Crown Institute and Function Staff Team Up for Students!

Crown Institute and Function Staff Team Up for Students!

Skills and experience are now essential for even entry-level employment in the contemporary hospitality industry. This can be a huge obstacle to young people who have just completed a qualification and are looking for work.

Crown Institute’s management and tutors believe it’s important to offer work experience to students who are willing to put in the effort required.

Crown works closely with Function Staff. Function Staff is recognised as New Zealand’s most outgoing and dynamic staffing source for event and promotional requirements.

Function Staff was chosen to work with rugby event organisers to ensure a true New Zealand hospitality experience for customers throughout the tournament.

Function Staff teamed up with Crown Institute of Studies to enhance service delivery and customer comfort and to ensure that customer expectations were exceeded at every event.

Students from Crown worked at the rugby tournament from the pool games to the finals. From liquor managers to waiters, they were given a once in a lifetime opportunity to work at an international event. Students gained fantastic work experience and skills to add to their CVs.

Here are some of the experiences our students had:

I worked for Function Staff at all the tournament’s Eden Park matches. At first I was a little afraid of working there because I thought I wasn't skilled or experienced enough. But the staff were really friendly and they helped me a lot. On the first day I worked as a kitchen hand but with my liquor controller qualification that I gained from studying at Crown Institute of Studies, I was promoted to work as a Liquor Monitor/General Manager.
Sara Hong – National Diploma in Hospitality Management graduate

During the rugby tournament I was absolutely delighted to be given the opportunity to work for Function Staff as a Corporate Box Host at Eden Park! It was an amazing opportunity to be a part of history and I was always proud to put on my neatly ironed shirt, tie, pants, apron and polished black leather shoes for each game at Eden Park, and host a box.

Every game was different and I enjoyed them all. I learnt so much from working in the corporate boxes; like the importance of appearance and delivering good customer service to keep the clients manahau (happy). My hospitality skills have definitely improved through this experience.

Serving drinks and canapés and being able to look over my shoulder towards the booming roars of the crowd and look down at the stadium scattered with rugby players was pretty awesome I must say! Meeting some former All Blacks like John Kirwan was another highlight.

I met lots of people during my work at the tournament, from celebrity clients in my box (Martin Henderson, to name just one) to the fantastic people I worked with. Though sometimes it felt like the nights were long and for sure it got tiring, looking back I had so much fun and I enjoyed my work experience. It was all worth it; every second.

Thank you Function staff and Crown for an experience like no other.

Leilani Steffany – Crown Certificate in International Travel, Tourism & Airline Studies graduate

During the recent rugby tournament, I had the important role of looking after clients in a corporate box. Throughout all the games that were played at Eden Park I was the Head Steward.

During the opening game I looked after the Maori King, Tuheitia Paki, and his wife, along with politicians and people from some of New Zealand’s biggest companies. One of my favourite memories would have to be how well our Maori culture was showcased. The reo (language), karanga (welcome call), haka and the performance as a whole was breath taking.

My favourite game was Ireland versus Australia. The atmosphere that the Irish fans brought was just spectacular. They were loud and the chants that went off echoed throughout the stadium.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the tournament and everything I experienced. All the staff that I worked with were outstanding, making work as easy and fun as possible.

Paula Low – Crown Certificate in International Hospitality (Food & Beverage Service) student

Crown Institute of Studies is enrolling now for hospitality, travel and tourism, and business courses starting in 2012. Contact the institute on 0800 357 316 or info@crown.ac.nz for more information.

ENDS

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