RealNZ is a group of tourism and ski businesses based in the south of the South Island of New Zealand, that share a common purpose to do ‘business for good’.

Established in 1954, RealNZ continues to honor the legacy of founders Les and Olive Hutchins through the belief that tourism and conservation work hand in hand to sustain each other.

Based on the premise that when people care about something they look after it, RealNZ invites visitors to fall in love with New Zealand, and in doing so protect it for generations to come.

The real people, real places and real experiences that, together, form RealNZ, are helping enable important conservation programs such as the Cooper Island Restoration Project, Walter Peak Land Restoration Project and Predator Free Rakiura.

From the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch right down to Stewart Island, RealNZ has experiences spanning:

• remote untouched natural wilderness including Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound and Stewart Island
• unique experiences like the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship that cruises beautiful Lake Wakatipu and the mysterious underground world of Te Anau Glowworm Caves
• the thrilling Jet Boats and Rafts that navigate the famous Kawarau or Shotover Rivers
• the high-altitude exhilaration of Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone

RealNZ has curated the most memorable experiences of New Zealand into a group of businesses with a common purpose, to create enduring value through conservation, that is enabled by tourism – to do business for good.

Providers of single and multi-day luxury bespoke and scheduled wine, nature and art tours in the Nelson/Tasman, Marlborough regions and throughout the South Island.

Fully catered wine, nature and art tours are leisurely, informal and designed to cater for all levels of fitness. They are essentially a soft adventure – enticing, always rewarding  and taken at a relaxed pace. Transported between sites in the luxurious comfort of a Mercedes, we follow less traveled routes, that provide a spontaneous insight into curious local attractions, historical and contemporary New Zealand life.

With vast experience in nature conservation and the wine industry, our team focuses on interpretation and interactive guided experiences, opening doors to introduce the wine & art personalities of Nelson and Marlborough, ensuring visitor expectations are always exceeded.

At Shotover Canyon Swing we specialise in putting smiles on peoples faces and scary, fun cliff jumping with our many unique ways to jump from our giant Rope Swing!

Canyon Swing – join us at Queenstown’s original and best swing! Sit, dangle or throw yourself from our 109 metre high platform before free falling vertically 60 metres (or 3 seconds!) past the famous Shotover Canyon cliff face and into a 200 metre Swing. This is the only swing in New Zealand where you can choose to be released or jump yourself! Sitting, forwards, backwards, flips, hanging upside down, on slide, in a chair, in a bin! – come test out your bravery (and underwear) with us!

Europcar is a global car rental leader with 132 locations throughout Australia and 19 locations in NZ. We are proud to promote we have the highest quality and youngest fleet of new cars and these are updated every 9 months in Australia and every 3-5 months in NZ. This means your client enjoys the latest technology, safety and reliability every time they rent. Europcar’s fleet range from smaller economical vehicles, family style SUV’s to luxury Mercedes-Benz.

Europcar has a 24/7 Customer Contact Centre with a dedicated team of specialists and a Centralised Damage and Claims department ensuring your client experience is easy and hassle free. Our experienced team of Account Managers can work with you to provide a full suite of rate products designed to cater for every customer and most of all they do it with a smile and a solid promise of customer satisfaction.

We empower the tourism industry through digital, driving preference and increasing online sales with our fresh, cutting-edge tourism marketing approach. By analysing your offering through the eyes of a visitor, we use digital to ensure you’re reaching them in the right place, at the right time.

We offer four key services: Spectacular tourism websites, digital strategy, clever paid media and content marketing for SEO. Data-driven and results-led, we are digital natives who hang our hats on doing high-impact work that affects your bottom line.

Six Grand Chancellor Hotels Receive TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence

TripAdvisor has awarded the reputable Certificate of Excellence to six hotels within the Grand Chancellor Hotels Group across Australia and New Zealand this week. Recognising consistent and highly rated guest stays, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor rating of at least four out of five and have a minimum number of reviews over a 12-month period to qualify.

Committed to providing guests and delegates with memorable experiences, the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor in Wellington received the accolade in the midst of a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of 200 rooms and suites. Guests can experience the new accommodation rooms from July 2019 and the hotel has also recently modernised Whitby’s Restaurant and replaced all elevators.

In Queensland, Hotel Grand Chancellor Townsville and Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane both received the recognition for consecutive years. Alongside modern accommodation rooms, both hotel’s feature rooftop pools with stunning views, notable restaurants and premium conference facilities. In Brisbane, the leading-edge Conference Centre has eleven spaces and Townsville’s six meeting rooms all feature natural light, plus a rooftop venue.
South Australian hospitality is integrated into the guest experience at Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide and The Chancellor on Currie, with both hotels recognised by TripAdvisor. Accommodation rooms have been modernised at the Hotel Grand Chancellor and guests can enjoy local cuisine at the restaurant and conference facilities. Offering a boutique experience, the second Adelaide hotel on Currie Street encapsulates Neo-Georgian architecture and style, located on the doorstep of the vibrant Gilbert Place.

