In this issue:
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DMCM Updates
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Local News
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Trade News
DMCM UPDATES
Lake Tekapo i-SITE
The brand new Lake Tekapo i-SITE Visitor Centre is progressing well and will be opening late November, adjacent to the Godley Hotel alongside SH 8. The i-SITE will provide booking services for accommodation, activities & attractions, transport as well as providing local, regional & national information to visitors & locals alike. There will be a selection of retail products available ranging from traditional souvenirs to handmade products from local artists. The Centre has been designed to showcase the beauty of Lake Tekapo and surrounding Mackenzie Country and will display images reflective of the stunning landscapes of the region. A display of the hydro electric scheme envisaged to highlight the history of scheme in the Mackenzie and will be detailed along with some information about the history of the area.
Mackenzie Continues to Look Good
Once again, the Mackenzie region is showing great statistics for guest nights. For the year ending August 2009, we have had an increase of 7.4%, compared with an overall NZ decrease of 2.9%. For the past year, we have consistently shown increases in guest nights for Year Ending – overall NZ figures have been lower all year, with the past eight months showing decreases. Well done, us!
Famils 
DMCM hosted another successful famil recently with a group from Japan and Korea Air. Among the activities were ski planes, hot pools, roller blading, stargazing discussions and lunch in Tekapo, followed by a stroll around the church and dog before leaving for Christchurch. The ski planes were described by the escort as “the most incredible experience ever”. Thanks go to all who helped showcase our amazing region.
LOCAL NEWS
Mt Dobson Ski Area Celebrates 30th Birthday 
Locally owned and operated winter playground Mt Dobson Ski Area celebrated 30 years in the business recently, with a “Retro Day”, complete with 70’s music, $20 lift passes, and birthday decorations. The sun was shining for the occasion, with the sound of pipes and drums echoing across the mountains as members of the Mackenzie Highland Pipe Band treated the field to stirring music. Early afternoon saw speeches from several long time skiers and boarders; some of whom were present at opening day 30 years ago. Tribute was paid to owner Peter Foote, his late wife Shirley and their sons. It was acknowledged that the creation of the Ski Area was also due to the huge amount of support of friends and community groups that helped over the years, especially in the ground-breaking days. Speeches were followed by a cutting of the cake by Peter Foote and his son Bruce, and birthday cake and mulled wine were passed out after spot prizes were drawn.
Hundreds do ‘Hard Labour’ in Twizel 
More than 700 runners and bikers from around New Zealand and Australia did ‘hard labour’ in Twizel over Labour Weekend. The popular annual sporting event started with a 19.2km off-road Pyramid Run on Saturday 25 October.
On Sunday the newly-introduced 60 km road bike Canal Caper was a huge sucess. Organiser Steve Skinner was delighted with the number of entries. “We weren’t sure how many entries to expect but 200 riders was way beyond our expectations. People seemed to really enjoy the course although the hill climb caught some by surprise. It worked well though because it stretched out the field and made it a more interesting race.”
The 44km Dusky Trail Mountain Bike Race rounded out the sporting action on Labour Monday.
Conditions for the three days were near perfect and the first rain drops only started to fall at the end of the prize giving. Hard Labour event organiser Ali Bell says the weekend was a huge success with record numbers entering the Pyramid Run and Dusky Trail.
“People had a great time and adding a third event to the mix seems to have been a hit. Hard Labour is a great way to spend a long weekend – getting active outdoors, enjoying the company of friends and family and seeing some of New Zealand’s most beautiful scenery at the same time. It’s great to see the community spirit and camaraderie amongst the competitors.
“Special thanks go to our fantastic team of volunteers who were outstanding once again and all of the supporters and spectators for their support. I hope everyone will be back in 2010 to do it all again.”
For results and more photos (credit to Donna Falconer) visit www.twizelhardlabour.org.nz.
Mt Dobson Motels Celebrates Anniversary
Christine and Gavin Lloyd-Forrest are celebrating one year of ownership of Mt Dobson Motels in Kimbell. Drawn to the area because of the friendly people and the incredible scenery, they are offering 3,4,2,4,11,4,1 - that is 3 nights for the price of two, for the month of November, for their 1st anniversary! 5 Self contained units, pet friendly, sleep in friendly – visit www.mtdobsonmotel.co.nz to book.
