Air New Zealand grounds 777 fleet until September 2021

Air New Zealand has grounded its Boeing 777 fleet until at least September 2021 due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19.

In May the airline grounded the majority of its seven 777-300 aircraft until the end of the 2020 calendar year. At the same time the company also signalled it was unlikely to fly its eight 777-200 aircraft in the foreseeable future and began preparing to send these into long term storage overseas.

Four of Air New Zealand’s 777-300 aircraft will be stored in Victorville in the Californian desert, while the remaining three will stay in Auckland where they are able to be returned to service if required. The airline’s 777-200 aircraft will be sent to long-term storage facilities in both Roswell, New Mexico and Victorville, California from later this month.

The North American locations were chosen for their arid conditions and existing storage facilities which will ensure aircraft are kept in a condition that will enable them to be returned to service within six to eight weeks if required.

Air New Zealand Chief Operating Officer Carrie Hurihanganui says the recovery of the airline’s international network post-COVID-19 is now looking to be slower than initially thought.

“The recent resurgence of cases in New Zealand is a reminder that this is a highly volatile situation. We are not anticipating a return to any 777 flying until September 2021 at the earliest, which is why we have made the decision to ground the fleet until at least this time next year.

The 777s are the largest aircraft in Air New Zealand’s fleet and have operated the majority of the airline’s long haul routes over the past 15 years. The airline’s international schedule will be operated by the more fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, along with A320s and A320/21neos for trans-Tasman and Pacific Island routes.

One of Air New Zealand’s 777-200 aircraft, ZK-OKG, parked up in Auckland. Click here to download a hi-res copy of the image

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Issued by Air New Zealand Communications.

Email: media@airnz.co.nz  │  Phone: +64 21 747 320  │  Twitter: @AirNZMedia

Holiday Inn Express supports community – embraces Winter Pride

Queenstown’s Holiday Inn Express & Suites has only been open seven weeks, but has jumped ‘boots and all’ into community events.

This week its proud sponsor of the Winter Pride On-Mountain Series, an explosion of colour across three mountains incorporating the famous Onesie Day, Ski Charity Race Day and the Pride Ski Flag Parade.

Holiday Inn Express signed up to support Winter Pride nearly a year ago, with the hotel only half-way to completion at the time.

Fast-forward to this week and the Holiday Inn Express team has been on the snow, celebrating some of the best spring skiing in years and having fun with LGBTTIA+ visitors from all around New Zealand.

Hotel General Manager Jason Sabin says he and his team have been “beaming ear to ear” all week.

“It’s been great to see the return of Aucklanders and the rest of New Zealand to their favourite fun destination,” he says.

“Yes we’re operating under Level 2 and yes it would have been great to welcome Australian visitors too, but Martin and his Winter Pride organisers and volunteers have done an amazing job.

“The icing on the cake for him and us was the amazing snowfalls and cold temperatures we’ve had in the last few days.

“The skiing and snowboarding has been outstanding, thanks to Coronet Peak, Cardrona and The Remarkables. A highlight for us was supporting the Ski Charity Race which raises funds for the Wakatipu Youth Trust, a not-for-profit working alongside young people in Queenstown.

“We’ve loved every minute and will definitely be back next year!”

Winter Pride festival director Martin King says that in these extraordinary times, support for the festival is “critical” to its survival.

“Holiday Inn Express has been super-engaged and supportive, and them staying with us and standing up for the event at this time has been vital,” he says.

With snow coating the mountains and a brand-new hotel ready and waiting, the timing’s perfect to check out opening special deals still available throughout September and the school holidays (September 26 to October 11).

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown is a 227-room hotel on the corner of Stanley and Sydney Streets, just a short stroll from the resort town’s vibrant centre.

The hotel’s room offering includes spacious suites – a Holiday Inn Express ‘first’ in New Zealand and Australia – in addition to superior rooms with breath taking views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range.

