Travel & tourism http:// www. nrc. ac. uk Best Travel & Tourism Student Student Profile: Karen Kerr Karen commenced her Travel and Tourism studies at NRC, Ballymena in September 2007 undertaking the National Diploma Travel and Tourism. Karen successfully completed her course in June 2009 achieving excellent results. During her time at Ballymena, Karen completed valuable industry work experience placements - with Easyjet in year 1 of her programme and with Menzies Aviation, the ground handling agent for Aer Lingus in year 2 - both at Belfast International Airport. Karen received glowing reports and was delighted to be offered part- time and summer employment while she finished her studies. Throughout her National Diploma programme, Karen's interests mainly lay within the airline/ airport sector of the Travel and Tourism industry and in addition to her full- time National Diploma programme, Karen successfully completed four highly commended airline and airport awards which are indeed unique to the Travel and Tourism curriculum at Ballymena campus. Karen was awarded " Certificate in Airline and Airport Customer Care", " Certificate in Airline and Airport Passenger Service Agent Skills", " Certificate in Setting Up A Tourism Business" and " Certificate in Air Cabin Crew Operations". In May 2009, Karen's commitment to her Airline and Airport studies was rewarded with her being presented with " Airline and Airport Prize for Endeavour" at NRC, Ballymena by Head of Faculty, Sam Bell, Head of School, Adrian Mc Neice, Airline Course Manager, Karen McLeod and Deborah Matchett, Head of Public Relations at Belfast International Airport. Karen is now continuing her education at the University of Ulster, Coleraine - studying for Bsc International Travel and Tourism Management and continues to check in N. Ireland's outbound jetsetters at Belfast International Airport!! Well done Karen. Travel & Tourism High Achiever Award Student Profile: Kim Kinnaird Kim completed her BTEC National Diploma in Travel and Tourism in June 2009 gaining straight distinctions ( DDD) on completion of her qualification. Kim achieved the highest overall point score from within Travel and Tourism at Coleraine campus last year. During her 2 years at NRC Kim was also heavily involved in a range of course related projects and events. She raised a substantial amount of money for charity and supported her classes mini- enterprise project by becoming the top sales person in her group. Kim applied to the University of Ulster and successfully gained a place on a BSc ( Hons) Degree in International Travel and Tourism Management which she is currently following. This award aims to recognise her enthusiasm, dedication, commitment and achievement whilst she was a student at NRC. Student Profile: Sarah Gillen and Claire Carnwath Sarah Gillen and Claire Carnwath are just two of the success stories from the BTEC National Diploma in Travel and Tourism at NRC Antrim Campus. They have both secured jobs within the local industry with The Cooperative Travel in Antrim Sarah comments " no two days are the same and I meet new people every day. I really enjoyed my time studying travel and tourism in Antrim I feel that this has played a valuable role in helping me secure a job with The Cooperative Travel. The tutors were extremely helpful and offered me valuable support and guidance through out my time at Antrim Campus. It was a very rewarding and memorable experience'. Claire has had previous experience of working at Belfast International Airport as a Passenger Service Agent. Claire said ' The Cooperative is a great company to work for - you are provided with all the training and guidance necessary to provide the customer with the best holiday and best deals. Our customers are very important to us. It is a great challenge to provide them with the perfect holiday'. FACULTY 4

Warm Welcome Guaranteed from NRC Travel & Tourism Students Coleraine campus NRC Students on the full- time BTEC Travel & Tourism courses have just completed Welcome Host training as part of the Welcome to Excellence suite of customer training programmes. Training was delivered by Travel & Tourism lecturer, Wendy Gallagher and other NRC staff. The programme certified by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board gives the students another industry standard qualification geared to promoting excellent service skills and maximizing the visitor experience to Northern Ireland. Course Co- ordinator Richard Hasson said, " Learning about standards in customer care is vital for our students and provides them with an industry recognised qualification designed especially for those considering careers in the service industries. Customer service skills have been identified as a critical success factor for the visitor experience here in Northern Ireland. " First Class Airline provision offered locally at NRC 42 high flying students successfully gained their ' Certificate in Airline and Airport Customer Care' and ' Certificate in Airline and Airport Cabin Crew Operations' at the Northern Regional College, Ballymena Campus. These very successful courses are the only of their kind in Northern Ireland and due to the expansion of the airline industry at Belfast International Airport, Derry City Airport and George Best City Airport the College is best situated for offering these courses to the local community. Students were presented with their certificates by Deborah Matchett Public Relations Executive at Belfast International Airport and Karen McLeod, Airline and Airport Course Manager for Travel and Tourism at NRC. 21 Year One BTEC National Diploma Students in Coleraine have produced a fabulous set of postcard prints to sell as fundraising for there upcoming Travel and Tourism trip. This pack contains four postcards featuring landscapes from the Northern Regional College areas. These sets can be purchased from Coleraine Campus and include stunning shots by Northlight photography. Loughshore Park © Northlight Photographic Lough Neagh © Northlight Photographic Black Rock © Northlight Photographic Giants Causeway © Northlight Photographic Postcard Collection Pack contains four postcards featuring landscapes from the Northern Regional College area. Produced by Year One BTEC National Diploma Travel and Tourism students, Northern Regional College - Coleraine. Photographs courtesy of Northlight Photographic. FOR SALE £ 3.00 per pack Limited edition prints are available - T: 028 9065 4555 E: northlight@ btinternet. com Design: Rodney Miller Associates, Belfast