Professional diploma recognises business event industry experts

Sue Sullivan

Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) has announced further commitment to professional education, a key part of the CINZ 2015-2018 strategy released late last year.

The New Zealand Diploma in Tourism Conventions and Incentives (Level 5) with strands in Conference Organisation, Convention Bureau, Incentives Planning, and Venue Sales and Operations was launched at CINZ MEETINGS 2016 today.

The Diploma has been developed by industry training organisation Service IQ in conjunction with CINZ and senior industry members, and it will be delivered by Service IQ. It recognises the expertise of event managers who have had several years of experience within the sector.

CINZ Chief Executive Sue Sullivan says it is crucial New Zealand invests in human infrastructure, as well as physical infrastructure to grow our country’s conventions and incentives business.

“Our industry is all about people, and it is vital that our talented professionals are recognised and nurtured,” she says.

“In conjunction with Service IQ we can now offer hotels, tourism attractions and convention centres the opportunity to recognise their senior employees’ event management expertise with a high level national qualification

Service IQ Chief Executive Dean Minchington says it is important to support and recognise the outstanding people who are helping to build a great reputation for both the business they serve and New Zealand’s growing international conventions and incentives industry.

“A great venue helps to get your business on the consideration list for lucrative convention and incentive contracts. But the other attraction is first-class staff who take expert care of customers,” he says.

“These are the people who, with an impressive knack for making the most complex convention seem easy, play a vital role in persuading local and international clients to choose their employer’s venue ahead of the competition, and often year after year.”

Sue Sullivan says the Diploma recognises the superior skills and expertise of committed conventions and incentives practitioners around the country.

People aiming to gain the New Zealand Diploma in Tourism Conventions and Incentives need to provide a portfolio of evidence taken from real projects they have successfully completed to show their level of skill and expertise across a range of areas.

The main part of the programme recognises the knowledge and skills that are common to all sectors of the conventions and incentives industry. The choice of separate strands recognises the specific skills and knowledge required to work in either Conference Organisation, Convention Bureau, Incentives Planning, or Venue Sales and Operations.

The New Zealand Diploma in Tourism Conventions and Incentives is available now from ServiceIQ.