In this issue:

• DMCM Updates

• Local News

• Trade News

 

 

DMCM UPDATES

 

Mackenzie District Defying Trends

 

Recent NZ-wide trends in visitor numbers and guest night statistics are still being defied by the Mackenzie District.  The figures for the year ending May this year show total NZ numbers down 3.5%. Mackenzie District is following its own trend, and is once again showing an increase - up 7.9%. 

 

 

TRENZ

 

TRENZ took place from the 8 -11^th June in Auckland and was attended by 7 operators representing 9 operations.  While there were some 50 less exhibitors and 60 less buyers than previous years the general comment through all sectors was that it was a very successful event with strong buyer interest. DMCM concentrated on companies that we knew were visiting the region but who were not stopping or staying in the region. The Mackenzie continues to grow in people’s awareness and is now very much a destination in itself.  We believe that we were very justified in going to TRENZ as a destination in our own right and not part of the Christchurch and Canterbury area (although we were sited close by). We received considerable praise for our display and branding. The Mackenzie operators had an input into the branding and took considerable pride in their display. We are very grateful for their ongoing financial commitment to TRENZ which enabled us to be attending as a region in our own right, and also indicates their faith in DMCM.

 

Tourism New Zealand Visit

The visit to the Mackenzie by George Hickton and six of his team in late June was an outstanding success. The party spent time at Aoraki/Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo. At the Hermitage the visitors were able to experience the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre and enjoy the very best of the Panorama restaurant. Other highlights included a scenic flight with the Mt Cook Ski Plane Company and a visit to Mt John where the group was entertained and enlightened by staff of the Canterbury University and Earth and Sky. The Lake Tekapo Promotions Associations also hosted a breakfast session where each of the executive team gave a short description of their role. Before leaving, members of the group visited the proposed Lake Tekapo i-SITE.

Follow up from the visit has been excellent and already we have had confirmed a visit from 4 of the International Media Program in late July. It was a visit that was long overdue but one that was very worthwhile and warranted and has lifted the profile of the region within the ranks of Tourism New Zealand 

 

Cycle Ways

 

Planning work is continuing to progress on the proposed cycleway from Aoraki Mt Cook to Oamaru and the draft plan should be completed by the end of the month.

 

New Team members

Mandy Gillies has joined the organisation  to assist with many of the projects that we are currently involved with and will be working on the Lake Tekapo i-SITE and the Cycleway development through to the end of the year. Mandy has an extensive tourism and marketing background particularly in destination management.

We are delighted to announce that Angie Spencer has been appointed to the position of Manager, Twizel Information Centre.  Angie has over 16 years experience in the travel and tourism industry working in wholesale, retail and more recently internet travel sectors of the market.  Angie and her husband Murray moved to Twizel last year and both a have a strong passion for the Mackenzie country and all that it has to offer.  She will commence with us on Monday August 24^th.  Congratulations and welcome, Angie.

 

Twizel Visitor Centre

The Twizel centre opened on July 1^st under new ownership with staff from Lake Pukaki covering until the new manger commences in mid August.

Staff are currently managing both the info centre and also the events centre until the Community Board employ staff to manage the Events centre. The Info centre is open 7 days a week as a trial and the area will receive a building extension within the next month which will make the building more visible for the visitor and offer a greater space for visitors and customers alike. The first two weeks were very quiet with around 20-40 visitors a day and around 40 % of those being event centre business.

We are grateful to the MDC for their support across the many areas of setup and operation and also the Twizel Community Board for their support.

 

Tekapo i-SITE

A new official i-SITE will open in Lake Tekapo later this year, joining the nationwide network of visitor centres which offer impartial advice, information and bookings for activities, accommodation and transport.  The i-SITE will be in a prime location next to the Godley Hotel on the main state highway which registers more than 1.4 million vehicle movements a year.  Along with the Twizel Visitor centre the new i-SITE will complement the existing Lake Pukaki Visitor Information centre which the Mackenzie Tourism & Development Trust has been managing for the past year.  All three centres will be run by the Trust on behalf of the Mackenzie District Council.

