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ISSUE 1,061 February 18th, 2016

TIA ready to tackle smorgasbord of issues this year, says Roberts INFRASTRUCTURE investment, workforce needs, RMA changes, seasonal and regional dispersal, engagement with TLAs, “social license” and DoC funding are among many issues TIA needs to tackle in 2016.

“This will be a good year. All the challenges are ‘nice’ ones. We’d rather deal with challenges of growth than with issues such as market decline and low profitability,” CEO Chris Roberts tells IT. For New Zealand to reach the Tourism 2025 target of $41,000 million in annual foreign exchange earnings ,the country needs to make sure the necessary infrastructure will be in place in time. This covers everything from utility services, to roading, airline capacity and ensuring enough accommodation will be available.

INSIDE NZ clients want action - pg4 Police warn vigilantes - pg5 Bruce is back - pg6 Export Market Matters - by Lesley Immink - pg8 Two helped stranded pax - pg9 Coach touring booming - pg11 TNZ denies racial discrimination - pg13 Most councillors in favour of a movie museum - pg14 New hotel awards - pg15 NZ’s only “wow factor” building?

- pg16 Virtuoso opens office - pg17 Profit “no cause for celebration” - pg18

“We need to plan for the next decade as to where and when new accommodation needs to be built, as well as transport requirements, utility services in certain parts of the country, facilities on conservation land and managing visitor flows.

“One of the areas where we need co-ordination is between TLAs and the private sector so councils understand our needs and to ensure tourism is not left out of their calculations. Road transport is a classic where tourism is often forgotten when people start looking at where road investment needs to be.”

TIA is assisting NZTE, which is conducting research to identify New Zealand’s current and future accommodation needs. “They are interested in what overseas investment they may be able to attract and to do that they must know what the needs are.

“Also, with RMA changes this year, we are looking at what might benefit tourism investment with those changes. Infrastructure is the key to having a successful industry. Everything we do has a T2025 lens because when we achieve the goals we have set we will need the right infrastructure in place to deliver on that.”

Another continuing task will be ensuring the industry has a qualified and experienced workforce able to handle an increasing number of visitors whether from overseas or from within New Zealand.

“Like infrastructure, a lack of adequate people and skills can stop us in our tracks when it comes to growth. We simply will not maximise our potential.”

There is also general agreement the industry needs seasonal and regional dispersal to succeed. We do not want visitors to all go to the same places at the same time. As a relatively big country, people can be spread around, Mr Roberts says.

“One area with a lot of potential is domestic tourism, which can lead the way in dispersing visitors. It is easier for Kiwis to try different places and go at different times.”

TIA is leading a domestic tourism working group that is coming up with

(to pg3)

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Pages Past 20 years ago in IT...

NTOs will never come out and publicly endorse the benefits of twoway tourism. “The concept is just not in their mindset,” says former tourism minister and PATA International board member Rob Talbot.

He was commenting on a controversial report by NZTB (now TNZ) CEO Ian Kean that challenged the board to consider restructuring the multi-national organisation.

Mr Kean reminded the board the organisation was set up to promote outbound travel from North America to Pacific Asia. The emphasis had changed with the inbound focus stronger than ever, particularly into the US. He said PATA is facing a dilemma. How to satisfy members who are suppliers, owners and operators compared to the 16,000 chapter members who are mostly travel agency related and predominantly outbound focused. “The dilemma is that in any one country, the ability to satisfy inbound and outbound members causes PATA to try to be all things to all people, which is increasingly difficult and unwise,” Mr Kean said.

He challenged the board to define core members as people or countries which own, operate or supply facilities and services to holidaymakers “ie. those with an inbound focus, including NTOs and airlines”.

15 year ago in IT...

NEW Zealand needs to shift to world pricing rather than a transTasman one in accommodation, says HANZ CEO Bruce Robertson. If operators are to see significant improvements in yields the current mechanisms, which set the market price, need to be broken.

All 50 Top 10 Holiday Parks have signed up for the first stage of Green Globe 21 because it makes business sense says MD Kevin Gough.

By 2025 about 123 million Chinese households will have incomes of more than US$100,000 a year and the Asian market will be 30 percent more powerful than Europe. “In the United States of China the tourism balance would have shifted from outbound to outbound with nearly 90 million Chinese travelling abroad every year,” says Winning Edge MD Bert van Walbeek.

10 year ago in IT...

SURCHARGES of 10-25 percent were added by restaurants and cafes during Christmas/New Year, thanks to the unpopular Holidays Act, according to an IT survey.

Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa has been ordered to pay $12,000 in fines and $63,000 reparation after admitting it failed to prevent the death of a woman bather in 2003.

Coach drivers who lost their passenger licenses, and in some cases their jobs, because of past criminal convictions, are to be offered a reprieve under a proposed law change.

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(from pg1) initiatives. Mr Roberts says someone will soon be contracted to carry out research into domestic segmentation.

Will there be a domestic tourism campaign? “Wait and see. I know that in the wider industry there are some exciting plans coming around domestic but an announcement is not yet ready.”

Mr Roberts is calling on TIA members to make sure all candidates in this year’s local body elections are well aware of the needs and benefits of tourism. “We are keen for our operators to raise their voices and take an interest in elections and even get on councils if they are so inclined.”