Potential $$ for Starlight Reserve
Tekapo’s Starlight Reserve bid has been identified a one of Canterbury’s most promising – and potentially lucrative – regional projects. Recently the Canterbury V5 initiative unveiled its list of 11 projects considered likely to generate hundreds of millions of dollars. The Tekapo bid to develop the world’s first World Heritage starlight reserve is on it, delighting project spokesperson Graeme Murray. “We are very, very excited that the Mackenzie and its night sky, which has been internationally recognized, is coming to light in the eyes of New Zealanders.
Making the top five and receiving a package of professional assistance would be invaluable for the starlight reserve project, which has been funded privately so far. It is ranked alongside plans to build an international student village, a cruise ship berth, and an Olympic standard rowing venue. The overall criteria for the final five projects will be their potential to make a contribution towards increasing the wealth of Canterbury, the creation of new jobs and spin off opportunities that may result from the project. The top five projects will be announced in February next year. For further information contact info@starlightreserve.co.nz
First in NZ Again!
The arrival of the new Gippsland GA8 Turbo Airvan last week is another first for Air Safaris. The new addition to their fleet is the first of it’s kind in New Zealand. This marks the end of a $5.5 million 6 year aircraft fleet upgrade program to ensure the company operates the most up to date aircraft in NZ, in a scenic flight seeing role. The new aircraft are quieter, more comfortable and continue the company’s guarantee that every person gets a window seat. They are available for charter to popular destinations throughout the South Island.
Glacier Explorers Grabs Awards 
Iceberg cruising proved to be a winner for the Mt Cook Mackenzie region at last night's South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. Iconic Mt Cook tourist attraction Glacier Explorers took out the hospitality and tourism category of the awards.
General Manager Denis Callesen was on hand to accept the award and said it was an honour to win against such stiff competition. “Three out of four finalists were from the Mackenzie Country so that’s a great testament to the calibre of activities the region offers.
“We’re blessed with spectacular scenery but we can’t just rely on Mt Cook to bring in the visitors. It’s important to have a range of unique world-class activities on offer to encourage people to stay longer and experience more. “Glacier Explorers is one of these activities. The fact that it’s the only tour of its kind in New Zealand and one of three in the world is a big draw card for visitors. “We place a huge emphasis on giving our passengers a once in a lifetime experience so we’ve worked hard to improve operational efficiency, reduce our environmental footprint and give our guides extensive training. As a result, we’ve significantly improved our numbers during an economic downturn which isn’t bad going.”
Glacier Explorers has been operating on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake in the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park since 1992 and is the sole operator allowed to do so. The Glacier Explorers boat cruise gives passengers the chance to get up close and personal with New Zealand’s largest glacier and its icebergs via four state-of-the-art boats. Passengers also get spectacular views of surrounding mountains and some of the best photographic opportunities in the national park.
For more information about Glacier Explorers visit www.glacierexplorers.com.
Alpine Recreation Ball Pass Video
Carla Braun-Elwert has finished the Ball Pass promotional movie and it is now on the Alpine Recreation website. It contains footage taken by the late Gottlieb Braun-Elwert of Helen Clark, and also footage of Gottlieb, taken by Carla’s fellow film student in Easter 2008. View it on www.alpinerecreation.com/ballpass.html
New Food and Beverage Manager on Menu 
An iconic Kiwi hotel has secured an international rising star to run its food and beverage operations. Thirty-three year-old Matthew Leonard started his new role as Food and Beverage Manager late in September at Aoraki Mount Cook’s Hermitage Hotel. He will be responsible for the management of all food and beverage operations including the award-winning à la carte Panorama restaurant, the Alpine restaurant buffet and the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre Café and Bar.
Originally from Wellington, Mr Leonard has more than 15 years’ hospitality experience both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Mr Leonard is delighted with his new role and says The Hermitage is a well-regarded international brand with a number of unique attributes – not least the stunning floor to ceiling views at each of its restaurants and bars. “The views give our dining areas a real wow factor that’s hard to beat. The hotel has a range of food and beverage options to suit different budgets so a lot of my role will be ensuring that wherever our guests are eating or drinking they’re getting an exceptional experience every time.”
