WHAT WE DO

The Travel Industry Mentor Experience (TIME) is a not-for-profit company established in 2009 in Australia and 2019 in New Zealand to help ambitious, aspiring leaders of the Travel, Tourism, Cruise, Hospitality and Aviation industry accelerate their careers through mentoring.

The program operates within a structured mentoring and peer collaboration framework to deliver agreed outcomes for each participant.

The Mentor’s role to hold his or her Mentee accountable, to offer challenging ideas, new ways of thinking and to inspire, as well as building Mentee self-confidence through encouragement and constructive feedback.

TIME’s Board in Australia comprises Penny Spencer (Chair), Jo O’Brien, Oliver Tams, Dan Russell, Timo Lorenzen, Kelly Wacher, Ange Middleton, and Trish Shephard. The Board is supported by a committee of dedicated, passionate Travel Tourism Hospitality and Aviation industry representatives from New Zealand with Margaret Spiro appointed to the position of Program Manager, NZ.

Funding

Funding for TIME comes directly from partnerships and the generosity and commitment of key organisations from the travel and tourism sector.

It is supplemented by a mentoring fee of NZ$1,500 + GST for each enrolled Mentee. This fee covers the administration costs, reporting and communication processes, and events and functions directly related to the program.

Match Making

The TIME program is focused on a Mentor-Mentee relationship that is ‘Mentee-driven’. Mentors are drawn from the senior ranks of the industry, generously volunteering their time and energy to the program. They are matched to Mentees on the basis of pertinent business skills and experience that enable them to offer relevant advice and perspective.

Prior to formal program commencement, a detailed matching process is undertaken to ensure Mentor-Mentee compatibility. There is an intense focus on applicable Mentor experience and skillsets to drive Mentee goals and the aims of any sponsoring employers.

Program Structure

Once accepted based on detailed analysis of a Mentee’s Expression of Interest, the TIME program involves:

> Matching with an experienced mentor whose skillset meets the expressed goals
> A formal induction process
> Regular meetings over a six-month period (twenty-four hours of mentoring)
> Regular reviews of progress via mandatory reports
> Evaluation of program outcomes at graduation

Mentees and Mentors meet one-on-one for two hours each fortnight over a period of six months.

This is supported by regular contact with the Program Manager to ensure milestones are being met and the program is working for both parties.