Young Tourism Export Council of New Zealand

28/05/2026

Are you locked in?
Locked in with your leadership skills, innovating at any given chance, passionate about your mahi, and committed to your professional development through YoungTEC programmes and the wider tourism industry?🙂‍↕️

If you're nodding, then it must mean you're a YoungTEC Rising Star or giving Leadership Development!

The YoungTEC Awards celebrate and recognise emerging talent within New Zealand’s tourism industry, highlighting young professionals who are making an outstanding contribution to the sector and shaping its future.

The awards offer valuable career development opportunities, industry recognition, and the chance to further grow your leadership capability.

The Rising Star Award criteria include:
⭐ Frontline or back office role
⭐ Working in the tourism industry for less than five years
⭐ Have attended a YoungTEC Masterclass series
⭐ And are keen to develop your career in tourism

The Leadership Development Award criteria include:
🎓 Working in the tourism industry for more than three years
🎓 Completed one or more of the YoungTEC Masterclass series
🎓 Completed an Icehouse Leadership Day

If you tick all those boxes, we encourage you to push past the scaries and submit an application.

Applications close on Wednesday, 3 June at 5pm.

Enter the Rising Star Award here 👇
https://lnkd.in/eSNah7Ap
Enter the Leadership Development Award here 👇
https://lnkd.in/eJNU7Stp

Pictured is your Rising Star, Cam Mitchell and Leadership Development, Ryan Wilmshurst, for 2025.

20/05/2026

Christchurch YoungTEC have officially entered the chat 👀

To kick things off, the crew headed up the hill for a four-line zipline mission at Christchurch Adventure Park. Equal parts adrenaline and “why did I agree to this” at the top, followed by plenty of laughs on the way down.

We wrapped things up the right way, with a post-zip debrief over a drink and some tourism chat.

Massive thanks to Callum Lippe and the Christchurch Adventure Park team for hosting us and making our first event one to remember.

We might be a small contingent down here, but we’re just getting started. Already planning the next catch up 👀

If you’ve recently relocated to the city that everyone suddenly wants to live in and haven’t updated your YoungTEC details, consider this your sign. Flick us a message, we’d love to have you at the next one.

29/04/2026

Masterclass is back, baby. 🎓✨

We’re bringing our Masterclass series into 2026 with a fresh twist: a virtual line-up of industry experts from across the tourism export world, now spread across the off-season and perfectly timed for those post-mahi wind-down hours.

First up: Tradeshows 101
🗓 Tuesday, 5 May
⏱️ 4.30 pm

Whether you’re stepping onto the tradeshow floor for the first time or ready to level up your game, this session will have you working the room like a pro.

We’ve got an epic speaker line-up coming your way, packed with insights, practical tips, and tools you can actually use. Think of it as adding a few new tricks to your career kete.

Register here 👇

This year, the Young TEC Masterclass Series will run quarterly, with one virtual session each quarter. Sign up here to receive the Teams link every week to tune into the live session! We're really excited to have an awesome line-up of speakers that we're sure you'll learn lots from and be inspired b...

19/04/2026

The Welly YoungTEC team have been clocked in. 🫡

Catching up over kai and drinks is their love language, with an after-work catch-up at Holey Moley and, on another occasion, breaky at Naumi Hotel Wellington.

Reconnecting over a couply beveraginos led to an epic showdown of mini golf at the local entertainment spot in the heart of the CBD. The game came to a tie for first place. Naturally, there was only one way to settle it: a high-stakes game of 📄✂️🪨 to crown the ultimate champion.

Switching gears, the team then kicked off the day with the most important meal of the day: breakfast at Naumi, followed by an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of their rooms. It was great to connect and have a looksie at what it takes to deliver standout hospitality experiences.

Big thanks to those who came along for some great kōrero and connection, and shout out to our hosts who made it happen. 🫶

12/04/2026

Leadership Day 2026 – Registrations now open

Ready to build on your leadership skills and invest in your personal development? YoungTEC Leadership Day is back in Auckland with a fresh new format.

This year, we’re offering two standalone sessions, timed to align with the TEC Trade Event which takes place the following day - perfect if you’re making the trip to Auckland.

📅 Tuesday 21 April
📍 Intrepid Travel Office, 39 Market Place, Auckland

Choose one session or stay for both:
8:30am - Leadership Skills
1:00pm - Personal Development

$50 + GST per session (or $100 + GST for the full day)

Numbers are strictly limited to 25 people per session and spots are first come, first served.

🕒 RSVP by 14th April HERE https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdv2jbzUubayQU7m33mPDRw-sk1vgy-rJeGSzor7CRW6PywvA/viewform
Register now to secure your place and make the most of your time in Auckland

Keep an eye out for details on a casual social catch‑up on the evening of 21 April - a great chance to connect with fellow YoungTEC members.

07/04/2026

Ready to glow up your leadership and personal game? ✨

Whether you're moving into your first management role or already leading a team, these sessions cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters: leading yourself well, so you can lead others better.

Expect practical tools, honest insights, and a bit of a confidence boost to take back with you.

This Leadership Day, we’re running things a bit differently. There will be two sessions available. Join us for one session or both, whatever works best for you.

📅 Tuesday 21 April
📍 Intrepid Travel Office, 39 Market Place, Auckland
⌚ 8:30am: Leadership Skills | 1pm: Personal Development
💰 $50 + GST per session

Spots are limited to 25 per session, so if you’re keen, jump on the link in the comments to register.