 

"Our regional tourism marketing strategy is designed to ensure maximum economic and social benefit by increasing guest nights, length of stay and number of activities chosen, as well as adding value to our visitor's experiences", says Phil Brownie, General Manager of Destination Mt Cook Mackenzie.  "We've previously relied on local operators to provide the bulk of the region's information service and it's their valuable contributions which have helped put us on the map.  The new information centres will help us take it to the next level."

 

Lake Tekapo Community Centre

 

Council confirmed it was happy to provide a waterfront site on the Northern side of Lakeside Drive in Tekapo as the site of the new Community Centre.  As the zoning precludes any commercial use, no rental will attach to the site.  The site was the unanimous choice of the community Board after debating the merits of a number of sites, including the existing site in Aorangi Crescent.

 

Winter Marketing Group

 

A high degree of interest has been shown in the winter marketing campaign, particularly by businesses in Tekapo. This could result in increased participation in a winter campaign for next year. The prizes for the first two competitions were drawn with the winners being from Christchurch and Auckland. The Christchurch winner utilized her prize (Tekapo Tailor-made Backpackers / Alpine Springs / Earth & Sky) on the weekend of June 13, and the Auckland winner is booked in for his weekend at Ohau. The entries were from all around NZ which shows we are being heard and we are achieving the aim of building the brand of Mackenzie as a winter destination.

 

We have had significant amounts of exposure both in paid and unpaid  advertising and editorial media. The editorial is very much emphasizing the ‘destination’ factor.  Articles appeared in the Sydney Herald, Dom Post, NZ Skier, and skiers at Mt Dobson recently mentioned reading about the Ski Area in Australia.  Further media visits are being arranged for winter articles to be published early next year to help in building business for the next winter season.

 

Our on line advertising with snow.co and chillout.co have also provided us with the opportunity for editorial exposure on the sites and we have utilized this.  Mt Dobson having an early opening has also drawn a large amount of media exposure.

We had a pre-season evening get together which was pretty well attended and saw everybody in a positive frame of mind about the coming season and about what we are doing.

  

LOCAL NEWS

 

Mackenzie ski area wins supreme award for second time

 

Ohau has once again won accolades for its famous high country hospitality and tourism operation expertise.  Mike and Louise Neilson’s Ohau Snow Fields and lodge operation recently picked up New Zealand’s Snow Sports’ supreme award for best large ski field service provider in New Zealand, as voted by the public through the www.snow.co.nz website.

The supreme ski field service award is the second for Ohau Snow Fields, the Neilsons and their field manager Craig Ovenden - they also won in 2004.  The award requires excellence in the areas of Best Staff, Best Access Road, Best Lift Department, Best Kept Toilets, Best Café Satisfaction, and Best Snowsports School.

 

Destination Mt Cook Mackenzie General Manager Phil Brownie is delighted with the Ohau team’s achievement and says it is well deserved.  “We pride ourselves on our high country hospitality in the Mackenzie and firmly believe in delivering great service across the region so people will want to come back.  The Ohau team really epitomize that philosophy.  Mike and Louise are fantastic hosts, understand their visitors’ needs and, after 24 years experience, have consistently great service down to a fine art,” he says.

 

Mike and Louise are proud of their team and say the award is especially meaningful because it was voted for by the public.  “It blows me away when you think of all the big ski resorts that we are up against,” says Mike.  Louise believes the secret to their success is the “Ohau family”.  “Our staff is like family.  We’re very fortunate because most of them have been with us for a number of years and come back season after season.  Their knowledge and passion is invaluable.  They’re just as passionate as we are about the place and guests love it because they see that we genuinely believe this is the best place in the world to be,” she says.

 

The Neilsons believe continued investment in improving the ski area is very important to keep things “fresh” for their visitors.  Last year $2 million was spent on snowmaking, which resulted in 23 new snow guns being installed.  The next two steps of the three-stage development will see an extra 55 snow guns and a second chairlift installed as well as a new three-storey base building and snow school.

