefit everyone in the State.”

Ms McKay said more than 279,000 people completed full and part-time training in tourism and hospitality in NSW last year.

“This demonstrates strong interest in one of the largest industries in the State, which directly employs about 158,000 people and injects more than $27 billion a year into our economy.”

Ms McKay presented each of the winners with a prize pack that included a textbook and a $200 cheque.

This year the awards were presented in partnership between Tourism NSW and Tourism Training Australia, a leading national industry training advisory association. Tourism Training Australia Chief Executive Bill Galvin said the tourism and hospitality industry continues to diversify.

“We appreciate the strong support of the NSW Government. As a major employer we recognise the need to continue to drive training in the industry,” Mr Galvin said.

This year’s event also included The National Tourism Legends Awards, given to senior leaders in tourism and hospitality in NSW. Recipients are independently nominated and judged by the Board of Tourism Training Australia in NSW.

Award winners are selected to provide mentor support to the student achievers in their future careers of tourism and hospitality.

Nominees have worked in the tourism or hospitality industry for a minimum of 10 years and currently run major enterprises in tourism and hospitality in NSW.