The Hermitage General Manager Andrew Cleverley says Matthew will be a great asset to the team. “Matthew’s strong food and beverage knowledge, skills and management experience will make him a key contributor in helping us take The Hermitage to the next level. He has an extensive background in conferences and events, particularly weddings, so that will really add value to our business. We already host a lot of conferences, private functions and weddings so we’re keen to tap into his skills to further grow that market.
Kudos to Alpine Vista B&B
Alpine Cottage has once again gained the prestigious 5 Star Qualmark Rating for Holiday Homes after their recent assessment. This recognizes Alpine Cottage as one of NZ’s leading accommodation providers in this category. Pete & Jill Maxwell, who operate this along with their 4 Star Plus Bed & Breakfast, says it helps them to build the credibility of their business with domestic and international visitor alike. The Maxwells have also been one of the six finalists in the AA/@Home NZ Spirit of Hospitality Award over the last 4 years, having been Runner-Up in 2007 and overall winner in 2008. Pete says, “We aren’t in this business for awards, but it is really great to be recognized as doing a great job by our guests.” www.alpinevista.co.nz
Kaki Visitor Hide
The season is in full swing for the Kaki Visitor Hide. This is the best time to observe chicks, juveniles and adults. Free tours are available to other tourism operators in the area whenever there is a public tour going. Check with Ursula Paul at upaul@doc.govt.nz in advance, and go see our precious Mackenzie locals. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the world’s most endangered wading bird. The guided tour offers the chance to see black stilts/kaki and learn about their ecology and conservation. Daily tours are at 9.30 am and 4.30 pm, late October to April, and bookings are essential, at least 30 mins prior to tour start. Book at Twizel or Lake Pukaki Visitor Info Centre, or email kakivisitorhide@doc.govt.nz. For more information visit www.doc.govt.nz
New Zealand Falcon Lecture 
The NZ falcon/karearea is a fast-flying raptor that is endemic to NZ. (That is only found in NZ). With eye-sight eight times better than a human and able to fly at speeds of over 200 km it is no wonder this truly remarkable bird often leaves an impression on those that have seen it flying around in hill country.
Visiting falcon expert Dave Bell will be giving a public lecture on the falcon in Twizel. Come to the AV theatre at the Events Centre on Tuesday 24th November at 7pm. This talk will be suitable for adults and children (gold coin entry). Learn some more amazing facts about this Mackenzie Basin resident.
Keeping the Spirit of Youth Alive 
20th October saw the fulfillment of a long-held dream for 68 yr old Graeme Donovan as he stood atop Lendenfeld Peak (3194m) with his guide, Andrew Finnegan. Realising the dream of climbing a mountain over 3000m, Graeme then tacked on a quick two day romp over Ball Pass for good measure, astonishing his guide with his level of fitness.
The same day 75 yr old Peter Aimer climbed 3151m high Mt Sefton, proving himself capable of extending his climbing career way beyond his wildest expectations. A former Kiwi from Auckland, Peter had traveled from West Virginia, USA to fulfill his goal. He added Mt Sefton, - albeit considerably later than most people would attempt – to his list of climbing achievements; Mt Aspiring, Mt cook, Malte Brun (2 yrs ago) and many others. Peter was wading through knee-deep snow for much of the ascent, which added to the physical demands of the climb. The next day he was awed by the steep descent beside a waterfall down Scott’s Creek, negotiating house-sized boulders in the stream-bed through lush rainforest. He and his guide, Wolfgang Maier were rewarded with a relaxing soak in the hot pools at Welcome Flats in the Copeland Valley at the end of their endeavour.
Both guides, from Tekapo’s Alpine Recreation were full of respect for their senior clients. They achieved summits that many much younger aspirants would struggle with. Graeme and Peter took leave of their guides with a sparkle in their eyes and the vitality of their younger selves very much alive.