 

For more information about Ohau Snow Field and Lake Ohau Lodge visit www.ohau.co.nz .

  

Alpine Recreation attains Enviro Gold Status

 

Alpine Recreation have recently attained Qualmark Enviro Gold status, a widely known recognition for taking real care of the environment they operate in.  The Qualmark accreditation gives some assurance of environmental sustainability and helps to allay those concerns. See http://www.qualmark.co.nz/responsibletourism.php for further information.

  

The majority of Alpine Recreation's clients give top marks on their feedback forms for environmental responsibility, due to what they observe while on a guided trip, especially the cleanly manner in which both Rex Simpson Hut in the Two Thumb Range and Caroline Hut in Aoraki National Park are operated. Potential travelers from overseas are increasingly concerned about the carbon footprint of a trip to New Zealand.

Alpine Recreation reduces its carbon footprint and environmental impact through such things as:

 

·                       restricting group size

·                       using fuel efficient vehicles

·                       minimizing use of vehicles and aircraft

·                       recycling, re-using, composting, avoiding "consumerism"

·                       minimal impact huts

·                       bulk buying of food supplies

·                       promoting conservation of native flora and fauna

·                       supporting community efforts to encourage appreciation of the natural environment

 

Further details about "how green are we?" can be found on their website, http://www.alpinerecreation.com/about.html

  

Record numbers at Mt Dobson for Opening Day

 

An early start for the 2009 Season and the lure of free lift passes brought record numbers flocking to Mount Dobson Ski Area for opening day on 20^th June.  Over 1300 people celebrated the 30^th Anniversary of the opening of the ski area in 1979.  Sunny skies and amazing snow conditions provided an awesome day.  Owner and manager Peter Foote commented that it was the best snow base for this time of year since the start of the ski area.

 

Ice Hockey on the Rise in the Mackenzie

 

Ice hockey has long been a sport in the Mackenzie where the high country farmers and farm workers played on frozen ponds and lakes from as far back as the early 1900’s.  Now, in 2009, ice hockey is once again on the rise in the Mackenzie District.  Two key factors have worked together to make this happen; one, the opening of the Winter Park in Lake Tekapo, and two, the sale of the old ice rink and land by the Albury Ice Hockey Association.  The proceeds from the sale have provided significant funding for the growth of ice hockey, figure skating and general ice skating classes.

 

In 1937 Wyndham Barker donated a trophy, the Erewhon Cup.  Since the 1980’s this cup has been contested by teams from the Southern Ice Hockey League, including Albury, Ranfurly, Alexandra, Queenstown, Gore and Dunedin.  The last time a Tekapo Team won the cup was in 1965 and the Albury Kings won it for the last time in 1992.  After the Tekapo Bull Tahrs met the Queenstown Rangers in the final recently, the Erewhon Cup is finally back in Tekapo after 44 years!  Well done team!

 

For more information on ice hockey phone Johnnie Wheeler   03 680 6271    or figure/ice skating ph Wilma van den Bosch   03 680 6774    .

 

 

New developments at Aoraki Mount Cook

 

Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Village Ltd recently announced an exciting new direction for the company’s business interests in the Aoraki Mount Cook Village.

 

Chairman John Davies said Denis Callesen, longstanding General Manager of the iconic Hermitage Hotel, would take up the newly created role of General Manager of Tourism for the company.  Aoraki Mt Cook Alpine Village Limited currently owns The Hermitage Hotel, Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre (planetarium, 3D movie, museum and stargazing), Glacier Explorers, Alpine Guides Trekking, and Aoraki Mount Cook Airport .

 

A new hotel General Manager has been appointed to continue business growth and development in domestic and international markets.  The hotel has seen a significant market shift from group tours to more Kiwis and international independent travelers in the past year.

