Inspired by his mother, graduate begins hospitality career

Inspired by his mother's career in the tourism industry, 24-year-old Isoa Utoniika has taken his first steps into the sector after completing a travel and tourism programme at Fiji National University's (FNU) Namaka Campus.

Mr Utoniika said his mother's work as a sales representative at Wyndham Club motivated him to pursue a career in hospitality and tourism.

“I'm just following in my mum’s footsteps. She’s a sales representative at Wyndham Club, so it inspired me to take up the programme,” he said.

Watching his mother's dedication to her work gave him a firsthand understanding of the opportunities available in the industry and encouraged him to chart a similar path.

His mother was among family members celebrating his graduation and expressed pride in seeing her son follow a career inspired by her own professional journey.

Mr Utoniika said one of the biggest challenges he faced during his studies was overcoming a fear of public speaking, particularly when delivering class presentations.

“It was the first time for me to stand in front of a class during presentations, but through studying and putting in extra work, I improved,” he said.

He said support from lecturers and consistent practice helped him build confidence and develop skills that would be valuable in the workplace.

Now employed at Hilton Beach Fiji Resort, Mr Utoniika is looking forward to applying the knowledge gained during the six-month programme and building a long-term career in the tourism and hospitality industry.

“I will go and showcase what I studied during the six months of the programme,” he said.