Businesses need to be aware, too, they need a “social license” to operate and thus balance their economic, social and environmental impacts. Communities must support them for them to remain in business.

TIA and TNZ have developed “mood of the nation” research that will monitor Kiwis’ attitudes towards tourism.

Chris Roberts

“We need to know their understanding of the value of tourism, what they feel about increased visitor numbers and what the impacts are that most concern them.”

Through the research, over time changes in people’s attitudes can be monitored.

“TIA’s role is to respond to key social licence issues such as visiting drivers, freedom camping and overcrowding, the impact on the environment and all potential warning signs. We need these signals early so we don’t lose community support. They are the warning flags for industry.”

“TIA is investigating ways in which DoC can be better funded.”

Mr Roberts says TIA is also investigating ways in which DoC can be better funded.

“We know the main reason people come here is for our landscapes and scenery. DoC is responsible for a third of the country but has had a funding freeze for the past five years, making life difficult. So we are looking at possible solutions.

“We reject absolutely another border tax as adding a tax is not a solution. But there are other options that should be explored - such as directly recovering the actual costs of providing parking, toilets and other facilities.”

Mr Roberts says private enterprise could be given more encouragement to fund such things as track upgrades and accommodation.

“If private enterprise is prepared to risk its money rather than the government why not welcome this if it’s within the Conservation Act? The Act has restrictions on DoC and it may be that the legislation needs to be looked at as the department is too hamstrung on what it can do.

The government needs to increase DoC’s budget. And it’s not just about tourism but the protection of our flora and fauna. “You can’t keep the spending cap on forever.”

DoC faces overcrowding at Milford Sound, on the Tongariro Crossing, at the Glaciers and at Mount Cook.

Concerning mid-day bottlenecks at Milford Sound, Mr Roberts says everyone needs to think outside the box.

“We should all be open to imaginative solutions,” says Mr Roberts. “At Milford many visitors arrive mid-morning and are leaving by mid-afternoon, but before and afterwards the place is relatively quiet.

“We need to consider ways to better manage those flows. If accommodation was available people could arrive the evening before, experience the sound at night and take a boat trip at dawn. (to pg4)

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(from pg3) “Many great tourism attractions were considered off-the-wall when introduced. We are keen to help DoC look for solutions.”

* IT suggested hiring a ship to be used as a self-contained hotel, which could accommodate several hundred people overnight so in the morning they can take dawn cruises and be away by the time the normal coach convoy arrives and the place is swamped with visitors.

During a visit to Mount Guemgangsan in North Korea IT stayed in a moored cruise ship. It had previously been owned by Southern Pacific Hotels and was used for tourism in what was then Saigon. So that is one possible alternative.

Clients choose NZ because they want action, says Poon Tip FOR clients of G Adventures, which has just launched a series of trips with National Geographic, New Zealand is the most active destination.

G Adventures founder Thai Canadian Bruce Poon Tip says everyone who wants to visit New Zealand does so because they are looking for activities such as rafting, snorkeling, trekking, biking, kayaking, bungy jumping, Zorbing, sky diving and paragliding.

G Adventures founder Thai Canadian Bruce Poon Tip

“Other countries are much more low impact,” he tells IT. “Our most successful tours in New Zealand are full of activities and adventures. It has the highest ratio of people doing adrenalin stuff. We don’t do that to such an extent anywhere else in the world.

Yet we sell adventure!”

Why are active clients attracted to New Zealand? “New Zealand is promoted as a natural, active destination. In Canada you have that but only in one province. People want to visit British Colombia for the mountains, skiing and kayaking so it attracts that type of audience. People who don’t want those sorts of thing simply go elsewhere.

“New Zealand is very much smaller but everyone who goes there knows what to expect. I am now finding people are returning to New Zealand time and again for those adventure activities.”

He says NZ has transformed itself from a stopover on the way to Australia to a destination in its own right. A place they visit – and return to. “We have seen 65 percent growth in our active trips to New Zealand over the past 2-3 years.”

Asked if New Zealand is missing out to newer adventure destinations such as Chile Mr Poon Tip says NZ tends to dominate in some areas. “The challenge is to attract a more diverse group of visitors.”

Australia constantly has issues on how to promote itself because it has so much to offer including wildlife, world-class cities, food, wine, activities and indigenous culture. So it is hard to capture all of that in one campaign.

“New Zealand has been branded over the past two decades or more with 100%Pure, which has been a brilliant campaign,” he says. “That has really branded NZ in a specific way but some would argue the channel is quite narrow. It doesn’t highlight your wonderful food and wine and your phenomenal indigenous culture. These would be missed in a 100%Pure brand campaign. “It is a brilliant campaign but as brilliant as it is it is not all-encompassing.”

If he were running TNZ what would he do? “I am a culture and communities type person. NZ has indigenous communities with cultural aspects that are most interesting.” (to pg5)

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(from pg4) Some years ago when Mr Poon Tip first came to New Zealand, he carried his favourite food in his luggage because Kiwis then lived on a diet of pies and fish and chips. Or so he thought. “But now the wine is world-class, as is the food.

“You have a different type of cuisine, fusion and organic. The choices are incredible.

Not many destinations can boast of that!”

He describes NZ as living in exciting times with the current tourism boom and tourists returning multiple times.

