Pacific International Hotel Management School

Export Award For New Plymouth Company - Pacific International Hotel Management School

New Plymouth, May 16, 2003 -- Attracting students from all over the world and earning more than $4 million in foreign exchange last year has seen New Plymouth’s Pacific International Hotel Management School (PIHMS) win a Trade New Zealand Export Award.

(Note to editors: Media are invited to attend the presentation of the Trade New Zealand Export Award to PIHMS by the Minister of Trade Negotiations the Hon. Jim Sutton on Friday 16 May, at 12 noon, at PIHMS, Corner Henwood Road and State Highway 3, Bell Block, New Plymouth.)

PIHMS Chief Executive Officer Bill McCallum says the privately owned school has undergone outstanding year on year growth since 1997, with student numbers now in excess of 600 per annum – half of whom attend the school while the other half undertake industry training. The school offers several hotel management degree programmes and an English language certificate.

Mr McCallum says about 50% of students now come from overseas.

“We currently have students from 20 different markets from all over the world, including Russia, Europe, the USA, Asia and several African nations. While our main international markets are India, Korea and China, we have a cap of 20 students per intake from any one country to ensure a good cultural mix on campus.”

He says international student numbers have increased sharply over the past two years, with the school enjoying several advantages which are boosting its popularity in the highly competitive international education market.

“We have a financial edge, with New Zealand education reputably the cheapest in the world while at the same time providing a quality that compares with the standard of any western country. Another advantage is the Swiss type of training in hotel management we use which is recognised the world over. We also deliver qualifications that are accepted internationally.

“And of course New Zealand is not hard to sell. It’s relatively clean, green and safe compared to other countries and that’s a huge advantage in education marketing.”

PIHMS also has links with the Swiss International Hotel Tourism and Training Institute and schools in Australia and Greece, and Mr McCallum says this gives it credibility and an international flavour which students find appealing.

He says PIHMS is unique in New Zealand in that students live-in and the school is run as a fully operational hotel.

“Students are both hotel guests and supervisory and management staff, learning to operate the various departments of a hotel and to manage the different business aspects of the hospitality industry, all fully supervised by our staff.

“This combined with the paid industry employment our students undertake ensures that students are ‘work ready’ when they graduate.”

Mr McCallum says almost all students are employed in a career position either on or before graduation. He says PIHMS graduates are now working in some of the most prestigious hotels of the world and are highly sought after employees.

“Our strong growth in recent years is in essence coming from the performance of our students. This Export Award is the result of the commitment and passion of all our directors and staff who are ensuring our students have the skills, knowledge and attitudes to excel in hospitality industry management.” Trade New Zealand Account Manager Steve Jones congratulated PIHMS on winning an Export Award.

“Effective marketing in targeted countries, the quality of its programmes and the success of its graduates has seen PIHMS enjoy very strong growth in export earnings over the past several years.

“Through its innovative approach, such as the virtual-hotel environment and its early entry into emerging markets such as India, Pakistan and Russia, PIHMS has shown it is a leader in the New Zealand export education industry.”

Bill McCallum says foreign exchange earnings are expected to be $5.5 million this year.

He says the ongoing development and direction of the school will be determined by industry needs and as opportunities present themselves, with the school currently pursuing several options, including the development of a joint Masters Degree in Hospitality with Otago University. The school recently boosted its ability to increase student numbers with the addition of 30 new rooms.

The only New Plymouth company to win an Export Award this year, Mr McCallum says PIHMS is a major contributor to the Taranaki economy. It employs more than 60 staff and generates millions of dollars into the region, directly through student fees and indirectly through staff and student spending on such things as transport, food and leisure activities.

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