 

Mr Callesen will be responsible for the business development of the company’s new and existing tourism activities in the Mount Cook area, including the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, Glacier Explorers, trekking, and stargazing.  “Denis was the visionary and driving force behind the company’s $10 million Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre,” said Mr Davies.  “It’s his passion, drive and a long history of developing tourism products in national parks that led us to develop the new role.”

 

New General Manager Andrew Cleverley has recently taken the helm of the hotel.  Mr Cleverley, originally from Timaru, holds a Bachelor of Tourism Management from Lincoln University and has a comprehensive background in hotel operations, strategic planning and product development.  This appointment follows his return from Australia where he was General Manger of Cairns’ premier four-star Rydges Plaza Hotel.

 

The Hermitage celebrates 125 year milestone

 

There were hugs, laughter and tears of joy as 250 people reunited from around the world to celebrate the landmark 125^th birthday of a Kiwi icon.  Generations of Aoraki Mount Cook’s close-knit community caught up with old friends and workmates at a huge three-day birthday bash on Queen’s Birthday weekend. They were there to pay tribute to The Hermitage Hotel, the ‘grand old lady’ that holds a special place in the hearts of those who have ever visited or lived in Aoraki Mount Cook Village, located deep in the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and World Heritage area. 

 

From its modest beginnings in 1884 as a 12-bed ‘cob’ building to the 217-room combined hotel, motel and chalet complex of today, the hotel has played a huge part in New Zealand’s pioneering history.  It’s been a home away from home for climbers like the late Sir Edmund Hillary, and hosted innumerable guests, dignitaries and celebrities from around the world.

 

However, for past and present Aoraki Mount Cook residents what brought them back to their roots was the sense of community that has forged lifelong links.  The Hermitage has not only been the lifeblood of local employment, it’s been a hub for the good times and bad - parties, romances, weddings, wetting of babies’ heads, mountain rescues and memorial services. 

 

The tiny community is one of the only places in New Zealand where only those who work there are entitled to live there with their families.  You can’t buy a house (all houses are owned by concession holders) and you can’t retire there - a difficult concept to accept for those who fall in love with the place.

 

The hotel has undergone a number of significant additions, renovations and innovations over the past 125 years, and technology has improved with a newly upgraded website providing a wealth of up-to-the-minute information, hot deals and social networking.  For more information visit www.hermitage.co.nz.

 

Snow Tubing Park opens in Tekapo

 

Alpine Springs, Spa & Winter Park, located on the shores of Lake Tekapo, has recently  launched its eagerly anticipated Snow Tubing Park on 4 July.  The state-of-the-art 100m long by 50m wide snow slope is dedicated entirely to snow tubing and playing in the snow.  Early snowfalls have already provided good cover and snow guns will top up the base with man-made snow as needed. 

 

Snow tubing will be a valuable addition to the Winter Park which also features an international size rink for ice skating, ice hockey and curling.  The Winter Park complements Alpine Springs’ outdoor hot pools and boutique day spa, making it the ultimate winter experience for all ages.

Alpine Springs director Karl Burtscher is excited about the new stage of the development.

 

“We’re offering an affordable one-stop relaxation and recreation package for visitors and locals and I believe the Snow Tubing Park will be a big draw card, particularly for families.  Snow tubing is hugely popular because anyone can do it.  You don’t need any special skills or expensive equipment; you just sit on the tube and go, its fantastic fun.  We’ve got thirty snow tubes available – some fast, some slow – as well as snowmaking and floodlighting to provide the best possible conditions,” he says.

 

With the opening of the Snow Tubing Park, Alpine Springs has introduced a range of great value packages, including a new Super Combo deal which includes the hot pools, ice rink and Snow Tubing Park.

 

In line with the rest of Alpine Springs, which was recently endorsed by Qualmark, the Snow Tubing Park has been developed with a strong focus on sustainability. The snow guns are hooked up to the complex’s sustainable, energy-efficient refrigeration and heat regeneration plant which cleans, recycles and cools water from the hot pools and the ice rink.

 

Hours of operation are the same as the rest of the complex – 10am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday.  For more information about Alpine Springs/Spa and Winter Park visit www.alpinesprings.co.nz.