It has a warm, stylish vibe, complete with an outdoor lounge with firepit. It’s also equipped with the smart, simple rooms and in-room features that leisure and business travellers have come to know and love.

The hotel delivers on features the Holiday Inn Express brand has become renowned for including an Express Start breakfast, power showers, black-out blinds, high-quality bedding with a choice of pillows and uncapped Wi-Fi.

There’s also a fitness room, sauna, two flexible meeting rooms, self-serve laundry, dry room, onsite parking and a free business centre.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown is the first and only hotel under the Holiday Inn Express brand in New Zealand to date.

For further media information please contact:

Fiona Woodham

Southern PR

M: 0274 313 270

E: Fiona@southernpr.co.nz

TECNZ pleased industry has been heard, but consistency needed

The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand (TECNZ) is pleased the Government has listened to the industry and will offer loans to 26 Inbound Tour Operators (ITOs) from the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme.

“The confirmation that the Government will offer loans to 26 ITOs, rather than the initial number of 10 ITOs proposed, and on better conditions than was originally discussed, is pleasing, and will allow these businesses to remain operational,” says Chief Executive Lynda Keene.

“We have been urging the Government to widen the scope of its funding for ITOs, so we are grateful there has been some change from the original proposal.

“We see these loans as being an investment in the future of securing New Zealand’s $17 billion international tourism export earnings when the New Zealand border reopens. However, it is likely, not all inbound operators will take up the offer, because they currently have no income coming in.

“We will continue to advocate for ITOs to be offered grants, or alternative funding mechanisms over the upcoming months to help them keep their businesses afloat. This will ensure inbound tourism operators are treated the same way as other parts of the sector. That way the entire tourism sector will be on the same footing, and able to work together in planning for the future.

“ITOs are a crucial part of the tourism sector. Their role is to feed the tourism eco-system and connect international visitors with local companies. These operators hold valuable commercial business to business relationships with offshore tour wholesalers that will be critical for the recovery of the wider sector in the future.”

Pre-COVID, 55% of all international visitors were booked through trade (offshore) and Inbound Tour Operators in New Zealand. This equates to $9.4 billion of the $17.2 billion that international tourism export receipts earned for the New Zealand economy.

“A New Zealand tourism industry without ITOs would be at a huge disadvantage when borders re-open. High value visitors rely on reputable companies with a long track record in the industry. Having the opportunity to keep some of these companies in business is a step forward. Now we need to work together to ensure New Zealand is ready to welcome visitors once again to support our broader economy,” says Ms Keene.

About TECNZ

The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand (TECNZ) is a trade association that represents the interests of the inbound tourism industry since 1971. Its membership includes inbound tour operators (Inbound Members) and attraction, activity, accommodation, transport suppliers, regional tourism organisations and tourism services providers (Allied Members).

TECNZ members collectively handle most of New Zealand’s international visitor arrivals. www.tourismexportcouncil.org.nz.

ENDS

Fiordland locals encouraged to ‘Host A Holiday’ for friends and family

Fiordland has come up with a unique initiative encouraging locals to invite their friends and family into town, just in time for the September school holidays.

Businesses have jumped at the opportunity to be part of ‘Host A Holiday’, providing locals with something free-of-charge if they bring full paying out-of-towners to their business.

Te Anau owner-operator Christine Wallace from Fiordland Outdoors Company, says getting locals out to experience what Fiordland has to offer, and bring all their friends, is a real win for businesses.

“Word of mouth can be very powerful and we’ve got a lot to see and do in Fiordland, still at a really affordable price.”

Christine’s business, which provides guided tours in Fiordland including water transport for the Milford and Kepler tracks, is one of 17 businesses taking part in the initiative including fellow tourism operators, restaurants, cafes, accommodation providers and even the local cinema.

“We want this community to get back on its feet and help itself. If we all work together it’s amazing what we can do, especially given what we’ve been through.

“We’ve got to keep coming up with these unique ideas because we’re in competition with every corner of New Zealand at the moment and we’re putting up our hand and saying ‘here, pick Fiordland for your next holiday’.”

