Tourism Export Council of New ZealandUpdates - Tourism Export Council of New Zealand

MEDIA RELEASE

Destination Fiordland takes unique opportunity & New manager employed at Destination Fiordland

The Board of Destination Fiordland have taken the opportunity through the recent establishment of the Southland Regional Development Agency (“SRDA”) to pursue a new funding model in order to better serve its members and create greater leverage from local oversight.

As of the 31st March 2019 Destination Fiordland will be known as Destination Fiordland Incorporated and will be funded through the Southland District Council and a strong membership base having previously sat under Venture Southland. Board Chair Gareth Davis says that by entering into this new relationship with the Southland District Council the organisation can make decisions at a community level by those who are working at the sharp-end of the industry.

The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Madeleine Peacock to move into the manager’s position. Ms. Peacock has an extensive personal and professional background in tourism in Fiordland being granddaughter of Les and Olive Hutchins, one of NZ tourism’s pioneering families, as well as working on the front line in tourism for over 20 years. She has spent the past five years working for Fiordland Trips & Tramps in Te Anau and has developed strong networks in the industry particularly with inbound operators. Deeply passionate about the area Ms. Peacock also serves on the Guardians of Lakes Manapouri, Te Anau and Monowai. Ms. Peacock says she is looking forward to leading Destination Fiordland as it moves into a new season of growth. “There is immense depth of knowledge and experience in the tourism sector in Fiordland and great opportunity to promote Fiordland as a significant contributor to the NZ tourism industry. It goes without saying that Fiordland holds its head high with an exceptional natural environment however one of the strengths of the region is a community committed to sustainable growth and my hope is that the next chapter will be one of the community working together to achieve this,” states Ms. Peacock.

The Board of Destination Fiordland, Venture Southland and the Southland District Council will be working together over the next month to ensure a smooth transition to the new funding model. The Board notes that it remains ‘business as usual’ at Destination Fiordland with the organisation being in good hands with interim manager Philippa Murrell, and team members Sarah McDonald and Shevaun Taberner.

For further information please contact Madeleine Peacock on 027 367 1334, or Gareth Davis gareth.davis@prlaw.co.nz

ENDS

With our contemporary urban style and convenient location near the CBD and the airport, Hotel Elms Christchurch, Ascend Hotel Collection™ , offers 98 contemporary and affordable suites that is fitting for business and leisure travellers. It is also one of the city’s top venues for signature meetings, conference, and functions. Situated in a quiet suburban area, it is effortlessly accessible to top attractions, activities, restaurants and businesses.

Hotel Elms Christchurch specialize in providing an unforgettable accommodation and conference experience as our friendly and professional staff look forward to showing our guests the best of Christchurch hospitality. Our 24-hour Front Desk provides personalized service and security at any time. We also offer complimentary on-site parking with 4 electric car charging stations and access to an offsite gym located within a short walk from the hotel.

Our comfortable rooms come with complimentary Wi-Fi, smart TV, fridge, tea and coffee making facilities and an ensuite. Each studio unit has black out curtains and individually controlled air conditional / heat pump units for added comfort.

Our onsite Fig Restaurant is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Gluten free and vegan options are also available as is a stunning selection of the finest wines and beers crafted both locally and abroad. Make the most of our In Room dining and 24-hour room service if you are peckish in the middle of the night or if you simply enjoy your meal and beverages without leaving the comfort of your hotel room.

From standard rooms, Superior, Deluxe, Executive Suites and Apartment, to our locally popular Fig Restaurant and Bar, you would seldom find a better stay in Christchurch. Discover Hotel Elms Christchurch, where quality is a promise.

Capstone Hotels appointed Management Company for The Theatre Royal Hotel in Kumara, Westland

New Zealand owned Capstone Hotels & Resorts have been appointed as the Management Company for The Theatre Royal Hotel, Kumara as of Monday 21st January 2019, says Capstone Managing Director Clare Davies.

Owners Kerrie and Mark Fitzgibbon carried out extensive refurbishment works to the 1876 heritage building and re-opened it in 2012 following demand created by the newly developed West Coast Wilderness cycle trail.