Regarded as a standout hotel in Tasmania, the waterfront location, exceptional facilities and welcoming service have once again earned Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart the Hall of Fame status. Receiving TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for more than five consecutive years, the hotel is centrally located and hosts distinguished conference and events at their Convention Centre.

Grand Chancellor Hotels are located throughout Australia and New Zealand in key destinations. The ten properties present quality accommodation with modern facilities, including five hotels with event venues suitable for over 400 delegates. For more information please visit grandchancellorhotels.com

Media Contact Jessica Taylor | Marketing & Communications Manager Grand Chancellor Hotels, Australia and New Zealand 021 190 7368 marketing@ghi-hotels.com

SCENIC HOTEL GROUP SHARES STORY OF GROWTH FOR 2019

Christchurch, May 2019. New Zealand owned and operated Scenic Hotel Group

returns to TRENZ 2019 with a strong proposition for international buyers. Director of International Sales and Brand Development, Steve Shearer says “Scenic Hotel Group’s 37-year story continues to go from strength to strength, and there is plenty to update 2019 TRENZ delegates on.”

Developments are well underway across Scenic Hotel Group’s two major brands; Scenic Hotels, Resorts and Suites and Heartland Hotels. The Group kicked off the year by securing the management contract on the 52-room Ambassador Motor Inn, in Hamilton which was rebranded in early February to Heartland Ambassador Hotel Hamilton.

Shearer points to Hamilton and the wider Waikato region as being areas of significant growth for New Zealand’s business and leisure markets both domestically and internationally. The Waikato potential was recognised late last year with the awarding of ‘Best Domestic Tourism Performance’ at the Regional Tourism Awards.

Heartland Ambassador Hotel Hamilton carries a Silver Qualmark rating and is generously set across multiple levels and includes a swimming pool, ample onsite parking, and a range of dining options within the near vicinity. The hotel is also strategically located for visitors wishing to attend local events and attractions.

Within the Scenic Hotel Group, plans are also well underway for significant developments within the existing portfolio. This has been led by flagship property, Scenic Hotel Auckland which is midway through a transformation that will see it emerge in early 2020 with a much-elevated position. Shearer says “Early guest feedback has been exceptional on the refurbished rooms with guests enjoying the new in-room features and designer colour palette which brings together the colours of New Zealand while still retaining the legacy of this iconic heritage building that is a showcase of New Zealand’s art deco design period.”

With its proximity to the main entertainment centre of Auckland, Scenic Hotel Auckland aims to amplify its location with an up-weighted food and beverage offering, revitalised public spaces and technology enhancements to deliver a superior guest experience in one of Auckland’s most popular hotels.

In preparation for some exciting, large scale redevelopments in the lobby and dining areas, the following operational closures will take place to enable these works to take place in a timely manner that will cause the least amount of disruption to guest services:

MLC Café & Bar – full outlet closure

Dates: Monday 29th July 2019 – Monday 27th January 2020    (183 calendar days/ 6 months).

During this time, there will be no food & beverage outlet available onsite. Information will be available for hotel guests of hours & location of nearby F&B options.

Scenic Hotel Auckland – full hotel closure

Dates: Thursday 15th August 2019 – Wednesday 11th September 2019   (27 calendar days). During this period, the entire hotel will be closed.

Across the group, community and social developments also feature strongly and add a unique opportunity for guests to engage and interact with New Zealand conservation and community initiatives. This includes the well established ‘Kiwis for Kiwis’ scheme by Scenic Hotel Group’s five-star eco-luxe West Coast property, Te Waonui Forest Retreat as well as numerous other local community initiatives. Overall, the Group has also embraced supporting ‘Soap Aid’, a Melbourne based charity that involved a soap recycling programme putting better health in the hands of those in need around the world.

Social and environmental initiatives are an integral part of the uniquely New Zealand Scenic story which is one of family and friends where people from around the world are welcomed to share in the special places that the Scenic Hotel Group calls home.

##END##

www.scenichotelgroup.co.nz

Air Chathams and INFLITE charters working together  

Air Chathams is stepping up its services significantly this year while still retaining its reputation as the friendly, people-first airline that’s been operating in New Zealand and the Pacific for over 30 years.  In streamlining the charter sales processes, INFLITE Charters has been appointed the General Sales Agent (GSA) for all new charter business in New Zealand for the Chatham Islands founded airline.

INFLITE Charters is New Zealand’s largest private air travel and aviation solutions company, formed in 2012 by the amalgamation of three long standing aviation companies; Helilink, Skylink and Air National.  They excel in the provision of private jet, turbo prob and helicopter charter, VIP transfer services, exclusive scenic flight packages, customised events, commercial air lifting and specialist freight.

