Showcasing New Zealand’s commitment to sustainability

Chief Executive of Tourism Export Council of New Zealand (TECNZ), Judy Chen, shared her insights on sustainability trends to more than 500 delegates, at the Australian Tourism Export Council’s (ATEC) annual conference ‘ATEC Meeting Place’ in Brisbane this week.

Showcasing the one-year-old visitor behaviour engagement campaign, Tiaki – Care for New Zealand, on a global panel session where, for the inaugural time, she was joined by David Frost, Chief Executive of Southern Africa Tourism Services Association and Tom Jenkins, Chief Executive of European Tourism Association.

“Over 89% of New Zealanders believe that Tiaki – Care for New Zealand is important and this initiative is admired by a number of our international colleagues as a great example aligning environmental, cultural, and social elements of sustainability” says Ms Chen.

The key objective of the panel discussion highlighted how the inbound tourism industry can best lead, develop, and promote sustainable business practices.  This addresses the conference theme to foster conversations around sustainability awareness within distribution that will help guide businesses into the future.

“Despite being based in different parts of the world, key challenges like carbon emissions is something we all face and are starting to address.

The New Zealand tourism industry is fully committed to protecting and preserving our home for future generations, and we aim to be a world leader in this space.

Our industry has a strong focus on collaboration and I am extremely proud to have shared our journey so far with our counterparts in Australia.”

ENDS

Our company is an Inbound Travel Agent, which provide a vital link between the suppliers of New Zealand tourism product and overseas travel companies. We promote and sell NZ travel packages to Taiwan market.

From Front Office to GM – Stewart Manson returns to Crowne Plaza Queenstown as new General Manager

A ski trip to Queenstown 13 years ago led to Stewart Manson’s start in the New Zealand hospitality industry at Crowne Plaza Queenstown.

And from early next month it will be a case of déjà vu for the now experienced hotelier as he returns to the property as General Manager.

Scottish-born Stewart, 37, was Crowne Plaza Queenstown’s Front Office Supervisor from May 2006, a diverse position that saw him covering everything from night audit and concierge to reservations and duty manager roles.

He’d come to New Zealand to go travelling after spending nine years in the industry in Scotland, then got the job because he’d found somewhere he wanted to stay.

He moved to Sydney in 2011 before becoming Hotel Manager at Crowne Plaza Port Moresby from 2013 to 2017. Most recently he’s been General Manager at Lasseters Alice Springs, home to the 205-room Crowne Alice Springs, a convention centre for up to 1200 delegates and six food and beverage venues.

“I feel like I’ve come full circle with the move back to Queenstown and I can’t wait,” he says.

“I loved my time in the resort and I’ve only been back twice to play golf on its amazing courses.

“I’m most looking forward to re-connecting with the property and some staff who are still there all these years later, enjoying outdoor activities such as trail running in the mountains, and going skiing and snowboarding with my family,” he says.

“I love Queenstown as a year-round tourist destination, it’s just one of those special places that draws you back.”

Stewart’s leadership style and experience is welcomed by IHG’s Area General Manager – New Zealand Tim Pollock.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming Stewart back to New Zealand and know that his wealth of experiences will add exceptional value to Crowne Plaza Queenstown,” Tim says.

“Having worked with Stewart in Papua New Guinea I know he’ll be an excellent addition to the property.

“We wish him every success in his role.”

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Tim Pollock

IHG Area General Manager for New Zealand

T: +64 (9) 375 4901

E: tim.pollock@ihg.com

The Rees Hotel Named “undisputed market leader” in World Ski Tourism Award

‘Best Ski Hotel in New Zealand 2019’

 The Rees Queenstown has been officially recognised as the ‘Best Ski Hotel in New Zealand 2019’ at the World Ski Awards in Kitzbühel, Austria today.

The annual premiere awards programme now in its 7^th year celebrates excellence in ski tourism and brings together representatives from ski nations across Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Australasia.

It is the fourth consecutive time the luxury 5 star hotel, luxury apartments & lakeside residences on the shores of the Wakatipu overlooking the Remarkables has been voted the number one world class performer.

The win is an international stamp of approval by peers, agents, industry groups and guests as the hotel has no oversight over who votes.

Sion Rapson, Managing Director of the World Ski Awards calls the win a “remarkable achievement”.

“Throughout the year, a record number of votes have been cast by leading ski tourism professionals as well as hundreds of thousands of ski consumers from across the globe. Ski tourism’s highest accolade is truly deserved and rewards your commitment to excellence and determination to become the undisputed market leader,” he says.

The Rees is dedicated to ensuring both skiers and snowboarders have a truly unforgettable New Zealand winter experience. Year-on-year the hotel’s innovations and collaborations seek to raise the service benchmark to the next level.