“That is a sure sign of success,” he says “It is not just a bucket list place with people knocking off a destination and not returning again. Today, like Canada, despite having a big brother next door, you are a destination in your own right.”

Trust the Press!

“New Zealanders should show empathy towards tourists on our roads.”

TNZ is expecting only 100,000 Indians a year to be visiting New Zealand in five years not a million as stated in IT1059. IT was quoting The Press Trust of India as saying TNZ RM South and South-east Asia Steven Dixon New Zealand is eyeing 1,00,000. The 100,000 makes sense given we are only at 46,000 now,” says a TNZ spokeswoman. “It was a serious case of misquoting by media.” (But not by IT!)

Police warn road safety vigilantes POLICE are warning New Zealanders not to take the law into their own hands when they think they see bad driving by overseas visitors. Some tourists have been left stranded without food or water when Kiwis have taken their vehicle’s keys.

Others have been abused and at least one has been assaulted. Police national road policing manager Steve Greally says New Zealanders should show empathy towards tourists on our roads. But instead some comments and actions have been xenophobic, even outright racist.

A group of Chinese visitors were stranded for two hours after their keys were stolen by someone for no known reason near Arthur’s Pass on Saturday. They were heading towards Christchurch to fly home after their last day in New Zealand. Police, who were handed the keys, say there had been no complaints about their driving.

Police spoke to a South Island truck driver after he grabbed the car keys off an overseas visitor who allegedly cut him off and threw them over a fence in Queenstown.

An overseas driver will be chauffeured around the country for the rest of his holiday after crashing into a ute in Marlborough. Ge Liang had six days of his holiday left when he misunderstood a stop sign at the intersection of Old Renwick Rd and Jacksons Rd, near Blenheim, on Saturday, says stuff.co.nz. A child was taken to hospital after the crash.

Liang was convicted of careless driving at the Blenheim District Court on Monday. The 44-year-old and his wife have organised for a friend from Christchurch to drive them around the South Island for the remainder of their holiday.

* New Zealanders are becoming a minority in their own backyard on the Great Walks, says stuff.co.nz. DoC figures show while Kiwis remain the biggest group by nationality using the tracks they are doing so less frequently and on some tracks made up only a quarter of the total walkers.

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Bruce is happy to be back and ready to champion T2025 AFTER three-and-a-half months in hospital, tourism research guru Bruce Bassett is back – with a big smile on his face, despite now being limited to what he can do in a wheelchair.

Mr Bassett was hit by a car while cycling to his Wellington home after work last year and is now paralysed from the waist down. But that’s not stopping him. His enthusiasm for the visitor industry saw him wheeling into his first meeting at TIA on Thursday although it was officially only a courtesy call.

“Things are happening straight away. It’s great,” he told IT. Mr Bassett was employed as TIA’s Tourism 2025 Advocate about six months ago “to champion the target but also to consider the current sector requirements given the success of Tourism 2025 to date”.

Now, gradually getting back at work full-time, he and the TIA team are looking to produce a refreshed Tourism 2025 document in May. Asked why he was so cheering Mr Bassett said: “You have to adapt and move on. I have had quite a bit of time to get to grips with my situation. Coming back and still doing the things I’ve always done, such as going to work, are good for me. So I’m rolling along and very pleased to be here.”

While at Burwood Spinal Unit, Christchurch, he was delighted with words of support from industry colleagues throughout the country.

“The voices of support were remarkable. So many people popped in or gave messages of goodwill. That says a lot about the camaraderie throughout our industry.”

Any limitations now? “I think I’ll be able to do most things as before. Travel will be a little harder but I am still perfectly enabled.

“I just came up from Christchurch on AirNZ and was amazed at how streamlined and easy it was. You go to the gate and you are put in one of their aisle chairs and wheeled on to the plane and seated first. At the end of the flight you are last off but I was back in my own chair within minutes. It was streamlined and easy.”

Mr Bassett first became involved in the industry when he joined the then-Ministry of Tourism in 1993 in a policy role. A major part of his position was to explore how tourism could be better served by data and research.

“Over time, the tourism policy structures I worked for changed - the Tourism Policy Group, then Office of Tourism and Sport and then again to a Ministry of Tourism, which in turn has become MBIE’s Tourism Policy team.

“My responsibilities evolved and I played a role in building up the data and research capacity of the sector. As research manager, I oversaw the core tourism dataset, tourism forecasts and a research programme and the interpretation and dissemination of this information.”

Mr Bassett had four years away from tourism until his return to TIA last year.

Married to Helen and with two school-aged daughters, Mr Bassett is philosophical about his accident.

“It was a major shock to have a life-changing injury, especially arising from such a routine activity as riding home from work,” he told IT. “Now, I am getting used to how life in a wheelchair works in practice. It’s actually quite tricky in terms of getting around those hilly Wellington streets, housing, (to pg7)

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(from pg6) cooking and the like, but it’s very early days. It is a steep learning curve that I am just starting on.

“The key thing mentally is to continue to ‘go forward’ and make the most of the great things such as family, friends, work and life generally.

“I am most appreciative of the strong support I have received from within the tourism sector and I would like to thank my sector colleagues for their generosity and steadfast support. “

* TIA colleague Catherine Tate is taking part in a funding raising cycle challenge in aid of the NZ Spinal Trust. So far she has covered nearly 500kms of a 1,000km target.

