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AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL HOTEL SCHOOL
PRESS RELEASE - 4th September, 2008



AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL HOTEL SCHOOL STUDENTS
WIN GREAT TOURISM DEBATE FOR SECOND TIME

In a spirited and entertaining exchange of views for the Great Tourism Debate 2008 hosted this morning at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) Reid campus, students from the Australian International Hotel School (AIHS) defeated the proposition that “Canberra will never be a major tourism destination” argued by the team from the University of Canberra (UC).

The verdict of the judges Mr Chris Peters, CEO, ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Todd Wright, Director, Threesides Marketing, Mr Alex Ananian-Cooper, Manager Aviation and Environment for Capital Airport Group, awarded victory to the Australian International Hotel School team. Mr Joseph Griffiths, Executive Director and Chairman of the Tourism Industry Council, organised the event. 

This is AIHS’ second victory in these Great Tourism debates, having defeated CIT in 2006.

The AIHS team members were third year students, Ms Simone Zappe, Ms Dixie Addison-Rolfe and Mr Matt Carnell, son of the former ACT Chief Minister Ms Kate Carnell. The AIHS debating coach was lecturer and graduate Mr Thomas Koruth.

The AIHS team scored Canberra highly for its quality of life and its unique attractions and asserted the view that one should ‘never say never’ with many historic examples of failed negative predictions.
The University of Canberra team, Mr Stephen Williams, Ms Caitlin Reid and Ms Teone Nutt claimed that Canberra lacked the three essential ingredients of sand, surf and sun and the major infrastructure to be a ‘major tourism destination’.
“I am extremely proud of our team’s effort,” says Mr Steve Tucker, Principal of the Australian International Hotel School (AIHS), “They represent the standard of excellence that we strive to achieve with all of our students and their performance clearly shows their depth of understanding of the broader world of tourism. It would be fair to say that their victory vindicates their choice of career path in our industry!”

Mr Tucker concedes that “the UC students had a really tough position to defend. All of us who live and work in Canberra, particularly in the hospitality and tourism industry, know the potential of this city and all it has to offer.”

The AIHS also operates the four-star boutique heritage Hotel Kurrajong on-site which also serves as a live training facility for all AIHS students under the supervision of professional hotel staff.

The Australian International Hotel School is excited to announce a new suite of undergraduate programs for 2009: a Bachelor of Business (International Hotel Management) and a Bachelor of Business (International Event Management) both quality endorsed by its strategic partner The University of Queensland. For more information please visit www.aihs.edu.au

Photo caption: Proud winners of the Great Tourism 2008 Debate Trophy (L-R):
Debating coach Mr Thomas Koruth, AIHS students and debaters Mr Matt Carnell,
Ms Dixie Addison-Rolfe, Ms Simone Zappe and team reserve/assistant Mr Ajay Hundal.