For more information visit www.alpinerecreation.com
DOC Summer Holiday Programme
The DOC Summer Holiday Programme is back again this summer, offering a fun time for everybody from the 4th to the 10th January 2010 in the Mackenzie. The focus will be on recreational outdoor activities while keeping conservation in mind; day walks, 4WD and Mountain bike trips, camping night out, craft workshop and family quiz. During the day there will be lots of information on our gorgeous outdoors and its inhabitants, and additional topical talks will be held during evenings. For a programme, email Ursula Paul at upaul@doc.govt.nz.
Enviro-logo Operators
On a related note, several of our operators have received Qualmark Enviro-logo awards;
- Alpine Recreation – Visitor endorsed gold
- Matuka Lodge – 5 Star Silver
- Mt Cook YHA – 5 Star Bronze
- The Hermitage – 4 Star Plus Gold
New Shop in Twizel 
Discovery Tours Ltd have opened a large new retail shop on the corner of Ostler Rd and Benmore Place in Twizel, to showcase their Tasman Glacier Tours, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Hikes and the Twizel Lord of the Rings tours. Discovery Tours Ltd also own and operate Helibike.com Ltd to provide bike rentals, Helibike mountain bike trips and a new downhill mountain bike ride. Over the next month the retail centre will be expanded to include outdoor clothing, hiking equipment and cycle equipment, including a bike repair service. For further information contact them on the free phone 0 800 213 868 , visit www.discoverytours.co.nz or pop in and take a look!
Accommodation Survey Redesign
The Accommodation Survey, published by Statistics NZ, is undergoing a redesign. The redesign has been done in consultation with RTOs and the Ministry of Tourism. It allows for more time series comparisons, as well as RTO comparisons. Commercial Accommodation Monitors will be finally produced for our region (Mackenzie) as a separate entity from Canterbury and Timaru.
TRADE NEWS
Additional $20 Million “Fantastic”
The $20 million additional funding for marketing New Zealand internationally, announced by the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key earlier this month, is a fantastic initiative and something the industry has been asking for, says TIA Chief Executive Tim Cossar. TNZ says it will primarily direct the additional funds into the US, China, UK/Europe and further joint venture work in Australia.
Purple Cow Changes Hands
The well known “Purple Cow” in Wanaka is under new ownership. YHA New Zealand has announced it’s purchase of the iconic backpackers hostel. YHA has taken over management since the beginning of November, with an official opening scheduled for later in the month. YHA CEO Mark Wells says, “We’ve been looking to improve our presence in Wanaka for some years now. The Purple Cow purchase is an opportunity to increase the number of beds we have in this destination, which we believe will become increasingly important strategically, and dramatically improve the quality of our location and premises.” The Purple cow has been a top ranked independent hostel for many years and will quickly assume a place as one of the country’s top YHAs.
Millions learn about NZ through Giant Rugby Ball
NZ is getting huge interest from Japanese people after a giant rugby ball was opened in Tokyo, under the high profile Tokyo Tower. The opening united Japanese and NZ cultures, with a formal Maori mihi whataktau, or welcome, which Shinto Priests responded to with their own formal blessing. The opening was covered by over 100 journalists from Japan’s eleven national television stations, eleven national newpapers and more than forty websites. The coverage caused a spike in Tourism New Zealand’s website for Japan, doubling the number of users from 1500 to 3000 in one day.
The ball is a temporary inflatable venue that measures 25 m long, 17 m wide and 13 m high, and can hold up to 220 people. During the seven days the Ball is open, it will play host to a series of public and private events aimed at promoting NZ as a place to visit, work and do business with. It will also host functions which will showcase New Zealand cuisine.
Tourism NZ Chief Executive George Hickton said the interest in the ball has been phenomenal. “The purpose of this seven day project is to promote NZ now and for the Rugby World Cup. Within one day the promotion has been more than we could have expected and we still have a week to go.”
To view an interview with Mr Hickton beside the giant ball, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF_dFICUJDI
Online Travel News
The TravelMemo is a twice-weekly digest of travel and tourism news in PDF form, uploaded onto our website 48 weeks a year, on Tuesday and Friday mornings. They focus on keeping international and domestic travel sellers current on industry matters, destination developments and new products, at home and around the world.
The current edition of Travel Memo is always available at www.travelmemo.co.nz and all back issues can be found under "Archive" on the homepage.