“Like Bruce, I cycle to and from work, but I would normally be a ‘fair-weather’ cyclist.

“Bruce is facing his new situation with such dignity and bravery, the least I can do is to brave cycling the streets and weather of the Wellington bays on my three-geared bike.

“My goal is to avoid the temptation of using the bus, and cycle commute a minimum of 1000km during the 12 weeks from January 11 to March 31. This means I need to cycle the 22km return journey pretty much every day. Visit: https://give.everydayhero.com/ nz/cath.

WIAL hits out at runway critics...

WELLINGTON Airport has hit back at analysis of its runway extension project by the NZIER saying the critique undertaken for airlines opposing the $300 million project has used unreasonably low estimates of the value of tourists to New Zealand and the viable long haul routes out of Wellington. BARNZ released the report as the main element of its submission that the 350-metre extension is “highly speculative and should not proceed,” says NBR. BARNZ based its conclusions on suggesting that only one route out of Wellington, Singapore, would be viable over the next 43 years. However “World route development experts InterVistas have confirmed viable long haul routes from Wellington starting with a daily service, growing to four services by 2035 – similar to Christchurch today,” Mr Thomas says.

“The NZIER analysis estimated that each additional tourist would add just $160 of economic benefit which is massively disproportionate to the MBIE guidelines for determining the net benefits that New Zealand derives from international visitors. The draft CBA implied a conservative value of $246 for each visitor, a figure which the MBIE analysis and other commentators have suggested is too low.

“We look forward to reviewing the full feedback from BARNZ after the airport’s public feedback process has recently ended.”

Zorb bounces back THE Original Zorb New Zealand reopened for business yesterday (Wednesday). “We are working through the process with Skills Active to satisfy the requirements of the Health and Safety Legislation 2011, as a freshly designated adventure tourism operator and to receive our Outdoors Mark,” says GM Haydn Marriner.

“We have been disappointed that there was no consultation with us that our sector had been reclassified and also that we received a very short three hours notice of the reclassification and its subsequent ramifications.”

He says its a testament to the company’s safety systems that it has been able to turn the situation around when all others subject to the legislation were given three years to reach audit standard.

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Coasters talk tourism

BOOSTING West Coast tourism through education, training and the natural environment has been the focus of this week’s West Coast Economic Development Think Tank.

“The Polytechnic called this forum to get local people talking about how we can use education to grow the West Coast economy”, says Tai Poutini Polytechnic Council chairman Graeme McNally. “International research tells us that regions with a welleducated, trained workforce also have stronger economic performance. We know that education is the key to flourishing industry and can generate significant economic benefits in its own right.”

Speakers included David Kennedy of Ngai Tahu Tourism, Professor Wolfgang Georg Arlt of Germany’s China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, Dr Peter Varley of Scotland’s West Highland College UHI, Li Xin from the Chinese Embassy Christchurch, Liang Yan of the Guilan Walking Association, DoC’s Gavin Walker and Tourism West Coast CEO Jim Little.

EXPORT MARKET M AT T E R S

Thousands already sign Choose Clean Water petition TEC would like to thank all those tourism, travel and hospitality operators who have signed the Choose Clean Water petition. The team was featured on Seven Sharp last week and great to see young people so passionate about protecting the freshwater rights of New Zealand. The number-one goal is to move the accepted “wadeable” benchmark for water quality to “swimmable”.

When talking to media we strategically tried not to talk about dairying or 100%Pure New Zealand, as the focus was about clean water legislation. However the media was not very interested in a group of environmentalists doing a tour of New Zealand telling water stories, so we took the opportunity re the cows in Lake Taylor story to get their attention. It worked. We as an industry have received great coverage re supporting this issue, as well as a stellar season reported on international visitor arrivals.

Fish and Game, Forest and Bird, The Morgan Foundation, Sustain News, Environmental Defence Society and the Freshwater Foundation are some of the organisations that are pleased to see the tourism industry coming to the party and advocating for tighter legislation.

by TEC CEO Lesley Immink

TEC has indicated it would be pleased to be part of the Land and Water Forum advisory group, representing tourism interests, which meets several times during the year.

If you’d like to see our comments, you’ll have to watch Seven Sharp On Demand. The story starts at 9 mins 50 secs, with the teams’ story first.

Our work is not done. If you have a large workplace, you can order the water drop card petitions by the 100. They will be sent to you and you can disseminate them. The idea is when we present the petition to Parliament on Tuesday, March 29, that we put all the water drops on the steps of Parliament, which hopefully will have media continue their interest.

At the moment we have 8,300 signatures on the website and the team has collected another few thousand while on the road. The goal is 10,000 and we are confident it will be exceeded. The more we receive the stronger our case will be. If you have not yet signed the petition we would appreciate you doing so and sharing among your staff, family and friends.

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Industry involvement in helping 372 Mikhail Lermontov pax was down to two people

BASICALLY only two people were involved in helping 372 passengers when the 22,000-tonne Russian liner Mikhail Lermontov sank in the Marlborough Sounds 30 years ago on Tuesday - not the whole industry as IT indicated last week.

They were I.D. Tours’s Keith Johnston and business partner Rodney Walshe.

Thanks to them, all passengers were back in Sydney within 20 hours of the sinking!

