Over 100 high school students from across Far North Queensland were given an insight into the workings of the tourism and hospitality industries at a recent Queensland Tourism Industry Roadshow at the Cairns Convention Centre.
The roadshow is part of a travelling series from Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) which commenced in 2021, to introduce ‘school leavers’ to the scope of possibilities when choosing a career in tourism.
The day’s programme at Cairns Convention Centre included a cooking class with Cairns Convention Centre executive chef David Hart, a mixology masterclass with Lyres’ non-alcohol spirits global brand ambassador Jeremy Shipley, a tourism hub with exhibitors offering career and course advice, as well as a panel discussion with industry leaders.
Benjamin Boudaud, culinary services director at the Cairns Convention Centre, said the roadshow was a great opportunity to showcase the wide variety of opportunities available in the tourism industry.
“We need to attract new talent and people to the industry as we continue to rebuild and recover and a platform such as this allows us to share our passion while giving students a better understanding of the event industry.
“This event has allowed students to see first-hand there is so much more to an event than just the food and drink – there are the uniforms, rosters, the need to keep things clean, tidy and functioning. Then there is also the relationship we have with our clients, sales and audiovisual, there is a lot to it,” he added.