Editorial news contributions, details and pictures of industry events, and industry appointments are always welcomed. Simply email editor@travelmemo.co.nz.
KiaOraMai to Lift Customer Service
KiaOraMai is a flexible training programme is the entry-level standard training programme for employees working with visitors and customers across the tourism and services industries, including hospitality, accommodation, travel and transport, tourism events and activities, retail, hairdressing, beauty and spa. “KiaOraMai will help ensure that people working in the service sector consistently deliver a unique, memorable visitor experience,” says Tim Cossar, Chief Executive of TIA. The initiative provides employers with a programme that helps them train and retain people who can deliver a unique and memorable NZ visitor experience. ITOC recommends that all its members consider taking part in the programme.
For more information see www.kiaoramia.co.nz
TIA Board News
Air New Zealand Deputy Chief Executive Norm Thomson and 24/7 Consultancy Director Oscar Nathan were elected as TIA Board Chair and Deputy Chair respectively at the recent board meeting in Auckland.
Visitor arrivals jump 9%
Visitor arrivals from Australia were up 15% in September compared with September 2008, helping boost total visitor arrivals for the month by 9%, according to Statistics New Zealand. US arrivals were up a healthy 10% and arrivals from China up 15%, the first increase from that market since March. British travelers showed their preference, and NZ was voted favourite long-haul country by readers of the UK Guardian, the Observer and guardian.co.uk. New Zealand beat Cambodia, Chile, Vietnam and Japan to take the top spot and Air New Zealand was named second-favourite long-haul carrier after Singapore Airlines.
Expo-Guide: No connection to TRENZ
TIA has received reports from TRENZ Exhibitors that they have been approached by a publication called Expo-Guide, regarding listings in an Exhibitors Directory. Please note this publication has no connection with TRENZ or TIA, and Exhibitors are under no obligation to respond or make any payments.
Facebook for Marketing
Social networking website Facebook has been ranked as the second most visited in the UK after Google; it’s also the region’s top social networking website, according to Travelmole, which said online research company Hitwise found UK internet visits to Facebook increased by 86.1% in the year to September.
Results from the TIA's website poll asking members what social media networking sites they use show that 32% use Facebook. This compares with 18% who are Twittering, 12% active on LinkedIn, 6% posting photos on Flickr, and just 3% on Bebo and MySpace. Only 3% of respondents used none of the above.
Tourism expenditure encouraging says TIA
New figures released today which show tourism expenditure increased by 1.1% to $21.7 billion in the year ended March 2009 are encouraging news for the industry and New Zealand, says Tourism Industry Association Chief Executive Tim Cossar. The Tourism Satellite Account (TSA): 2009, published recently by Statistics New Zealand, shows that the overall increase in expenditure was driven by Kiwi holidaymakers spending more at home, with domestic expenditure in the year ending March 09 up 2.6% to $12.4 billion on the previous year.
“The domestic market was stronger than many had been expecting, given that New Zealand was in recession, and highlights its importance to the industry in terms of diversifying risk,” says Mr Cossar. He adds the impact of the global recession was softened by the excellent growth in arrivals out of Australia, New Zealand’s largest international visitor market.
Tourism Loses Crown as Top Foreign Earner
Tourism has lost its title as the nation's biggest export earner, falling behind the dairy sector for the first time in seven years. Statistics New Zealand figures show the money earned from international visitors fell by $87 million or 0.9 per cent in the March year to $9.313 billion - the first time it has dropped in the 10 years since monitoring began.
The recession-hit tourism sector has fallen from 18.3 per cent of New Zealand's total exports of goods and services to 16.4 per cent, while dairy has shot up. In the year to March 2007 dairy was worth $7.332 billion to the country but that increased to $9.975 billion in the year to March 2009.
The last time dairy was worth more than tourism was in the year to March 2002.
Thanks to all who contributed news and views for this edition. Remember, if there is anything new or different in your business, we would love to hear about it, and pass the news on.
Regards,
Phil and the team from Destination Mt Cook Mackenzie, Lake Pukaki Information Centre, Twizel Information Centre and Lake Tekapo i-SITE.