That is except Olive Edwards, 74, who insisted on seeing Milford Sound before going home on the Lermontov’s sister ship, the Alexander Pushkin.

Then and now. The 22,000 tonne Mikhail Lermontov in her glory days offering cruises of a lifetime. And today a diver’s paradise in the Marlborough Sounds.

New Zealand Railways, Dominion Breweries and the THC paid for Ms Edwards’s travel and accommodation so her dream could become reality, according to Tom O’Connor’s book, Death of a Cruise Ship.

“It came as a huge surprise to be rung at home in Auckland and to be told the Mikhail Lermontov had run aground in the Marlborough Sounds,” Mr Johnston tells IT. “I.D. Tours had for some years handled all the shore excursions for CTC Lines in New Zealand but, six months prior to the demise of the Mikhail Lermontov, our contract was terminated due to us being unable to match the pricing of the excursions.

“The contract was given to an Australian company which I understood was operated by an ex-cruise ship staff member.

“I explained to (CTC NZ rep) Les Goss that we no longer were contracted to his company and where was his shore excursion operator?

“His reply was that he could not locate him as he had left Picton for another unknown destination. Needless to say I said okay, we would take on this task as I.D Tours had a long previous relationship with Les Goss and CTC Lines.

“It was confirmed the pax needed to be evacuated from the ship to Wellington. I contacted Police and got up to date with the current situation, which was becoming worse by the hour. It was agreed that I.D. Tours would handle all the passengers’ transportation needs from the hotels in Wellington to the airport and the flights to Sydney.

“The Police and their associate support services would handle the rest and what a brilliant job they did, considering the pax were mostly elderly and had only the clothes they stood up in. Few had passports, money or any other possessions and were in a state of trauma. The police arranged the hotels, coach transport and support from the social services in Wellington.”

“The vessels Arahura and LPG Tanker Tarihiko brought the rescued passengers to Wellington arriving in the early hours of February 17. The Overseas Passenger Terminal was used as the reception area and distribution point.”

The 348 crew members were handled by the Russian Embassy, including, judging by one photograph, a young-looking KGB officer who is now President of Russia.

“I firstly found that AirNZ had no aircraft available to help, either from

(to pg10)

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(from pg9) Wellington or Christchurch to Sydney,” says Mr Johnston. “I then rang Qantas in Sydney who had not heard about the disaster at this point and after lengthy discussions agreed to charter us a 747 to depart Christchurch at 3pm on February 17 for Sydney.

“No price was discussed, just our agreement to pay after the service was provided.

“Now having a starting point we got in touch again with AirNZ, who felt sure they could provide up to three special flights from Wellington to Christchurch between mid- and late-morning, plus the balance of passengers would be accommodated on scheduled flights. These arrangements were to be confirmed the next morning when arrived in Wellington from Auckland. So far so good.”

An area was needed at Christchurch Airport to serve as a lounge/food facility. The management of the restaurant readily agreed to give our pax sole use of the facility and an additional area from 10-3 as well as supply food and beverages.

Keith Johnston

Christchurch I.D. Tours staff members were brought up to speed with the situation, asked to look after the area and liaise with the airlines, customs and immigration.

“Remember that all this was done throughout the night and convincing many people that what you were asking for was for real and not a joke,” he says.

“At 3am I phoned my business partner Rodney Walshe to update him and suggested he come with me to Wellington on the 7am flight as some help and some Irish humour was needed. He agreed.

“On arrival we met the AirNZ people and got the flights sorted out, a special reception area and waiting room facilities and procedures that were necessary. The plan was that, when the coaches arrived at the airport, passengers were to be directed to this reception area and handed boarding passes.

“Remember the pax had no tickets, no baggage, no money and little, if any, personal effects.

“The manifests were as per the lists drawn up by the police according to the hotels they had been accommodated in. It worked perfectly.

“Rodney and I and Les Goss spent the early part of the morning at the Overseas Passenger Terminal working with the police, who could not have been more helpful.

Anything we wanted they would provide, even a lady constable and police car to transport us to the various hotels and to the airport.”

Police records showed 16 passengers unaccounted for.

“They had been provided with a pax manifest by the ship’s agent that was for the ship’s arrival in Wellington, not the manifest for departure from Wellington. So we then were able to get an updated manifest for departure from Picton. That showed that about five pax had disembarked at Wellington. They were mostly travel industry people. The police were most relieved,” Mr Johnston says.

“That left just one pax unaccounted for. The phone rang and it was the police in Picton, who had just found him. He had been picked up from the water by a fishing boat and taken into Picton, enjoying the hospitality of his rescuers until he contacted the police.

He was flown to Wellington in a chartered aircraft and joined us at Wellington Airport.”

Mr Johnston says only 11 passengers needed hospital attention and most joined the flights to Sydney.

“From the time the Mikhail Lermontov sank until arrival in Sydney some 20 hours had elapsed. The trip had been described as the cruise of a lifetime!”

* “Since World War II New Zealand is the only country in the western world to have sunk a Russian ship,” PM David Lange said at the time.

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Aussie market for NZ coach touring is booming THE Australian market for New Zealand coach touring is booming through innovations such as small-group “business class-on-wheels” holidays, cruise and coach packages, options for solo travellers as well as a plethora of traditional touring products available this side of the ditch says Grand Pacific Tours MD Peter Harding.