 

TRADE NEWS

 

New Zealand Skiing 14 – 40% Cheaper For International Guests This Season

 

Skiing in New Zealand will be cheaper this year for international travelers from North America and Europe according to the latest edition of an annual study of ski lift ticket pricing at resorts worldwide.  The Skiinfo.com World Ski Lift Ticket Price Report 2009 is the eighth edition of the study which compares the prices of a six-day high season lift ticket in more than 600 ski resorts in 40 countries around the world, converting the ticket prices to Euros, US dollars and British pounds.

In 2008 the Report placed New Zealand as the sixth most expensive country in the world for skiers, behind resorts in Dubai, South Africa, Australia, USA and South Korea.  In the 2009 Guide New Zealand has slipped ten places to 16^th with tickets costing nearly 27% less for Europeans, thanks to the strong Euro currency. 

For US residents the savings of skiing in New Zealand are even greater than for Europeans, down from an average of just over $302 (US) for six days in the 2008 Report to $190 (US) in the new Report, a saving of almost 40% - the result of a strong US dollar.

Average prices for Brits skiing New Zealand are down 14%.  This compares favourably with increased prices to almost all other ski destinations for UK citizens.

For a detailed copy of the report, email info@snow24.com

 

13 Recession Busting Ideas

 

From the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants come 13 recession busting ideas which tourism operators can apply to their own businesses:

 

• Review your budget on a monthly basis
• Evaluate all expenses
• Watch receivables closely
• Reduce your energy consumption
• Ask all new customers where they heard about you – and adjust marketing strategies accordingly
• Tighten  up your credit and collection policies
• Systemise, systemise, systemise
• Review medical plans
• Consider increasing insurance deductables to reduce premiums
• Carpe Diem - find out what current market trends can abe capitalised on
• Reduce inventory levels
• Consider tacking on fuel surcharges or past due interst charges
• Finally - never compromise quality to save costs

 

New appointments at Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism

 

Kath Low has been appointed GM, Marketing and Business Development at CCT.  She replaces Dean Gorddard who is returning to the UK with his family.  CCT Chief Executive Christine Prince says she is excited Kath is stepping in to the position which encompasses both marketing and business development.  “Kath’s role is key to the continuing development of strong, long term partnerships with the region’s tourism operators to market the region together.

 

Kath has a wealth of experience in the tourism and marketing fields, and an in-depth knowledge of the region’s tourism businesses.  Previous experiences include positions with Crowne Plaza, Kathmandu and Untouched World.

 

Katherine Prusas has also joined the team.  She is well known in the industry in her recent role as Industry Communications Manager with Tourism New Zealand.

  

Snippets from Tourism New Zealand

 

Thanks a Million Australia!

 

The NZ tourism industry said a big “Thanks a Million” to Australian visitors to celebrate the record of welcoming a million Australians in a 12 month period, in the year to May.  The celebration involves a launch in which Australians will go in the draw to win a “Millionaire’s Holiday” in NZ.

 

The Great Kiwi Invite

 

The Prime Minister launched a new tourism campaign today, calling on all New Zealanders to support the tourism industry and become ambassadors for their country.  ‘The Great Kiwi Invite’ is a new Tourism New Zealand initiative encouraging New Zealanders to get in touch with friends and family overseas and invite them over for a visit.

 

As an added incentive, there are also a number of return flights from Air New Zealand ports around the world up for grabs for friends and relatives of New Zealanders who receive the invite.  “This campaign is about using one of our best assets, good old fashioned Kiwi hospitality, to help New Zealand’s economy in these tougher times,” says George Hickton, Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive.  “It’s the 10 year anniversary of the launch of the 100% Pure New Zealand marketing campaign.  It’s been a very successful campaign and we’ve seen some tremendous benefits for New Zealand, but the global economic situation has meant that fewer people are traveling worldwide. Now we’re asking Kiwis to get back in touch with friends and family overseas, get them down here and help out.”

