Tourism industry career-mentor program goes national
A new initiative is offering young tourism-industry employees and graduates across Australia a career-mentoring program designed to offer industry entrants the resources, education and connections to build a life-long career in the export tourism industry.
Following its successful introduction in NSW, the Young ATEC (YATEC) Mentor Program is now being offered to all Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) member companies and State Branches around Australia, with more than 50 entrants being assigned mentors from the ranks of senior executives of tourism organisations from across the country.
ATEC Managing Director Matt Hingerty said that the mentor program had been a wonderful addition to ATEC’s in NSW, and encouraged the industry across the country to get involved.
“Tourism’s younger employees are the future of the industry, and ATEC is doing everything it can to support and encourage them to make the right contacts, meet the right people and build a solid career for themselves.â€
“Through YATEC we are developing export tourism’s next generation by offering mentors, education and advice to help them build their own career plans.â€
Starting on October 7, YATEC’s Mentor Program is an eight-week seminar course in which experienced export tourism industry professionals will coach mentees on topics including international markets, cultural differences, setting up a business, innovation, distribution and effective negotiation and presentation skills. While seminars will be held in individual cities, each seminar will be also be uploaded to Google Video for mentees in regional areas or interstate
Importantly, each mentee is also assigned a mentor from the industry (matched by career interests) for the duration of the program, with whom they can meet and discuss career path opportunities and export tourism related issues.
For the first time in 2008 all mentees will also have the opportunity to develop their own ‘three year career plan’ focusing on what they are passionate about in a role.
“The mentor program is an important program for the inbound tourism industry as it provides recent tourism graduates with the opportunity to meet and network with peers and be inspired by experienced members of the industry whom they might otherwise never meet,†Young ATEC NSW Chair Anna Guy said.
“This is an important program for any industry in Australia at the moment looking at ways to attract and retain young staff†said Ms Guy.
YATEC’s Mentor Program is proudly supported by Tourism NSW, ATEC and Video Vision.
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