Whereas critics once said the coach tour market was dying, the industry in 2016 is “alive and kicking”. His wholesale company will send several thousand passengers this year alone.

“When I started Grand Pacific in 1996 you could virtually walk into a hotel or attraction and name your price because the market was uninspired with a handful of operators all providing very similar itineraries. The opportunity was screaming for someone to develop the full potential of each region and create special tour experiences that were designed around a group visit.

“I wanted to grow my company and develop it as a specialist operator who could lead with market innovation from the front,” he tells IT. Over the past 20 years there have been a number of cycles - high and low - all happening for different reasons. “But it’s in great shape at present and everything is looking fantastic.

“There is plenty going on in the world of tourism and for us it is very positive. There has been a fantastic response and uptake for our tours. The fact that we only promote one destination (New Zealand ) and one type of product (coach touring ) allows our team to focus on the customer experience.

Grand Pacific Tours MD Peter Harding.

“The travel industry have supported our efforts to develop a fantastic range of innovative tours and the fact we don’t take direct bookings and pass every enquiry back on to an agent is reassuring for our travel agent partners, Mr Harding says.

He thanks TNZ’s marketing efforts, a more stable NZD, a hard-working national airline and other trans-Tasman carriers who are all pulling their weight.

“Seeing Christchurch rebound and the efforts being put in by the airport team is exciting, too,” he says. “Our groups have always maintained a presence in Christchurch and in recent times we are starting to spend more time there. People are enjoying the city and Canterbury as part of the total NZ experience.”

As a coach tour operator it is important the company keeps up with new product and services in order to tailor tours to fit the demand from the Australian market.

He says recent efforts have been made to push the peak season out to the shoulders because those months are just as attractive in different ways. “By offering value add and discounts this encourages travellers to consider these periods as they are saving several hundred dollars. This will assist with the demand for capacity over the peak months. As each tour requires a minimum of 28 rooms to be booked, it starts to get a bit challenging when you have multiple departures over a short period of time. We are already seeing that this season, and our efforts to push business out further are being welcomed by the industry.”

A trend we are also seeing from our quality assurance reports is that holidaymakers want more free time on tours. Gone is the desire to fit in as much as possible. Feedback from clients, hoteliers and tour drivers is that people want to experience the ‘must-see icons’ but also enjoy some down time to themselves.

“This is important for us to react quickly on this feedback as we are planning 18-24 months ahead, based on brochure production and tour launches. It is important we know what appeals as early as possible so we can continually improve our offering. The New Zealand industry is to be commended for thinking laterally over (to pg12)

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(from pg11) such things as pre-dinner drinks. Guests used to say prices were often too high. So discussion with hoteliers has seen some introduce “wine time” for tours, with some offering discounts such as a second drink free or 20 percent off normal prices.

The hotel GM often welcomes the visitors and explains the property’s history and services. Guests invariably require wifi and New Zealand is reacting to the demand for this service, which is almost an expectation at hotels these days”, Mr Harding says.

Asked about New Zealand’s new travel tax, Mr Harding says all governments do different things for different reasons but if it is something such as GST it is in the ticket price.

A trans-Tasman ticket now attracts various taxes of up to $150 per person per trip.

Who is the typical customer for Grand Pacific Tours? “They are looking for a New Zealand experience but with the work taken away from them. They don’t want that hassle of organising everything. A professional guide will look after them wherever they go and explain all there is to know. Our tours start as a group of strangers and quickly develop as a group of friends. This camaraderie is what a coach tour really offers - having experiences together. In a lot of cases they travel on to further destinations or keep in touch.”

Ultimate seats

He says coach tours offer unbeatable value for money because, if an individual paid on their own, it would cost 30-40 percent more for the same experience. Grand Pacific Tours has passed on its volume discounts into the package price.

Most clients are from all professions, are retired or semi-retired and aged between 50 and 80.

“We have been very excited with the take-up of our different styles of travel now on offer. One of our latest innovations is ultimate small-group touring, which has been designed for the discerning traveller who will enjoy an amazing experience complemented with high-end accommodation,” Mr Harding says.

“We are proud of our flagship Ultimate coaches, which are full-size vehicles, but only housing 20 deluxe leather seats with all the comforts and gadgets that make travellers feel like VIPs. People that would not traditionally consider a coach tour are now putting up their hands saying ‘I can travel in that deluxe coach’, which is exciting as it means we are growing new opportunities for travellers into New Zealand. There is increased demand for this product and we have two Ultimate Coaches on the road, with a third being built ready for next season.”

Mr Harding has also been pleased by tapping into the strong cruise market sector. This programme offers a combination of cruising around New Zealand with a coach tour that visits all the places the cruise doesn’t, ensuring travellers enjoy a complete New Zealand experience. Allocations for deluxe balcony cabins are purchased for numerous sailings on the superliner Celebrity Solstice.

“Cruise is doing well down in this part of the world and the addition of the coach tour means travellers don’t miss out on some of the key regions such as Queenstown and the West Coast where they can join the TranzAlpine Train, or go to Rotorua for culture, Taupo for the Great Lake and the Bay of Islands for the resorts.