“We love the challenge of creating personalised experiences that lift the bar not only for the winter season, but all year round,” says Mark Rose, CEO of The Rees Hotel.

The smorgasbord of snow packages the property offers is extensive. They cater to all levels from the beginner to the elite freestyle powder-hound. From heli-skiing in the heart of the Southern Alps to exclusive access to backcountry terrain and all the top skifields that Queenstown has to offer.

“We launched our ‘Soho Experience’ this season – it’s an exclusive skiing experience over 260 hectares of the private backcountry Soho Basin complete with snowcat transfers that ends with a gourmet three-course lunch which has proven to be a fantastic collaboration that we’re really proud of,” Rose says.

Skiing families are a specialty too at the luxury property with cute activity packs for every child on arrival, in-house babysitters, degustation menus even private cooking lessons with the Executive Chef Corey Hume.

All guests enjoy the convenience of an on-site ski locker plus in-room custom fittings for all ski rental equipment. The fuss free bespoke service is simple and made online prior to arrival. Follow-up service and collection is included.

For the last decade The Rees has been a dedicated accommodation sponsor of the Queenstown Winter Festival as part of its commitment to support one of the most significant winter tourism events at New Zealand’s most popular tourism destination.

ENDS

Media please contact:
Sarah Sparks

Sarah.sparks@markompr.com
+6421318813

Summertime at Tekapo Springs just got a whole lot more fun

Outrageous summertime fun is on the menu for young and old with the launch of two new activities at Tekapo Springs in New Zealand’s Mackenzie District.

Opening on December 1, the Aqua Drop delivers on summer thrills, with its 150-metre downhill waterslide laying claim to be the longest outdoor slope of its kind in New Zealand.

The good old days of family fun at the Bach or in the backyard are recreated with this classic Kiwi summer activity of slipping, sliding and splashing all day long. amidst the stunning beauty of Tekapo.

Mums and Dads can relax in the hot pools or enjoy a flat white in Altitude 720 Café and Bar, which roasts its own beans amid claims it is the highest-altitude roasted coffee in New Zealand.

If the Aqua Drop isn’t wearing the littlies out enough, there’s always the aptly-named Jumpernaut which will be taking up residence in the winter ice rink arena.

The inflatable activity park is suitable for all ages, an exciting adventure for those who are happy to run, bounce and climb through this colourful, inflatable wonderland. Younger children will love the dedicated kids’ area.

Tekapo Springs is celebrating 12 years of consistent ground-breaking new products, innovation, investment and growth, and the two new activities are opening as it prepares for its busiest season to date.

Recent statistics show the Mackenzie district has the most number of guests staying in its hotels, motels, backpackers and holiday parks compared to any other tourism hotspot in New Zealand, relative to the size of its resident population.

Tekapo Springs owner and founder Karl Burtscher says the region is “pumping” and its multi-faceted year-round operation is growing accordingly.

The multi-award-winning, world-renowned facility features three hot pools, two cooler pools and an aqua play area, a day spa, cafe, steam and sauna rooms and an ice rink and snow tube park.

A range of night-time stargazing experiences have added a whole new dimension to the Tekapo Springs’ offerings. Earlier this year the star gazing options expanded with the addition of a new virtual reality and hot pools tour, beginning earlier in the evening depending on the season, and ensuring tours are never cancelled due to weather.

“Our goal from the start was to create a year-round compelling attraction, a recreational environment for the whole family that also appealed to domestic and international visitors,” says Karl.

“Now we’re one of the largest drawcards in Tekapo and the Mackenzie District and we’ve done that by never sitting on our laurels and continuing to evolve,” he says.

“We’ve grown from a one-product winter activity to one that operates 364 days a year, employs up to 50 people, welcomes around 160,000 people a year and is recognised as one of the major tourism operators in the region.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve done.”

For further information or high res images please contact:

Karl Burtscher
Managing Director Tekapo Springs
Mob. +64 275 324 272
P: +64 3 680 6550
E: karl@tekaposprings.co.nz
W: www.tekaposprings.co.nz

Tamaki Hikoi owned and operated by Ngati Whatua Orakei has relaunched its website www.tamakihikoi.co.nz.

The new site, built by Tomahawk with design assistance from MARX Design gives a fresh new look to its range of cultural tourism experiences in Tamaki Makaurau.

The site showcases a new brand, new imagery and a look at our Hikoi Guides – Tui-Kay, Dane, Paora and Alec.

Our guided walking tours share with visitors an understanding of what it takes for the people of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to live and thrive through extreme change and adversity.