Christine hopes the initiative will have a flow on effect following the school holidays, providing an opportunity to bring old friends and family together in Fiordland all year round.

As a town which relies heavily on tourism, Fiordland has taken a big hit, first with the floods in February this year followed by Covid-19.

Destination Fiordland General Manager Madeleine Peacock says she’s confident the initiative will give this resilient area another boost.

“It’s all about getting in behind our hometowns, we know why Te Anau Fiordland are special. There’s never been a better time for locals to get out and about in their own backyards and we’re asking them to encourage friends from all around New Zealand to get down here while they can have the place to themselves!

“The scenery, the activities, our great food and accommodation and superb locals welcome have never changed, but with borders still closed there’s never been a better time to explore.

“Bring Mum, Dad, the kids and grandparents, we promise they’ll have a superb time.”

Although locals are being invited to ‘host’ their friends and family, it doesn’t mean they have to stay with them. Visitors are being encouraged to stay with local accommodation providers while in the area.

Locals taking part need to provide proof of residence within the Te Anau Basin, Manapouri or Milford Sound regions and are also being asked to write a review, blog or social media post about the business, to help keep the momentum going.

Business providers include Sandfly Café, Fiordland Outdoors Co, Real Journeys, Cruise Milford, Fiordland Jet, Southern Lakes Helicopters, Habit Foods – Bao Now, Southern Discoveries, Fiordland Cinema, Trips and Tramps, Fiordland Helicopters, Redcliff Café, Faith in Fiordland, Go Orange, The Cinema Suites, Cruise Te Anau and Wings and Water- Fiordland Seaplane.

Terms and conditions will apply and may vary between operators. Free trips will be subject to availability and not in conjunction with other offers. Free offers will vary between providers and will depend on the number of visitors locals bring through the doors.

For high res photos and more media information please contact:

Mandy Cooper

Southern PR

M: 0273377907

E: Mandy@southerpr.co.nz

This year Shotover Canyon Swing is going ‘full swing’ in an event on the 17th September 2020 to raise funds for St John Ambulance and raise awareness for mental health.

This is an exciting action-packed event that will see Jason Medina aim to break new records as he swings as many times as possible in a day to raise money and awareness for a good cause. What started as a spitball idea grew to the ambitious goal of raising $50,000 and completing up to 100 Canyon Swings by Medina himself.

To assist with reaching the goal of $50,000 Jason and the team at Shotover Canyon Swing are looking for a business and individuals to jump on board and sponsor each of his jumps.

Your sponsorship toward the event will assist St John in the Central Otago community. Every day our mission is to deliver the right care at the right time for New Zealander’s but doing that needs more than ambulances and highly trained ambulance officers. It needs the help and support of people like you.

You, and people like you, make it possible for us to deliver Emergency Ambulance Services to New Zealand, but also
deliver many other programmes that benefit our Kiwi communities; like Caring Caller, St John Youth Friends of the
Emergency Department, Hospital Friends and more.

Without donors like you we simply would not be able to help as many people as we do. We hope that you would like to get behind this event and see your sponsorship as being as important to our work as the paramedics themselves.

Becoming a sponsor is simple. Go to www.canyonswing.co.nz/fundraiser and fill in the sponsorship form – that’s it!
If you would like more information please contact salmon@canyonswing.co.nz.

Salmon
Sales Manager
salmon@canyonswing.co.nz
027 293 0045

Sarah Bloxham
St John Area Executive Officer
sarah.bloxham@stjohn.org.nz
027 704 8670

Heli Glenorchy acquires Heliworks Queenstown – builds on brand for future

Heli Glenorchy, owned by Action Helicopters Limited and one of the Southern Lakes’ top scenic helicopter companies, has announced the acquisition of Heliworks Queenstown.

Heli Glenorchy director and chief pilot Nick Nicholson and co-director and maintenance controller Blair Christmas said they were proud and delighted to announce the move, which comes into effect today (Tuesday 1 September 2020).