“This product particularly helps the regions as the coach tour provides business they would not be seeing with travellers doing just a cruise. The most popular tour is the 12-night cruise combined with a 10-night coach tour - 23 days in total. Everything is taken care of, with a tour guide on hand throughout the journey plus all flights including an internal sector from Auckland to Queenstown. Grand Pacific is enjoying a great relationship with the cruise market, bonded by the fact we are putting good numbers on these departures,” he says.

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TNZ denies Stewart Islander’s racial discrimination charge TNZ is denying a Stewart Island operator’s accusation of racial discrimination and of “robbing bona-fide operators of their rightful income”.

Ruggedy Range Wilderness Experience owner Furhana Ahmad was born in Kenya to an Indian father and Seychellese mother and went to school and university in Wales. She had written to TNZ CEO Kevin Bowler complaining that “yet again TNZ continues to support my competitor with significant free marketing opportunities, which your staff does not understand is detrimental to businesses such as mine”.

Ms Ahmad was referring to Ulva’s Guided Walks being chosen for a marketing shoot on Ulva Island.

When she contacted DoC she was told the shoot was a TNZ project, which chose Ulva Goodwillie for it.

Furhana Ahmad was born in Kenya to an Indian father and Seychellese mother and she went to school and university in Wales.

“The photographs from the shoot may be used for a mass media brand campaign around the world, predominantly targeting Western markets, and some emerging markets. It is also possible the photographs will be used in digital marketing and the upcoming South Island Road Trips campaign.”

Ms Ahmad told Mr Bowler: “TNZ has continued over the years to discriminate against (me) because I am Asian and non-Maori and do not fit into TNZ’s marketing plan.

“TNZ don’t give a damn about Qualmark-licensed operators and continues to choose non-licensed operators for ‘best [practice). Qualmark is a big joke,” she says.

“Please don’t fob me off again. But why does TNZ continue to exclude me from significant marketing campaigns and for many years from trade and international media famils? You are robbing bona-fide operators of their rightful income by heavily promoting Ulva’s Guided Walks again and again.”

“When setting up a photo shoot such as this one, or when building a famil itinerary, we work with the RTO and take their advice on which products and operators will best meet our shared objectives,” says TNZ. “The campaign that will result from this shoot will feature the location of Stewart Island, it will not feature any one operator or activity.”

Somewhere to stir the pot...

PIHMS is holding its second Hotel and Tourism Symposium at Bell Block, New Plymouth on April 1.

Speakers include Sudima Hotels operations director Les Morgan, Hospitality president Adam Cunningham and Sky City Hotels and Tower GM Brad Burnett.

Themes for the day are: innovation, investigation and implementation. Exploring exciting and solution-driven outcomes for the hospitality industry is the overriding theme.

“It is an excellent forum for staff members and industry professionals to come and stir their pot a bit,” says PIHMS’s programme and resource manager James Cunningham. Contact: 06-9691420 or leanneb@pihms.ac.nz.

New standards may ground planes A UN panel has given the green light to establish the first global emission standards for the airline industry. The UN backed International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set out a defined timetable for airlines to cut carbon dioxide emissions over the next two decades. It has proposed new design standards for newly built aircraft beginning in 2020, and for existing aircraft designs already in production by 2023. Any planes that don’t meet new standards by 2028 will be grounded indefinitely.

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Most in favour of movie mogul museum

SIR Peter Jackson’s movie museum has been given the thumbs up by Wellington city councillors, although one has questioned whether the 14th richest person in the country needs ratepayers to build a home for it.

The DomPost says councillor Helene Ritchie aired her concerns at a meeting last Wednesday as others voted unanimously to bring forward funding for the museum and convention centre project, and trigger the public consultation process.

The council has proposed to spend $134 million on a three-storey facility opposite Te Papa, which will house the museum on the bottom two floors and a 1,100-person convention centre at the top.

HE TANGATA , HE TANGATA , HE TANGATA REAL Journeys has appointed Sue Sheldon and Vicky Taylor as board directors.

Ms Sheldon was awarded Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to business.She is based in Christchurch, is a chartered accountant and a former president of the New Zealand Institute of Accountants. She is chairwoman of Freightways and a director of Contact Energy.

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Through her role as chair of NZ Global Women, Ms Sheldon is involved in influencing corporate New Zealand to embrace the benefits that diversity and inclusion bring to senior leadership.

Ms Taylor and her husband established breakfast food company Smartfoods Ltd. She has business experience and skills in the commercial, science, environment and sustainability sectors and in not-for-profit governance.

She is chairwoman of Enviro-Mark Solutions and a director of Landcare Research and has worked for Lion Nathan, New Zealand Dairy Foods, Goodman Fielder, Griffins Foods and Coca-Cola Oceania.

Real Journeys is one of the country’s most successful tourism companies and has been expanding in the last few years. It recently added the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch to its portfolio, with plans underway to further develop the attraction. In 2013 it bought the Cardrona Alpine Resort which has now started operating activities (mountain carting, stargazing, biking and walking trails) in summer as well as full ski resort operations in winter.

Lynne McVicar (left) and Jo Finnigan Photograph by Dan Childs.

Jo Finnigan has been appointed GM of Queenstown’s Hotel St Moritz as hospitality and accommodation stalwart Lynne McVicar leaves after 18 years at the property.

Ms Finnigan has spent the past 16 years as director of sales, distribution and marketing. Ms McVicar has resigned after a two decades’-long career with AccorHotels. She is working with St Moritz owner and original developer Graham Wilkinson, who built the property in 1998.