Educate customers on plastic

Speak to your customers about what your business is doing and why, all the way through their holiday ‘journey’. Here are some suggestions:

• Communicate to explain the impacts that plastic waste can have on New Zealand and how they can work with you to avoid that
• Suggest simple actions such as refusing plastic bags, straws and other single-use items, or not using the miniature toiletries in the bathroom
• Let them know where they can recycle in your region or around New Zealand
• Motivate customers by showing how their participation boosts overall plastic reduction. Connect the story to the location – for example, by explaining the positive effect plastic waste reduction will have on local marine life, the attractiveness of the beach or the well-being of local people
• Encourage customers to get involved with local initiatives such as beach clean-ups.

Double awards celebrations for tourism leaders Go Orange

Queenstown and Fiordland tourism operator Go Orange Go Orange is celebrating not once, but twice, after winning two national awards in the space of 24 hours.

At a ceremony on the Gold Coast last night (Thursday November 14) it won the Best Activity New Zealand award in the 2019 Adventure Tourism Awards across Australia and New Zealand.

In its second year, the awards and associated Youth Tourism Conference are recognised as the industry’s biggest event of the year. They formally recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of tourism experiences, people and places in both countries.

Just a day earlier in Auckland, Go Orange continued its stellar rise on the New Zealand business radar following its ranking of 30 on the 2019 Deloitte Fast 50. The Fast 50 recognises and ranks the country’s fastest growing businesses and Go Orange claimed 30th place on the register with 236% growth.

It’s the second year in a row it has been recognised on the Fast 50, ranking 37th last year with 209% growth.

Earlier this year, also for the second year, Go Orange was named the Fastest Growing Services Business in Dunedin and the lower South Island at the Deloitte Fast 50 regional celebrations.

Go Orange General Manager Luke Taylor says winning the Best Activity award and making it onto the Fast 50 two years in a row are “outstanding results”.

“The Adventure Tourism Award recognises our drive to ‘Go Beyond’ with all our visitor experiences, inspiring them to go deeper, further and beyond the average tourist.

“Our improved Fast 50 ranking is another huge thrill, putting us at 30th among some of the best and brightest businesses in New Zealand, all striving for excellence.  It recognises the hard work and dedication of our team across our businesses in Queenstown, Te Anau and Milford Sound.”

While this week’s achievements are ones to acknowledge, Go Orange has already claimed its space as ‘one to watch’ in the tourism industry.

Earlier this year Go Orange was named AWS Legal Fiordland Tourism Operator of the Year, Luke Taylor won Emerging Tourism Leader of the Year at last year’s NZ Tourism Awards, and it was a national finalist in the Humankind Employee Experience Awards.

In the past year the company has launched a new Milford Haven cruise experience in Milford Sound, a Go Orange jetboat experience, a bespoke Unimog fleet for rafting and scenic travel experiences, new kayak trips and a new coach fleet.

Go Orange delivers outstanding New Zealand visitor experiences with cruising, whitewater rafting, jet boating, kayaking and coach connections in Queenstown, Te Anau, and Milford and Doubtful sounds.

For further media information or images please contact:

Fiona Woodham

Southern PR

E: fiona@southernpr.co.nz

M: 0274 313 270

Composting Food Packaging at Events

The CCC-led initiative Composting Food Packaging at Events was established to reduce the amount of waste that was being sent to the landfill from Christchurch events. A large amount of event waste is generated from food vendors packaging.

The success of the initiative has been due to:

• building strong relationships with packaging distributors, food vendors and waste facilities.
• tight controls (e.g. restricting trade to vendors with incorrect packaging), thorough training and monitoring.
• measuring and monitoring, with quantified results in order to build baseline data

 What you can do?

• Sign the NZ Tourism Sustainability Commitment
• Investigate accreditation programmes, such as Qualmark, Earthcheck, B-Corp, Enviro-Mark
• Conduct a waste audit to see where your waste is coming from and where it is going to

Thanks to Kat Ralph-Triebels, the Event and Sustainability Manager from Total Waste Solutions for presenting at TECNZ Conference.  If you wish to seek any further information please contact her at: M  027 232 3116    P 03 385 6972   

Tiaki – Care for New Zealand – assets

A range of  Tiaki-Care for New Zealand brand assets have been developed to provide more options for businesses to share the Tiaki Promise with their customers and staff.

Poster templates allows tourism businesses to create their own Tiaki- Care for New Zealand poster incorporating their logo and image.

Other assets include banners for use in newsletters and on websites and advertisements that have been updated with larger icons that how to uphold the Tiaki Promise, while travelling New Zealand.

The assets, along with updated Guidelines, are available for operators to download from Tourism New Zealand’s visual asset library.