Kerrie and Mark say “we are delighted to be passing on the management of The Theatre Royal to Capstone. Clare and her team have the skills and experience to ensure that the property continues to go from strength to strength and they are committed to taking it to the next level”.

Since 2012, the Fitzgibbon’s have expanded the accommodation offering from the original six hotel rooms with bar and restaurant, to include sympathetically renovated self-contained cottages offering a range of accommodation options from budget to boutique. Kerrie’s passion for the past is clear with many vintage and antique pieces adorning the rooms including local artefacts and family heirlooms donated to ensure they can continue to be loved and admired. In 2016 the couple developed and built six, 2 bedroom Miners Cottages taking the full property inventory to 73 beds, suitable for groups, along with adding secure bike sheds to meet the growing number of cycle tourists passing through.

Clare Davies says “we are absolutely thrilled to be joining Kerrie and Mark to help them to continue on the journey of growing the business into the international tourism sector and cementing its place in the heart of locals and New Zealanders. Supporting Kerrie and Mark’s vision for this place is absolutely integral to the success of the property and ensuring that the heritage of the Hotel and the township is more accessible to visitors, putting Kumara firmly on the map.

The Fitzgibbon’s remain the owners of the property and the current staff all remain in place. Capstone Hotels have appointed long term staff member Jacqui Rigarlsford as Hotel Manager responsible for the day to day operations. Capstone Hotels will be representing the property at TRENZ 2019 in Rotorua.

Capstone Hotels & Resorts have properties located throughout New Zealand and the inclusion of The Theatre Royal Hotel brings their expanding portfolio to fourteen along with a number of activity operators.

Key Contacts:
For all trade enquiries relating to The Theatre Royal Hotel:
Nona Jackson Director of Sales & Marketing nona@capstonehotels.co.nz
Clare Davies Managing Director clare@capstonehotels.co.nz

Tourwriter launches online itinerary builder platform designed to reinvent the way tour operators design travel

Tour operator software company, Tourwriter, are introducing a brand new product to the Tourwriter family. Their new product, Minim, is being recognised as a significant step forward for tour operator software, reinventing the way tour operators create itineraries and collaborate with their customers and agents.

The online platform is available as a standalone platform for tour operators, as well as an add-on integration for customers using Tourwriter. Minim’s integration with Tourwriter’s existing platform will make Tourwriter the first company worldwide to offer customers a true end-to-end tour operator software solution.

The integration has been used by a number of our existing Tourwriter customers over the latter part of 2018. “It has been such a delight to see our existing Tourwriter customers be the first to take advantage of the Minim integration functionality,” said CEO, Glenn Campbell. “The initial design and development of Minim really has been guided by our loyal customers – we couldn’t have developed Minim as comprehensively without them” added Campbell.

Upon logging into Minim, it’s visual identity is clear; it’s clean, simple, and ultra intuitive. “We’ve created Minim with a design led approach. Not only have we crafted beautiful itinerary templates, but the entire itinerary building process has also been created with an intention to provide a sense of quiet in what can often be an intense work environment. Minim works to make ‘a day in the life of a tour operator’ even more enjoyable,” explained Andi Parker, Tourwriter’s Lead User Experience designer for Minim.

Along with its innovative design, Minim is also being launched with a radical pricing option for it’s standalone users: free. When it came to designing the pricing plans the team behind Minim leaned on their industry experience, having been tour operators themselves for many years prior. “We know that as a tour operator software provider, our only path to success is designing products that help our customers succeed. The pricing model for Minim is inspired by that philosophy,” explained Head of Marketing Denise Campbell, who co-founded Tourwriter 14 years ago after a 12 year stint as a tour operator in New Zealand. “The free plan, Minim zero, is the perfect stepping stone for tour operators who want to trial the product ahead of moving to Minim plus or are just starting out. We wanted it to be effortless”. Minim will be the industry’s first itinerary building software to offer a free plan.

Its paid plan, Minim plus, boasts an array of cutting edge innovations designed to shake up the status quo of itinerary design. In-itinerary chat functionality allows travel designers to communicate seamlessly with their customers. Revolutionary B2B functionality allows tour operators to invite and collaborate with other businesses such as ground handlers, DMC’s, and business customers, making Minim the travel industry’s only platform designed to allow such collaboration.