Heliworks Queenstown was founded by the legendary Sir Richard (Hannibal) Hayes, who is renowned for extraordinary feats of search and rescue in New Zealand’s Southern Alps.

Meanwhile Heli Glenorchy’s Nick Nicholson grew up in Te Anau and has spent the majority of his flying career in the mountains of Fiordland, the Southern Lakes region and Alaska, including invaluable time spent working for Sir Richard.

Nick’s love and intimate knowledge of flying in the region led him to set up Heli Glenorchy five years ago.

Heli Glenorchy operates from the Glenorchy Airstrip on the doorstep of the Southern Alps, Mount aspiring and Fiordland National Parks. The five-year-old company boasts a modern fleet of helicopters, a 100% safety record, highly-experienced local pilots and access to remote locations with spectacular alpine scenery.

Heliworks Queenstown Helicopters 2012 Ltd has a proven reputation for excellence. It offers a wide range of Queenstown and Glenorchy scenic flight experiences, and provides a range of helicopter services from search and rescue and commercial operations to filming and tourism.

Heliworks Queenstown is also renowned for its proposals and wedding services, working with professional wedding photographers, celebrants and planners to fly wedding parties to unique locations.

Nick and Blair said it was a “privilege” to take the reins of such an iconic brand.

“We’re excited about the opportunity and challenge that lies ahead,” said Nick.

“Hannibal built this brand from the ground up, and I was lucky enough to work beside him for a number of years. Taking this business into the future is now a dream realised, even in these trying times.”

Hannibal said he was proud to see Heliworks Queenstown going into the safe and capable hands of Nick, who he respected both as a former employee and director of another locally-operated and family-owned helicopter company.

“My wife Carol and I are happy to hand on the baton to Nick who we’re sure will continue the good name we’ve strived so long to establish,” he said.

“Nick’s a good kiwi bloke and has a close-knit, talented team including local pilots. They’re specialists in both commercial operations and scenic experiences.

“I’m sure the company will continue as it always has done, offering efficient, high-quality service with safety and professionalism as its highest priority, building on the reputation we’ve established and cherishing our history.”

Sir Richard and Lady Carol Hayes will continue to operate Southern Lakes Helicopters Ltd in Fiordland and the Mount Cook operations.  “We are looking forward to a close working relationship with the new Heliworks team.”

For further media information please contact:

Tess Kelly

Sales and Marketing Manager – Heli Glenorchy & Heliworks Queenstown

M: 021 509 530

E: marketing@heliglenorchy.co.nz

Fiona Woodham

Southern PR

M: 0274 313 270

E: fiona@southernpr.co.nz

Get off the beaten track and explore the natural & untouched Whanganui River on one of our Jet Boat or Canoe Tours. Be immersed in our local indigenous Māori & Pre-European culture by local river people – tangata whenua o te awa –  for a truly unique experience and memory.

Tourism Accelerator launches to help startup founders re-shape the
tourism industry.

Wellington-based startup programme Lightning Lab has teamed up with Tourwriter , an
award-winning Kiwi tourism-tech company, to launch Tourism Accelerator 2020 . Set to commence in
October 2020, the programme focuses on helping startup founders who are designing solutions to
make travel better for travellers, suppliers, and the environment.

The programme, which is sponsored by Callaghan Innovation and Tourwriter, is a streamlined,
primarily-virtual version of the regular programme that had to be postponed due to the COVID-19
pandemic.

Underpinning the programme is a need for ‘better travel’. This means a shift away from what
Tourwriter co-CEO, Glenn Campbell calls ‘cookie cutter travel’. ‘You know, that kind of same-same
travel that’s easy to book, but seldom memorable in the way a well-researched itinerary can be, and
often results in over tourism’.

The Tourism Accelerator targets three impact areas for better travel: smarter travel matchmaking,
new financial solutions, and environmental guardianship.

