Programme co-ordinator Nikki Lloyd said EIT had a "very high strike rate" in ensuring graduates found employment at the Level 5 Diploma Level.
"They do very well but they have to do work experience, so that often leads to paid work.
"We work quite closely with Hawke's Bay Tourism, so we get them into the classroom as guest speakers so our students have a pretty good idea of what goes on. They also take a student on work experience."
Mrs Lloyd said that was in addition to the help the tourism and hospitality department gave to the tourism organisation in providing extra staff at events like the Tremains Art Deco Festival and The Big Easy.
"Our students have to be involved in at least two events, that's part of the programme, so Hawke's Bay Tourism give us the opportunity to do that - along with other organisations."
Staff also attended Hawke's Bay Tourism's quarterly progress update.
Mrs Lloyd said this year's courses were a lot more business-orientated than in previous years.
"That came from an industry meeting we had, where we asked people what do they want. We met with the local industry and that was their feedback."
Miss Banks added this year there was also an internationally-recognised City and Guilds qualification available to students, which at present had a 90 per cent pass rate.
Former graduate Hannah Cox completed her study in 2016 when the Art Deco Trust created a new job specifically for her.
"You have to do 60 hours of volunteering on the course, so I did it with the events team at the Art Deco Trust. Then there was a job going so I put my name forward. I'm now the tours assistant but it's a new job they created just for me."
Miss Cox now handles general enquiries for shop sales on all the trust's walks and tours, along with festival ticketing and administration work too.
She now plans to gain further high level qualifications in the industry to progress her career.
"I'm starting my bachelor of business this month, majoring in marketing because I to do more general management-type stuff within the tourism industry."