Katie HuTFLUSS
Getting to Know Me!
These are my largest learning experiences that I can positivly and look upon and know what my failures where as well of what I took out of those experiences.
CLUB MED
From 2015 - 2018 I had the opportunity to work and have 5 contracts with Club Med over the last few years. I have had many opportunities with this company that have really defined me and what i can do.
Club Med has been on the pioneer within the tourism industry for creating and hosting quality shows, events and is known for it is activity and family based model. Also the staff (GO's) are very much apart of the experience creation as we interact, connect and become part of the Club Med experience. I participated on stage for night time shows and also the other special events throughout the resorts.
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Childcare - Ages 4-17
I had the opportunity to work with several different age ranges of children, I lead many activities which i had the opportunities to be trained to instruct most of the sporting activities throughout the resort. I also took on the role of building animation and coordinating different events. I wrote comedy shows and was very active in my role.
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Polivalente
During slow times in the resort I was allowed to be trained in other departments to help out. It was a great experience because i was given the opportunity because it lead to my full training in sound and light operation.
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Sound and Lights
I had a bit of experience when it came to developing shows however I had a 6 month training program that they put me through where I was challenged everyday, not only coming up with new event ideas but to push my technical skills to add to the productions in the theater. I learned how to install both lighting and sound equipment in several different settings, such as the theater, beach, indoor venues for live concerts and much more. I also had to create much of my own content such as Coffee games (music and movie trivia), videos to set ambiance for cocktails and other events and i was also being trained in design and decoration for stage and other events.
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This was a great experience and learned a lot about myself and my capabilities.
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My Studies at TRU
I had the privilege of studying at Thompson Rivers University in one of the most progressive and hands-on tourism programs.
I obtained my 4 year Bachelor of Tourism Management and I fell in love with the industry in the process; however, I have an extensive background in following technology trends and I focused my final two years of the degree in digital tourism.
I was inspired by Jane McGonigal in a Ted Talk where she focused on Gamification. I started researching in new ways how people could interact with their destinations with the appeal of games and experience creation. My professors took me under their wing and let me explore more of the opportunities that are surrounding digital tourism.
I had the privilege to be coached by and befriend some of the great minds in tourism such as Kellee Caton, David Carter, Billy Collins, Rob Hood, John Hull, Robin Ried, and Anne Terwiel. These people encouraged me to press on, taught me more about the traditional parts of tourism and opened my eyes to what tourism can become.
My professors mentored me to think outside of the box and helped me develop the tools I require to take steps forward.
Once the doors were opened to the possibilities of digital interactions I had to start learning more about digital tourism and the importance of digital interactions.
The most valuable part of my education was learning the true meaning and value of collaboration. I learned by asking questions and trying new things. I spent more time outside of class picking my professors brains as they helped me dream big.
This sparked my creative side and my entrepreneurial drive. I developed a passion to move forward in this industry because I see my future within aspects of promotion, marketing, development and interaction is within tourism.
VisitTour
In the September of my last semester, I participated in a start-up weekend. I pitched one of my ideas and formed a team where we put a business plan together and tried to launch a business in 48 hours.
After our crunch weekend, my team member and I received great feedback on our business idea. We were later accepted into a venture acceleration program at the Kamloops Innovation centre. This presented the opportunity for my new business partner and I to try to get our business up and running.
The premise of the business was to take print materials out of the equation and start connecting people with their mobile devices. We wanted people to connect with the place and start exploring a city again. We not only had a basic information side to our program but a whole interactive component that allowed us to include a gamified way to explore a place as well.
We worked hard until December. Having completed my degree, I started dedicating more time to the project in January.
Unfortunately, our funds were getting smaller and we had no money coming in. We also realized that we were missing many needed skills. We got as far as we could when it came to our technology side; however, the quality of the product just wasn't at a level that we wanted to deliver.
We still believe the interaction for mobile optimization is an essential development that needs to happen in tourism. My business partner and I still collaborate on our business plan and for future ideas of Visitour.
This project was one of my largest learning curves and really exposed many of my passions to myself.
If I had to sum up the experience in my top learning points:
1. Networking and taking the extra time to get feedback is essential
2. Recognizing what I don’t know and going out and learning to know as much as possible
3. Know your exit strategy
4. Just go for it (All in!!)
Activist
The LGBT Movement on TRU Campus and in Kamloops!
It all started not by choice but it became something I fell into the role of naturally.
My friend and I talked about how cool it would be to march around Kamloops with some friends and promote LGBT rights and show that there is a presence in Kamloops.
We started talking to friends and then made a Facebook group.
Little did we know that the next morning we looked at the page and it went viral throughout the University.
So we went with it and before we knew it we were planning the first pride parade in the city of Kamloops and the first one at TRU!
My friend became the head of the marketing and she was the face of the event, while I took charge of the logistics. I made sure that everything was set up and ready to work smoothly.
The route was planned around campus and out turnout was unbelievable! In less than 2 weeks we had over 400 people show up to be a part of the day. It was a great moment when we saw the support of our peers and our professors.
We had many articles published around town and we were featured on CBC.
Right before the first Kamloops Pride Parade, I was elected as Director-at-Large on the TRU Student’s Union with the main objective of obtaining an LGBTQ representative/ collective.
With the high numbers of the Pride Parade, I knew I had a cause that I could also win!
Over the summer and the following year, I worked hard at setting the groundwork for the Collective and creating opportunities for LGBTQ students on campus. I was not only elected to the new position and had the collective approved at the AGM, it was one of the highest turnouts for an AGM for the University and it was a unanimous vote on the position.
After that was passed, I started planning the next Pride Parade; however, this time I was alone planning it. The second year was a success with over 400 -500 people in attendance. It was bigger and there were more opportunities available for students to become aware. The new LGBTQ Pride Collective representative was launched, and I passed the torch on.
Basic human rights is a part of me that I’m very passionate about—not only for LGBT but for women and other minorities.
People are people and we can achieve more if we work together.
Katimavik Experience
After my first year of university, I had no Idea what I wanted to do. I can say this honestly.
I applied in 2008 for the Katimavik program, and I started my journey on October 15th
This experience provided the building blocks started needed to learn about myself, what I could do, and who I could be.
The Locations and placements
1. Jonquière, QC
Les Petits Poussins
2. Castlegar, BC
Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre
3. Peace River, AB
Community Services for the Town of Peace River
Each job gave me new skills and opportunities to develop previous skills.
In Jonquiere, I started to learn French by working in the daycare and working in the kitchen. It also taught me to be adaptable. The language barrier was hard but I learned other ways to communicate, receive instruction, and have a fully rounded workplace.
In Castlegar, I was given much responsibility and it allowed me to learn more about planning, business development and support. I also learned much about the visitor centre and learning about the tourism industry and much of the statistics and the marketing approach. I worked closely with the office staff organizing as well as putting together information packages and brochures for the city of Castlegar. This is where I was first introduced to my desire to become educated in the tourism industry.
In Peace River, I had so many opportunities. I got to work and help out and working community planning and I got to take on much of the youth and engagement of youth.
I lead a group of students from middle school and high school in putting short video's together. They were presented at the Regional Youth Conference.
I also helped out with much of the planning for the Regional Youth Conference and it was a blast.
Katimavik gave me many opportunities to develop my skills through my experiences; however, I learned even more from the people I lived with. I took on many roles and every day was an adventure. I learned about my country and the people; I was put in situations that I wouldn't have ever been faced with if it wasn't for that experience; I learned who I wanted to be, and, above all things, I learned who I was and what I could do.
By the end I was independent, motivated, passionate about learning, and I started to believe that the sky was the limit.