Along with the never-before-seen features, Minim comes bursting with a meticulously crafted itinerary design, an effortless supplier database, a birds-eye-view Minim Analytics Dashboard and a refreshing new take on tour operator software pricing. Aside from a small monthly base fee, the paid plan will only charge Minim customers when an itinerary sale is confirmed, a nod to the company’s mantra, ‘Your success is our success’. “Tourism is seasonal, and by nature business can be unpredictable. Everything about Minim, even it’s pricing, was designed with this in mind. When you succeed, we do too. When business is quieter our Minim platform won’t be a burden that stretches the budget. It’s a win-win.” explained Tourwriter CTO, David Crompton, who led the development of the new product.

Minim officially launched this week. While several of Tourwriter’s customers had the opportunity to try the new product before anyone else, the announcement has largely been kept under wraps until now. To learn more about Minim, and to try it for yourself visit itinerarybuilder.tourwriter.com

Our premium product utilizes the taonga (treasures) that Ngati Porou have available providing access for our guests to visit a place that is regarded as the first in the world to see the sunrise.

Locally guided, our visitors are transported up our sacred maunga by 4WD UTV. Once at the top, our visitors will arrive at our nine pou “Te Takapau-o-Maui”. A sacred site with Maori carvings that depict the stories of Maui, the Polynesian adventurer, famous for his legendary deeds. Our visitors will learn about Maui and his stories, be exposed to an epic sunrise and mountainous views, and gain insight into the local region. Our visitors will also get to taste some of our local produce and cuisines and will also be given the opportunity to leave their footprint and plant a native seedling as part of our native tree re-generation programme.

To read more about Tourwriter’s blog on ‘Travel trends in 2019: What to expect and how to prepare’, click here

Tour operator software company, Tourwriter, have started 2019 with the introduction of a Chief Revenue Officer, Adam Sirota to their global team.

Adam joins Tourwriter following 5 years with Xero, the internationally renowned and award winning accounting software company, founded in Wellington, New Zealand. During his time at Xero, Sirota was a key senior member of the Management team during several of the company’s key milestones, most notably his position in the revenue unit, where he played a significant role in driving Xero’s unprecedented revenue growth, from $60 million to $600 million.

Now boasting in excess of 1.6 million Xero platform users, Adam is looking forward to embarking on a new challenge with Tourwriter. His ability to manage multiple engagements under demanding conditions makes Sirota ideal for building a scalable high growth revenue team for Tourwriter as it readies for the launch of a new SaaS product in January 2019.

Also headquartered in Wellington, Tourwriter is a technology company that specialises in developing software for tour operators, travel agents, and destination management companies. Their software, one of the first of its kind in the market when the company launched in 2004, helps specialist travel experts design, book, and deliver tailor-made itineraries to travellers worldwide.

It was Adam’s experience and passion for growing company revenue that first attracted him to Tourwriter. In the last financial year, Tourwriter raised $1,000,000 and with the launch of their new product, are currently preparing for the largest growth period in their 14 year history. “It’s an extremely exciting time for us at Tourwriter. We have doubled our staff in the past 18 months as we developed our new platform, which combined with our existing product will create a world first for the tourism industry,” said Tourwriter CEO, Glenn Campbell.

Adam’s role as Chief Revenue Officer will have him overseeing all departments relating to customer centric revenue generation, including Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success; a perfect match for Adam’s management, finance, product and efficiency improvement skills in SaaS based environments. Sirota’s passion for strategy, together with his data-driven approach to business, will be invaluable as the company gears up for the official launch of their new SaaS product, Minim, an online itinerary builder.

Designed as both a standalone platform and as an integrated add-on to their existing software, Tourwriter, Minim is set to be a world first for the Tourism industry. “Minim makes us the world’s only true end-to-end tour operator software company. Together, our platforms manage everything from complex pricing, quotations and bookings, through to the delivery of breathtaking itineraries, real-time communication with customers and payment processing” explained Head of Marketing, Denise Campbell, who held the interim Chief Revenue Officer role in the months prior to Adam’s appointment.

