ITI Articles

For some people, restaurant and bar work is merely a good way to earn extra cash. But for New Zealand Management Academies graduate Kerry Lee, forging a career in the hospitality industry is his greatest passion.

That’s why the Hospitality Standards Institute (HIS) has just awarded him with one of their prestigious Workplace Achiever Awards.  The award recognises individuals who are committed to the industry and are working hard to develop their careers by undergoing relevant studies in addition to their work.

Thirty-two year old Kerry is a bartender at the Langham Auckland’s SBF Brasserie and has just completed a two-year National Diploma in Hospitality Management at NZMA.  Before starting at NZMA, Kerry spent eight years working at SkyCity as a waiter and bartender.  But, despite his experience, he felt he needed to increase his skills and gain further qualifications in order to move up in the field.

“I felt like I was in a bit of a rut and the NZMA diploma offered me a great way to broaden my hospitality knowledge, gain another qualification and open up other opportunities for me within the industry,” says Kerry.

Two years of juggling work and full-time study was challenging, to say the least.  But now that Kerry has completed his course he is excited about taking his career to the next level.

“Having the diploma tells employers that you have the technical knowledge and experience to take on a supervisory role and that you are able to start something and stick with it.  I definitely think this qualification is going to give me the edge.  It has opened my eyes to a lot of options in the industry and I feel very positive about my future.  In the short term I’d like to move up into a supervisory role at the Langham and further down the track am keen to be transferred to one of their hotels overseas.”

The Level 5 diploma gives students a specialised knowledge of hospitality skills and food and beverage service operations.  Training occurs in NZMA’s realistic training environments and assessments are also carried out in authentic service environments such as industry functions, formal luncheons and external hospitality events.  An Industry Advisory Board comprised of independent hospitality experts monitors course content to ensure NZMA’s diploma remains highly respected and relevant in today’s hospitality workplace.

Like some, Kerry’s initial foray into hospitality was only ever intended as a short-term thing.  But now he is a hospitality devotee through and through.

“After leaving school I studied business and was looking forward to a career in an office.  I got a job as a waiter thinking I’d just do it for a little while before moving into the business field – and a decade later I’m still here!  I can’t imagine ever working in an office now.  The hospitality industry is very addictive!”