Conor Gawith’s dreams of running a fivestar international hotel are coming a step closer.
Conor, 18, who boards at St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton, is the only one of three Australasian students to have gained a $AUS34,000 hotel management study scholarship in Adelaide.
He is the only New Zealander to have been selected to study at the exclusive International College of Hotel Management in Australia next year.
St Paul’s Collegiate School headmaster Grant Lander said Conor was extremely deserving of the scholarship.
He had shown a real passion for working in the tourism and hotel management industry and had completed his NCEA Level 3 Tourism with ‘‘exceptionally high’’ marks, Mr Lander said.
Conor said he is really excited at gaining the scholarship, which covers the four years he will be studying for a double major in hotel management and business management.
During this time he will also need to complete six months of paid work experience in a hotel setting – anywhere in the world.
Tourism and hospitality has been Conor’s passion since he was young, travelling regularly between Taumarunui and Sydney with parents Jenny and Terry.
‘‘I’ve stayed at lots of hotels and always loved the look of them and how everything works in front and behind the scenes.
‘‘I’ve always loved the luxury of staying in hotels – it’s always been a dream of mine to run a five-star hotel,’’ he said.
Conor said the biggest challenge he faces is how he will deal with missing his close mates from Taumarunui: ‘‘I am really reliant on them 24/7 and I know I will miss them a lot’’.
