Latest News & Blog Posts

YTN’s Advocacy Journey: Changing the tourism industry over time
As Victoria’s leading organisation representing young voices in tourism, the Young Tourism Network (YTN) places a strong emphasis on advocacy as a core aspect of our mission. We are dedicated to championing a tourism, events, and hospitality industry that resonates with the values of young people. YTN’s Advocacy Journey to Date (June 2023): 2019 –…

The Next Generation of Tourism & Hospitality: A Regenerative Tourism Approach
By Lexi Connors – 2023 YTN Committee member In March this year, Regeneration Projects and the Young Tourism Network (YTN) united again to host Anna Pollock, an international pioneer of regenerative tourism. With over forty years experience, Pollock is a researcher, strategist and consultant who calls for a transformation of the tourism and hospitality industries….

What’s on the Horizon for Victoria’s Visitor Economy? A Reflection on 2023 VTIC Summit
By Emanuel Limbongan – 2023 YTN Committee member One thing I loved about the 2023 VTIC Vision Summit is the way this summit provides a vision not only for the years ahead but also reflects on our resilience in the years that have passed (I mean, the food was good as well). It all starts…

Young Tourism Network Workplaces Report 2022
The 2022 Workplaces Report is out! This research calls for decision-makers to embrace young people’s perspectives in shaping Victoria’s tourism future. Overview Ever since the release of the 2021 Young People in Tourism report, we felt that we couldn’t just comply with the status quo of how Young People engage in the Visitor Economy and…

Young Voices in Tourism Workplaces Survey
We’re kickstarting a new wave of research! Ever since we released the 2021 Young Voices in Tourism report we’ve been on a journey. At a pivotal moment in history, it helped to spotlight and elevate the perceptions of young people towards careers in tourism, events and hospitality. Frustrations, anxiety and hopes were all shared. 🫱🏾🫲🏼…

Young Voices in Tourism Launchpad Program
🥁 Drumroll please…we are so thrilled to announce that our latest program ‘Launchpad’ is now open for expressions of interest! Ever since we released the 2021 Young Voices in Tourism report we’ve been on a journey. At a pivotal moment in history, it helped to spotlight and elevate the perceptions of young people towards careers…

Future Tourism Leaders Wellbeing Program
Young people in tourism have experienced a rapid loss of confidence, hope, and engagement as a result of the pandemic. This is why a few months ago, the YTN Committee embarked in a new journey focusing on well-being. Young people are key to the ongoing success and resilience of tourism businesses and this project aims…

Trusted Advisor Program 2022
The Young Tourism Network (YTN) is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in 2005 with the aim of providing students and young professionals the opportunity to learn and grow through networking opportunities and professional development programs, gaining valuable knowledge and building strong relationships across the broader industry. YTN’s Trusted Advisor Program started in 2017 and…

“Pave Your Path”: An inspired evening reminds us of the deeper meaning behind our industry
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the overwhelming sentiment of the evening expressed that the travel and tourism industry is the core to wellbeing, meaningful experiences and entertainment. Melbourne, VIC – Young professionals and industry leaders alike gathered May 16 at the European Bier Cafe on Melbourne’s once-again-bustling Bourke Street to join the Young Tourism Network at our first…

Trusted Advisor Program 2021 – It’s a wrap!
The Trusted Advisors Program 2021 ran from August to October 2021 during which industry professionals were partnered with students and new entrants to the industry for 3 months of advising, guiding, leading and learning. After 2020 being an immensely turbulent year for tourism in Victoria, there was a strong need to connect emerging professionals with…

What’s ahead for travel and tourism and what that means for new tourism professionals?
Students and professionals joined YTN on Wednesday 18 July 2021 to hear three speakers respond to “The Big Question”— Will tourism return to how it was before the pandemic or has it been forever disrupted? The event’s speakers offered insights to changes, challenges and future outlooks from three different perspectives from within the industry: entrepreneurial/tour…

Young Voices in Tourism Report highlights need for rethink on engaging young people in tourism sector.
A report released today by Young Tourism Network and Regeneration Projects has highlighted that young people felt they experienced significantly worse outcomes through 2020 compared to others in the tourism, hospitality and events industry. This has led to young people being more likely to dissuade someone from working in the visitor economy, rather than recommending…

Trusted Advisor Program 2021
The Young Tourism Network (YTN) is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in 2005 with the aim to provide students and young professionals the opportunity to learn and grow through networking opportunities and professional development programs, gaining valuable knowledge and building strong relationships across the broader industry. YTN’s Trusted Advisor Program started in 2017 and…

Adapting to the Year 2020 – A Story of Resilience, Determination and Collaboration – Part 2
The student perspective Written by Maddie Stephen (Tourism Student at William Angliss) I have always, well, for as long as I can remember, had a passion for food and travel. During high school my favourite subjects always included anything to do with food, so when I was able to attend classes at William Angliss as…

Adapting to the Year 2020 – A Story of Resilience, Determination and Collaboration – Part 1
The teacher perspective Written by Jess Derham (Tourism Lecturer at William Angliss) I still remember the first tutorial I ever took, the first class that I stepped into. I was so nervous, it was 2005, I was 22, completing my Honours Degree in Tourism Management at Latrobe University. I got such an exciting feeling when…

Chit Chat Series: Ashleigh Romanjuk
First thing’s first: to help our readers get to know you. What did you study at uni? What were some of your past roles? I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. There were a few things I was interested in, but nothing that made me want to go to…

Chit Chat Series: Jess Derham
Tell our readers a bit about your background. Where are you from? What did you study? Did you always want to become an educator? I started my Tourism journey back in 2001, completing my Advanced Diploma of Tourism Management at William Angliss Institute. I loved everything about the Tourism Industry growing up and would often…

Chit Chat Series: Michelle Dall’Ava
First thing’s first: to help our readers get to know you, tell us a bit about yourself and your career journey so far. What/where did you study? Did you always want to go into tourism and events marketing or is that something you fell into? I was born and grew up in a small town…

Chit Chat Series: Caroline Vézeau
First thing’s first: to help our readers get to know you, tell us a bit about yourself and your career journey so far. What/where did you study? Did you always want to go into tourism and events or is that something you fell into? I’ve always been jealous of those people who knew what they…

Chit Chat Series: Hugh Fitzpatrick
First thing’s first: to help our readers get to know you, tell us a bit about yourself and your career journey so far. What/where did you study? Did you always want to go into tourism and events marketing or is that something you fell into? I definitely didn’t know I always wanted to work in…