ENDS

Heavy-hitters from New Zealand’s tourism industry have thrown support behind the Mighty Waikato branding strategy formally released today.

Hamilton & Waikato Tourism is responsible for marketing the region to domestic and international visitors who now pour $1.57 billion annually into Hamilton city and the wider region.

Up until now, unlike Northland, Queenstown, Bay of Plenty and Auckland, the Waikato has lacked a single, strong consumer brand identity to help attract visitors. This was identified as a key weakness in the regional tourism plan adopted in 2016, and developing a consumer brand was prioritised as one of five “game-changing” projects for the visitor economy.

Hamilton & Waikato Tourism (HWT) chief executive Jason Dawson said the Mighty Waikato brand was developed in partnership with local tourism operators who helped fund the work privately alongside HWT, Te Waka and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. All up, including research, stakeholder consultation and development, the two-year project cost $60,000.

Initial work was done by Principals, which also developed the Waikato Story, with implementation and roll-out the responsibility of Hamilton agency, King St.

Dawson said Mighty Waikato was “soft-launched” to operators six weeks ago and was already in use, including at Hamilton Airport. It reflects a strong, passionate region with a powerful history and natural beauty, he said.

“Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Our city and region needed something unique to differentiate our offering from other parts of New Zealand. We’ve got a strong story to tell and the industry wants to tell it – this gives us the platform to do that and do it well,” Dawson said.

Dawson was backed by Tourism New Zealand chief executive Stephen England-Hall and Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Kristin Dunne.

“Developing a strong consumer brand is really important and needs to be done well to resonate with both domestic and international visitors,” England-Hall said.

“Regional differentiation is key to our national visitor strategy and ensures visitors understand the unique aspects of a destination. The Waikato region has a huge amount to offer and the new regional visitor brand will really help to showcase this.”

Dunne agreed a defined visitor brand was important.

“Each region has something different to offer and a clear unified story helps to showcase a region’s unique proposition to potential visitors,” she said.
Waikato’s economic development agency (Te Waka) supports economic plans that focus on building regional and local identity and Chair Dallas Fisher said Te Waka supported the brand.

Hamilton mayor Andrew King said Hamilton remained the “capital of the region so this will be great for our city.” Hamilton Central Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams also gave it the thumbs-up.

“As a major hub for accommodation, retail, hospitality and events, Hamilton, and our CBD, is always going to be a winner from any enhanced visitor promotions and increased visitor numbers so we’re very happy,” she said.

Waitomo mayor Brian Hanna said he and local tourism operators also like it. Waitomo Adventures chief executive Nick Andreef was a big fan.

“Tourism is essential for New Zealand Inc and we needed a strong clear brand like this to paint a picture of what our wider region offers visitors. I really like it and what it represents, and I think most tourism operators will feel the same,” he said.

Discover Waitomo general manager Travis Donoghue agreed.

“I love it. People often refer to Waitomo as ‘magic’ and seeing this aspect of the region reflected in the Mighty Waikato story is fantastic. It will be a great asset to help us promote our experiences and the wider region.”

SkyCity Hamilton general manager Michelle Baillie said it was great for operators to see a major project in the region’s tourism strategy come to life.

“Other regions have strong visitor brands and it’s time our region had the same.”

Tainui Waka Tourism chair and Aotearoa Experience director Lee-Ann Muntz said the Mighty Waikato brand reflected iwi aspirations around the importance of Waikato Te Awa (Waikato River).

“Mighty Waikato aligns well with our current initiatives and future tourism offering as it very strongly calls on a sense of place. It will help uniquely position the Waikato region in terms of visitor attraction.”

For further information:

Jason Dawson, Chief Executive, Hamilton & Waikato Tourism

Phone: 027 203 3799

Hamilton & Waikato Tourism is the regional tourism organisation charged with increasing international and domestic leisure and business travellers, expenditure and stay. The organisation is funded through a public/private partnership and covers the heartland Waikato areas of Hamilton City, Matamata-Piako, Otorohanga, South Waikato, Waikato, Waipa and Waitomo Districts.

