Media release – February 23, 2022
New Zealand hotel management school PIHMS expands into Australia, calls on New Zealand students to fill domestic hospitality skills gap New Zealand’s iconic hotel management school based in Taranaki, Pacific International Hotel Management School (PIHMS), is expanding its student training into Australia, as part of its COVID recalibration strategy.
Despite navigating various levels of revenue and enrolment decline since COVID’s disruption to the hospitality and tourism sector, the 27-year-old private tertiary education provider believes with new offshore initiatives and international students returning, 2022-23 will be a period of steady recovery.
“PIHMS has long believed that establishing strategic alliances globally significantly reduces risk and supports long term sustainability,” says PIHMS CEO Bill McCallum. “We’re excited to announce that one of our subsidiaries iPASS Ltd is taking the PIHMS model of education to the global market, through a partnership with ERDI Group in Australia. This partnership will see a Trans-Tasman replica of our New Zealand training model, building on our longstanding relationship with the Australian hotel education industry dating back to 1995.”
Ricky Jeffs, CEO of ERDI Group, says “We sought out PIHMS as we recognise the strong educational heritage and credentials they’ve brought to New Zealand for more than 25 years. Through this strategic partnership, ERDI is passionate about the growth of the Australian hospitality industry, employee development, and the opportunity to develop future leaders in our recovering sector.”
iPASS Ltd is the vehicle that enhances the programme offering with ERDI in Australia, also enabling the provision of English language and industry training programmes. Melbourne in particular will benefit, with the city being the largest hotel market in Australia and significant new supply coming into the market.
Media Contact
Ashleigh Gilchrist
021 236 8324 ashleigh@anthem.co.nz
Available for comment
- Bill McCallum – PIHMS CEO
- Ricky Jeffs – CEO of ERDI Group
- Tim Reynolds, Chair of PIHMS Industry Advisory Board and General Manager of Copthorne Hotel Auckland City
- Brad Burnett – SKYCITY Hotels Group General Manager
- Laura Simpson – Director, Industry – Education New Zealand
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