Anzelle Vorstman is a Tourism Management student at the North West University who represented South Africa at IMEX Frankfurt when she won first place in the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum International University Challenge.
Anzelle plans to pursue a career in the tourism and hospitality industry, stating that planning, organising and creating are her life. “I want to put smiles on tourists and clients faces by supplying them the perfect tourism product and unique service,” she adds.
What do you think helped you obtain first prize in the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum International University Challenge?
My concept “artistic as meeting professionals” focused on young meeting and event professionals or planners to help them inspire creativity, initiate innovation, provide educational activities and create networking opportunities. The aim of the concept is therefore to take meeting and event professionals to the next creative and artistic level. So, my winning concept was set for an accurate target market (students, meeting professionals and event planners) and it is always necessary to think creative but artistic in order to satisfy the client’s needs.
What would be your dream job?
From a young age I always wanted to become a wedding planner with my own unique venue. I want to be the one who calms the bride, does crisis management and keeps mother-in-law’s glass of wine filled. After competing in IMEX International University Challenge and engaging with industry professionals, my whole perspective of the tourism and meeting industry had changed. I would still want to be a wedding planner, but a destination event planner also sounds very exciting.
In your experience in this industry so far, what has been the most valuable piece of knowledge you have gained?
My experience in this industry has gained plenty over the past years. I have learnt something from each sector of the tourism industry I have worked in – from guesthouses to catering. I believe the most valuable piece of knowledge I have gained was at Ons Dorphuis Guesthouse in Rustenburg when the manager Alna van der Walt said “when it’s not written, it’s not done.” This is her motto for the guesthouse and each employee. When you make sure everything is written, planned and filed, faults and misunderstandings can be avoided.
Where did your passion for tourism originate from?
Our family loves celebrating and on every possible occasion, we cook, decorate and entertain. As the youngest female of the family I always made it my duty to set the table. After a while I would invite my friends over and we would do themed nights hosted by yours truly. I guess my planning and events skills came from this part of my life.
Is there anything you would like to add?
My dream for young individuals in the tourism and meeting industry is to inspire them to never give up on their dreams. I always say if your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough – so dream bigger.