 

To take part, New Zealanders need to go on line at www.thegreatkiwiinvite.co.nz  to personalize an invitation that they then send to their friends and family overseas. When that person accepts the invitation, they go into a draw to win a return trip for two to New Zealand, courtesy of Air New Zealand.  ‘The Great Kiwi Invite’ campaign will be the first time that Kiwis will see Tourism New Zealand’s marketing campaign on televisions in New Zealand.

 

Watch the television commercial and preview ‘The Great Kiwi Invite’ on line at http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/tourism_info/about-us/100-pure-campaign/100-pure-campaign_home.cfm

 

Backpackers Still Traveling

 

While many in the tourism sector are struggling to fill beds and seats, owners of backpacker hostels say they have seen numbers holding up well so far despite the global economic downturn.  Mark Wells, YHA Chief Executive, says his network has seen both profit and volume rise slightly so far this year compared with last year, and Base Backpackers is reporting a similar trend.
”As a sector, I think we are partially insulated from the economic downturn.  Traditionally our market has a passion for travel and activities and that’s not linked directly with their personal wealth or with strong global economies,” says Wells.

 

 

Market Profiles Available

 

The Ministry of Tourism’s Research Team are pleased to announce some new resources on its research website… these include profiles for each of NZ’s top nine markets, plus an overall report.  The reports provide excellent contextual information about the markets.

 

• Air links to NZ
• Propensity to travel
• When they travel
• Regions they visit
• Length of stay
• Spend
• What they do plus more

 

Visit www.tourismresearch.govt.nz/Data--Analysis/Tourism-Sector-Profiles/International-Visitor-Markets/

  

Queen honours 50 years in tourism

 

Jefferie Tippen, Tourism New Zealand’s only Christchurch based staff member, was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to tourism in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.  Jeff has no plans to retire from his current role as i-SITE Operations Manager, despite celebrating 50 years with the NZ Tourism Board late last year.

 

“There have been a sea change in terms of the Government tourist body’s role, what is expected of the tourism industry and just how important it is to our economy,” says George Hickton, Tourism NZ’s Chief Executive.  “Jeff has worked through all these changes and has helped the organization and the industry move in new directions.” 

 

NZ Wilderness – Magazine of the Year, Sport & Leisure

 

NZ Wilderness Magazine has some editions coming up that might be able to showcase your particular area of tourism.  The following are an indication for upcoming issues:

 

• October – Camping Supplement, Gear Guide (packs), Review (sleeping bags, cameras)
• November – Trail Running Supplement, Gear Guide (tents), Review (multi day packs),  Xmas Gift Guide
• December – Kayak Supplement, gear guide (sunglasses/pocket knives-multi tools/hiking shorts-pants-tees, Review (3-4 season boots) Xmas Gift Guide, A2 Map

If you would like to advertise your product in any of these issues, please contact Dave Nicholson, dave@lifestylepublishing.co.nz

 

 Agreement helps tourism and Hospitality keep skilled workers

 

New Zealand’s tourism and hospitality sectors are welcoming a move to a more streamlined application process for holders of temporary work permits.  Immigration and Work and Income have agreed on a more effective process to assist employers and employees when applying for a further temporary work permits.  Immigration NZ has committed to advise the applicant whether their temporary work permit application will be approved or declined at least 30 days before their current permit expires.  This gives them and their employer as much certainty as possible in advance of the permit expiring.  In some areas temporary overseas workers are crucial to Nazi’s multi-billion dollar tourism and hospitality sectors, particularly during peak season.  Many of the available jobs are in areas with low unemployment or where there are no New Zealanders with suitable skills, even as unemployment is increasing.

 

And finally...

 

Once again, if you have any news, events or interesting snippets that we can use in newsletters or on the website to promote interest in your business and our district, please let us know.  Email info (and pics if you have them) to Alex, mtcooknz@yahoo.com 

 

Regards,

Phil Brownie and the team from Destination Mt Cook Mackenzie, Lake Pukaki Visitor Information Centre and Twizel Information Centre.