Further support for the Mighty Waikato Visitor Brand

“The Mighty Waikato is a strong proposition for the region. Clearly defined regional consumer stories and brands absolutely support the tourism industry’s regional growth and dispersal goals in terms of raising awareness and providing reasons to stay longer and spend more in a destination. Good stuff.”

Chris Roberts, Chief Executive, Tourism Industry Aotearoa

Wednesday 5 December 2018
For immediate release

Media Release from Young Tourism Export Council

Congratulations to the 2018 YoungTEC Award winners

YoungTEC is proud to announce the winners of their 2019 Excellence and Rising Star awards.

With a record breaking year of entries, these awards recognise the outstanding efforts and contribution of YoungTEC members to the development of New Zealand’s tourism industry.

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star winner receives complimentary registration to the 2018 Tourism Export Council Annual Conference, YoungTEC Summit and Xmas Symposium, as well as $500 to assist with travel expenses courtesy of the Tourism Export Council of NZ.

The winner and finalists for the 2018 Rising Star award were:

Danielle Davies, SKYCITY Group – Winner
Ella Spittle, Southern Discoveries – Finalist
Lauren Campbell, Kiwi Rail – Finalist

YoungTEC Chair Nicole Botting says the finalists were all incredibly strong contenders.

“Danielle is the epitome of a rising star, she goes above and beyond in both her role and in the support of the New Zealand tourism industry. We are proud to have her as a member of YoungTEC , and now as our 2018 Rising Star award winner.”

Excellence Award

The Excellence award winner receives a two-week professional development placement in one of Tourism New Zealand’s international offices, flights and accommodation sponsored by Air New Zealand and Accor Hotels, and $1,000 courtesy of the Tourism Export Council.

The winner and finalists for the 2018 Excellence award were:

Emily Byrne, Tourism Industry Aotearoa – Winner

Rachel Leinhardt, Skyline Enterprises – Finalist

Seb McKinnon, Tomahawk – Finalist

One of the judges Tourism Export Council Chair Anna Black says “All three finalists this year were of such a high calibre it was difficult to separate them. Emily’s passion for the industry was evident. She demonstrated an impressive ability to learn from experiences and apply those learnings to continuously improve herself, her team and the industry as a whole.”

ENDS.

About YoungTEC

YoungTEC is an organisation of young tourism professionals under the age of 36 years who are members of Tourism Export Council companies. A YoungTEC membership offers regular networking events with other young professionals in the tourism industry, educational workshops and a professional development programme complete with a mentor which gives you the most up-to-date tourism information and tips to take into your own workplace.

For more information on YoungTEC and to find out how to become a member visit www.tourismexportcouncil.org.nz/ytec or go to their Facebook page www.facebook.com/youngtourismexportcouncil.

For more information please contact:

Nicole Botting – YoungTEC Chair

027 418 8943

nicole.botting@christchurchnz.com

Wednesday 5 December 2018
For immediate release

Media Release from Young Tourism Export Council

Congratulations to the 2019 YoungTEC Award winners

YoungTEC is proud to announce the winners of their 2019 Excellence and Rising Star awards.

With a record breaking year of entries, these awards recognise the outstanding efforts and contribution of YoungTEC members to the development of New Zealand’s tourism industry.

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star winner receives complimentary registration to the 2019 Tourism Export Council Annual Conference, YoungTEC Summit and Xmas Symposium, as well as $500 to assist with travel expenses courtesy of the Tourism Export Council of NZ.

The winner and finalists for the 2019 Rising Star award were:

Danielle Davies, SKYCITY Group – Winner
Ella Spittle, Southern Discoveries – Finalist
Lauren Campbell, Kiwi Rail – Finalist

YoungTEC Chair Nicole Botting says the finalists were all incredibly strong contenders.

Excellence Award

The winner and finalists for the 2019 Excellence award were:

Emily Byrne, Tourism Industry Aotearoa – Winner

Rachel Leinhardt, Skyline Enterprises – Finalist

Seb McKinnon, Tomahawk – Finalist

ENDS.

About YoungTEC

For more information on YoungTEC and to find out how to become a member visit www.tourismexportcouncil.org.nz/ytec or go to their Facebook page www.facebook.com/youngtourismexportcouncil.