Operating throughout New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific, INFLITE now has the facility to use Air Chathams’ Metroliner, Saab, Convair and the new ATR 72 for charter work exclusively within New Zealand.  Current scheduled passenger flights will naturally be prioritised during operations and existing charter agreements will remain in place as a direct relationship with Air Chathams.

“We look forward to further growing our charter capacity with INFLITE Charters, especially knowing their reputation and dedication to a high level of customer service.  It’s great to take up the opportunity to work together as both companies have extensive experience throughout New Zealand and are flexible enough to meet the demands of the sector in terms of location, size and aircraft capability,“ said Duane Emeny, General Manager of Air Chathams.

Paul Aston, Charter Sales Manager of INFLITE Charters agrees “Premium service delivery is core to our business as is the reliability and experience in corporate charters that Air Chathams brings to the sector.  The fact Air Chathams operations span the length and breadth of the country is a great fit for us.  We are excited to expand our charter offering for the benefit of our customers, INFLITE and Air Chathams.”

Ends.

For more information, please contact:

Lyn Cheyne,

Sales and Marketing Manager

AIR CHATHAMS

T: 0800 580127

E: marketing@airchathams.co.nz

W: www.airchathams.co.nz

Thursday 16 May 2019
Media Release from Tourism Export Council of New Zealand (TECNZ)

New Zealand Tourism Strategy in the Nick of Time

The New Zealand Tourism Strategy has been released just in the nick of time according to tourism exporters.

Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis today released Aotearoa-New Zealand Government Tourism Strategy which he says focuses on maximising the benefits of tourism growth, while managing and mitigating the risks.

Included among its initiatives are plans to address the peaks and troughs of the sector by smoothing seasonal fluctuations and extending the high season and attracting visitors to lesser known areas.

Tourism Export Council (TECNZ) Chief Executive Judy Chen says with tourism numbers increasing over 40% in the last five years it was time for the government to have a relook at the industry and do some planning for the future.

“For some time now, our members have been calling for New Zealand’s tourism policy settings to be addressed as they are no longer fit for purpose for the environment we now operate in.

Our industry has grown exponentially in the past five years, and while that is great news for the New Zealand economy, it has created some obvious pressure points.

We are delighted that the Government has stepped up its resource of the tourism industry and already started to address pressing issues such as infrastructural requirements through the Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

The Provincial Growth Fund has also helped to boost tourism offerings in regions which could benefit from more tourism.”

But Ms Chen says it is also important to ease the pressure points to ensure New Zealand benefits from sustainable tourism growth which is spread across the country.

‘The ‘Mood of the Nation’ research that was released last week showed that while New Zealanders are mostly positive about the tourism industry, concern has grown in key destinations such as Queenstown.

New Zealanders are one of our industry’s greatest assets as we are known as great hosts.  As the industry grows, we must manage the flow of visitors across the country and the seasons to ensure our local population is not detrimentally affected by additional visitors.

Tourism is New Zealand’s largest export industry contributing 21% of foreign exchange earnings. This strategy sets out the framework and direction for the next chapter in New Zealand’s tourism story and will help ensure we preserve and grow our reputation as a quality tourism destination.’

ENDS

About the Tourism Export Council of New Zealand

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.

For more information please contact:

Judy Chen

CEO Tourism Export Council of NZ

027 6644 836

Lighting Up Road GURU

Road GURU is one of only 10 enterprises selected to participate in Lightning Lab’s Tourism programme, beating off competition from 66 other applicants.

The business accelerator programme challenges participants during an extremely structured, high-intensity venture development programme running for three months, from May – August.

Road GURU Director, Mitchell McLaughlin, identified that Lightning Lab Tourism would provide a challenging environment and framework to help catapult Road GURU to the next level.

“They surround you with business experts and resources to accelerate business growth, based on your vision,” comments Mitchell.  “Essentially, they inject business energy into the enterprise to help you achieve your vision in a shorter timeframe.”

Road GURU applied under the category theme of Achieving Value over Volume, which focuses on striving for high-value visitors, thus increasing their economic contribution to the New Zealand economy.

“Growing our share of the visitor segment that value authentic, quality tourism experiences is important, not only to our business, but it is also vital for the long-term sustainability of the tourism industry.  The industry is making great strides in implementing a range of sustainability initiatives but it is something we all need to keep working on,” adds Mitchell.

The application process involved a written document which was complemented by a rigorous panel interview with eight selectors.

Road GURU was eager to be involved and pleased to see such a robust programme focused on, and supported by, the tourism industry.

When the announcement was made at TRENZ today, Mitchell commented, “It is a great boost during the middle of such an important tourism event and really added to the momentum after our recent successful product partnership with GO Rentals, which we are showcasing at TRENZ”.

The programme is hosted by Christchurch International Airport and supported by Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Callaghan Innovation, ChristchurchNZ and global blockchain experts Centrality.  ENDS

For Further Information and Comment

Mitchell McLaughlin, Phone:  +64 3 595 5307 or Mobile +64 22 162 6739

www.roadguru.nz