Experiencing the PIHMS difference from all sides – Craig Jervis

Craig Jervis has a rare 360-degree perspective on PIHMS.

He’s studied there (twice!), been part of the faculty, and employed dozens of graduates at Lasseters Centre of Entertainment – a portfolio of Alice Springs’ hospitality properties with annual revenues of more than $80 million – where he is now Chief Operating Officer.

“I’ve really had the complete PIHMS experience – and I couldn’t recommend it more. Learning, living and working in their simulated hotel environment set me up for a successful career. As a faculty member I saw first-hand the effort PIHMS puts into keeping their programmes aligned with industry and ensuring graduates are not just work-ready but have the attitude you need to succeed in this fast-paced world.”

As an employer Craig has seen the PIHMS difference pay off time and time again.

“The students that come to us from PIHMS – whether they’re on placement or graduates – stand out. It’s not just that they have skills, experience and an understanding of how it all comes together – it’s the PIHMS attitude, the courage to take opportunities, work hard and lead with passion.”

As COO of Lasseters, Craig oversees more than 500 staff and 550 rooms across multiple properties and operations including Lasseters Hotel Casino, Gapview Hotel, Todd Tavern, Diplomat Hotel, Stay at Alice Springs Hotel and the Mercure.

Craig’s career has been shaped by PIHMS, two life altering near-death experiences and a love of rugby. In the late 1990s Craig was a school student in Tauranga, planning to explore a career cooking in the military when he contracted meningitis during a rugby tour in South Africa.

“It was pretty full on,” Craig recalls. “I nearly didn’t make it. All of a sudden, the military was no longer an option, and I had to figure out something else. That’s when I discovered PIHMS at a careers expo.”

Arriving at PIHMS’ New Plymouth campus to begin the Advanced Diploma in Hotel Management (the school wasn’t running the degree programme yet) was an eyeopener.

“I thought it would all be drinks by the pool and rubbing shoulders with interesting folk. It was that, but so much more and I was hooked. You don’t waste an hour of a day there and you definitely learn a lot more than you pay for.”

PIHMS challenged Craig to think bigger and aim higher.

“I’d always seen myself working with food and I loved the hands-on learning, but it was the management component that really opened my eyes. With the encouragement of my tutors, and the PIHMS team, I had the realisation that I was leadership material – and I’d be wasting my talents if I just stayed in the kitchen.”

Craig graduated and entered the industry, but another near-death experience reshaped his career trajectory. In 2003, while on holiday in Bali with a fellow PIHMS alumnus, Craig walked out of a nightclub and into the Bali bombing terrorist attack.

“That moment made me realise life is too short. PIHMS had just launched their degree program and my mate and I’d been debating whether to go back. We were young guys who were enjoying working and earning money, but I realised I wanted more. I came back to New Zealand, resigned and re-enrolled in PIHMS’ Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management to level up my career.”

While studying at PIHMS, Craig got back into rugby, making the Taranaki training squad while playing for the reserve team (in between work, study and being the Student President of his class!). When PIHMS offered him a faculty position after graduation, he jumped at the opportunity. Working at PIHMS meant he could stay in the region with his team, progress his career and introduce a new generation of students to the world he loved.

“The industry is constantly evolving, and PIHMS makes sure its graduates are equipped with the most current skills. We constantly reviewed what top venues were doing and updated the curriculum, so students weren’t learning outdated practices.”

While Craig still loved playing rugby, his body increasingly did not. He made the tough call to hang up his boots and decided a fresh start somewhere different would help him resist the temptation to keep pushing his body.

At Lasseters, Craig’s skills and leadership were quickly recognised. He rose through the ranks, taking on bigger projects and roles, before being appointed COO in 2007. He loves the pace, the variety and the need to constantly evolve.

While Craig still loved playing rugby, his body increasingly did not. He made the tough call to hang up his boots and decided a fresh start somewhere different would help him resist the temptation to keep pushing his body.

His advice to young people?

“Don’t rush things. You won’t walk out of PIHMS and immediately be a manager, but your skills will fast-track you. Enjoy the opportunities, learn everything you can, and trust that the experience will pay off. PIHMS gives you the tools, but it’s up to you to use them.”