Graduate Story

Meet Toby Munro, one of our 2016 Hospitality Management graduates.

Originally from Nelson, Toby was considering a career in hotel management and looking for a tertiary provider that would provide him with the right tourism and hospitality skills and opportunities to fast-track into management.

As part of his research, he talked to various hotel general managers around New Zealand and asked the following:

“What graduate programme or tertiary provider would you most likely select a candidate from who was seeking a career in hotel management? Which tertiary provider excels in assisting students to get their foot in the door with employers for either an internship or job? Do you have any current employees at the providers I’m considering?”

According to Toby, all of the managers had one opinion in common:

“QRC produces the most well-rounded and equipped students who are keen and eager to excel in the hospitality management industry.”

Toby came to us with a SixStar Scholarship and completed a 9-month fully paid internship at the Hilton Kawarau Village.

After Toby graduated, he went on to one of our partner institutions, the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) in Australia and completed a Bachelor of Business Management.

His career has taken him around Australasia, from the Hilton in Queenstown to the Novotel Manly Pacific in Sydney. More recently he moved home to take up the role of Rooms Division Manager at Trailways Hotel Nelson & Delorenzos and has just been promoted to MHG’s Group Yield & Revenue Manager, overseeing revenue management for three Nelson-based properties.

Toby has reflected back on what stood out to him during his time with us and said:

“I think the best part about QRC was the industry professionals they introduce you to, and the opportunities that popped up every day at the college. Industry leaders would come in for discussions, we had famils with local tourism providers and QRC’s network of tourism partners around the world for internships proved to be invaluable.

“Students are constantly put in front of industry leaders and have every opportunity to make a good impression and build relationships.  I’ve learnt in my time in management that this is much more valuable than a piece of paper with your name on it.

For all of these reasons, I think any student who wants to secure a future in the hospitality industry should choose QRC.”