Up to six ventures will be accepted into the four-month mentorship programme. Selected startups will
work closely with a large team of experienced mentors and investors who have built, advised, and
sold companies in the tourism sector. At the end of the programme, each venture will have the
opportunity to pitch for cash investment from investors, underwritten to the value of $100,000.

Applications are now open and close on the 30 September 2020. The programme commences on 29
October and finishes on 19 February 2021.

For more information, visit: lightninglab.co.nz/tourism
For comment, high-res photos, or interviews, please contact:
Luke Ball
GM Lightning Lab
Creative HQ
luke.ball@creativehq.co.nz | 027 936 0026

Weddings take a leap forward at Ziptrek Ecotours in Queenstown

Wedding season has arrived at award winning company Ziptrek Ecotours as they launch their zipline
accessed treehouses as an outdoor venue, suited for small intimate weddings. This move falls in behind
a trend for elopements as fresh air and small groups becomes the celebratory norm throughout the
country.

Ziptrek’s beautifully crafted and generous treehouses make the perfect open plan venue for the happy
couple to take their vows surrounded by a small group of friends and family in a venue that captures the
spontaneity. Intimate group weddings are taking off, often due to the challenges with friends and family
unable to join in a travel restricted world, so the opportunity to get married in a truly unique setting, in
what is arguably one of the most picturesque towns in NZ, Queenstown (and already a very popular
wedding destination) can be a reality.

“You don’t even have to go far to capture some stunning photos to remember your special day forever,
as our treehouses are the perfect space to capture those unique wedding shots” says Nicky Busst,
Marketing & Sales Manager for Ziptrek Ecotours in Queenstown. “The scale of our treehouses with the
most incredible view of Lake Wakatipu & The Remarkables leaves you at a loss for words and adds to
the excitement and special meaning of the day” says Busst.

If the day’s nerves and excitement isn’t quite enough, you can take it to new heights with an adrenaline
filled leap of faith into your marriage with the option of a “Kereru jump” post nuptials or even to
conclude them.

Since COVID19 Ziptrek Ecotours utilizes new market opportunities as an outdoor venue to capture
unique events and repeat visitation. In May for NZ Music month Ziptrek launched “Treehouse Sessions”,
a sold out event, where local artists performed live music on the treehouse decks whilst guests zipped
between them on ziplines. There are plans to continue various style of events from spring, recognizing
more broader markets and local community groups such as the arts, culture and performance scenes.

Stay tuned for more.

For further media information or imagery, please contact Nicky Busst at nbusst@ziptrek.com / 027 721
9017

For bookings, please contact Kenny at salesnz@ziptrek.com / 021 946 160

The Rees Hotel Queenstown Milks New Sustainability Initiative
To Reduce 13,000 Bottles from NZ’s Plastic Waste

Leading by example, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Rees Hotel Queenstown has upheld their staunch commitment to the environment by launching a new sustainability initiative to reduce plastic waste. The Hotel is proud to announce that their milk will now be supplied by Windy Ridge Farm in reusable and recyclable glass bottles, which will save over 13,000 plastic bottles from going to landfill each year.

The Rees Hotel tracked how many 300ml and 2L plastic bottles they bought from April 2019 to March 2020 and discovered that they had used over 13,000 plastic bottles in just one year. With 1.76 billion plastic containers sent to landfill by New Zealanders each year, The Rees Hotel is proud to again be an industry leader, dedicated to substantially reducing their plastic waste with this one valuable new, local partnership.

Mark Rose, CEO and general manager of The Rees Hotel said, “We are proud to demonstrate that our commitment to sustainability across all our operations continues even in the toughest of times for our industry

Saving 13,000 plastic bottles from landfill per year is an enormous achievement and we are thrilled to be able to undertake this with our like-minded partner, local milk supplier Windy Ridge Farm. We will continue to strive to make a difference for ongoing sustainability with new initiatives through partnerships with environmentally-conscious businesses like our own,” Mr Rose continued.