For more information please contact:

Nicole Botting – YoungTEC Chair

027 418 8943

nicole.botting@christchurchnz.com

M E D I A R E L E A S E

Kaikōura has topped Airbnb’s global trending destination list for 2019

Maria Cantazariti, PR Manager Australia & New Zealand AirBnB (based on Australia) contacted Glenn Ormsby at Destination Kaikōura today to advise Kaikōura has topped the world’s list of global trending destinations in 2019.

Glenn Ormsby, General Manager Destination Kaikōura said, “We are absolutely thrilled to learn that Kaikōura has topped Airbnb’s global trending destinations list for 2019. The news is very exciting. After a challenging two years (post-earthquake 2016) and working hard to ensure our reputation as New Zealand’s premier marine destination remains high in the minds of prospective visitors, to emerge as the top trending visitor destination in 2019 is a wonderful accolade for the community. Thank you to all AirBnB travelers. To be included on such a prestigious list of emerging visitor destinations in the world is humbling and very much appreciated.”

AirBnB global trending destinations 2019 list include:

Kaikōura, New Zealand
Xiamen, China
Puebla, Mexico
Normandy, France
Great Smoky Mountains, US
Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Accra, Ghana
Mozambique
Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley, US
Santa Catarina State, Brazil
Batumi, Georgia
Winnipeg, Canada
Pondicherry, India
Uzbekistan
Calabria, Italy
Andalucia, Spain
Taiwan

General Manager Destination Kaikōura, Glenn Ormsby said, “We’re really excited about this this. We believe it’s reflective of some of the excellent hosting (manaakitanga) by Airbnb operators in the region, the extensive PR & Comms campaign we’ve delivered out in the market since Jan 2017 post-quake, and support with offshore marketing by Tourism NZ, Christchurch Airport, ChristchurchNZ, and local operators over the past 18 months (particularly Whale Watch Kaikōura, Encounter Kaikōura and Hapuku Lodge & Treehouses). We’re stoked, as we know the Mayor, Council and community will be.

Airbnb’s announcement helps to consolidate the profile Kaikoura, Christchurch and the Canterbury region has as New Zealand’s newest and most progressive and contemporary visitor destinations in the future which is really exciting.

What a year 2018 has been. A very different story, a positive story, a great story, compared to the unknowns at the same time last year (Dec 2017). The tourism sector has rebounded more quickly than we could have hoped for. The fast return of visitors to Kaikōura has hugely been influenced by government’s investment with recovery marketing funds and the work key tourism operators and agencies have done offshore to keep spreading the message that Kaikōura is open.

The partnerships we have with other agencies like Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Interislander and Kiwirail and Bluebridge, transport and coach companies, inbound tour operators, the i-SITE network and hotel chains has also contributed to the better than expected fast rebound of visitors. This highlights the destination does not work in isolation, and, when we work together, collaborative marketing really pays off.”

One of the highlights this year was with Kaikōura being selected by National Geographic USA as a special feature destination across their global network. Other highlights include:

Kaikōura was selected by Lonely Planet as the top destination to visit in the South Island and also was deemed as one of the best food experiences on Lonely Planet’s 2018 Ultimate Eastlist and number #7 on the list
This year, Whale Watch Kaikōura won the NZ Tourism Award Best Maori Business
And, NCTIR winning the International Civil Engineering People’s Choice award this year is just the icing on the cake. Wonderful recognition of the great work all the crews have done in getting Kaikoura back on track

Visitor statistics are very encouraging. From a visitor spend perspective Year-end October 2018 we are up +89.3% compared to YE Oct 2017. Pre-quake annual visitor spend was $121m. It is now $106m. Only -12.5% behind pre-quake numbers.

Year-end September 2018 commercial accommodation stats show guest nights up +53.2% and guest arrivals up 62.6%. Pre-quake guest arrivals we are still tracking -20.6% behind but with the Coastal Pacific train trip now back online, we hope to get back to pre-quake visitor numbers by end April 2019.

For further comment please contact Glenn Ormsby, General Manager Destination Kaikōura on 027 547 9036 or Glenn@kaikoura.co.nz