A former commercial pilot with a passion for understanding the “human factors” of aviation safety has been awarded the 2016 Jilly Murphy Memorial Scholarship for Aviation Safety.

Kate Cook

Kate Cook now works in the operational safety team of Airways New Zealand in Christchurch, and is completing a Bachelor of Aviation Management degree through Massey University. She will use the $5,000 scholarship , jointly offered by Christchurch International Airport Ltd and Airways New Zealand, in memory of the late Christchurch air traffic controller Jilly Murphy , to help fund her post-graduate study in human factors, including areas such as fatigue, distraction or impaired reasoning that can affect human performance.

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New hotel awards recognise jobs well done An expanded Hotel Industry Awards has been launched “to recognise individuals who are doing an outstanding job in key roles, from housekeeping to the GM, contributing to the sector’s overall success”. The programme has increased from three to eight individual awards, plus an award for a hotel showing real innovation to help neutralise its effect on the environment.

“We expanded the awards to acknowledge individuals across the many diverse roles that go into the running of a great hotel,” says TIA hotel sector manager Sally Attfield.

“These awards will set a benchmark of excellence and celebrate the stars who are vital players in a sector that is committed to delivering a fantastic guest experience.”

“The new and expanded awards will profile a sector that is enjoying record results and is helping drive the growth of the wider tourism industry, which is now New Zealand’s number one export earner,” says Horwath HTL director Stephen Hamilton. Horwath HTL co-hosts the awards.

Entries open on March 15 for: senior hotel executive; outstanding young hotel executive; administration employee of the year; concierge of the year; front office services employee of the year; housekeeper employee of the year; revenue manager of the year; sales and marketing employee of the year; environmental initiative of the year .

* Winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Langham, Auckland on June 2.

Country kindness A Chinese visitor left stranded after her bike and belongings were stolen last month has left Wairarapa with thanks as she continues on her journey around New Zealand.

Maya Zhang was visiting a church in Carterton when her possessions were stolen.

The theft stranded the 26-year-old. But people and businesses bought her a new bike, a tent and camping gear, says the Wairarapa Times-Age. “I never expected anything like this to happen after my bike and belongings were stolen,” she said. “I’ve had so many exciting experiences and it’s been a big adventure for me here. “I think people here are the reason I kept going. Even though I’m alone, I feel like I’m with family.

Thank you so much to all the people here.”

Visitors now even finding Taumarunui MANY visitors are finding their way to Taumarunui, thanks to Forgotten World Adventures self-drive carts on the old Ohura-Stratford rail line, to canoe the Whanganui River, or to walk the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail.

Ruapehu councillor Graeme Cosford says he cannot recall such an influx of visitors. “As a keen tramper and outdoor enthusiast myself I make a point of having a chat with as many of these walkers as I can when I see them in town.

“You can’t miss them with their backpacks laden down with food, camping and other outdoor gear,” he says.

“Many are spending time in Taumarunui resting after 40-50 days on the trail before tackling the 42 Traverse and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, with some then returning this way to canoe the Whanganui River, which all form part of the trail.

“The range of nationalities is huge, with people coming from all around the world to walk the trail or sections of it,” he says.

“I would encourage everyone to say hi to these visitors if they get a chance and even offer them some hospitality if at all possible and help to build Taumarunui’s reputation as a friendly, welcoming town. We can all help to champion Taumarunui and our place on the Te Araroa Trail.”

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FOCUS ON . . .Taranaki

NZ’s only “wow factor” building?

THAT New Plymouth is a city of international prestige through its energy and innovation is obvious in the Len Lye Centre, an ultra modern “wow factor” building of crinkled stainless steel attached to the impressive but more sedate Govett-Brewester Art Gallery.

The gallery is New Zealand’s only museum of contemporary art while the Len Lye Centre is the country’s first institution dedicated to a single artist, the globally known pioneering Kiwi filmmaker and kinetic sculptor, Len Lye. With its curved exterior walls of mirror-like stainless steel, the Govett-Brewster

Above: The glistening Len Lye Centre contrasts with the historic King and Queen Hotel.

Below: Simon Rees.

Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre is the country’s first example of destination architecture linked to contemporary art. It is one of the country’s most iconic buildings.

“Wow factor” buildings include the Sydney Opera House, which is also known as the “Bilbao effect” due to the ultra contemporary Guggenheim Museum alongside the Nervion River in Spain, Len Lye Centre director Simon Rees tells IT. “The Len Lye Centre is the first example of destinational architecture in New Zealand as people come to New Plymouth from around the world to reflect on the building, built, ironically, by a local company which at first had no idea what to do. But they came up with this statement for what is a cultural institution.

“This cathedral experience was built by Taranaki for Taranaki with Todd energy’s $3 million donation being the largest single corporate gift in New Zealand. It’s also the first local government building not paid for by the ratepayers because the other $9.6 million came from outside the city.” The centre is a venue for the prestigious New Zealand International Festival.

“Come to Taranaki and you can feel wealth in the air. The complex is well supported

by New Plymouth District Council and the city has a remarkable number of public resources and things to do. Continued investment can make us a real tourist destination.

“The profile of New Plymouth in New Zealand and internationally is changing as we work up the list of places to visit. The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Len Lye Centre is a unique attraction in this country.” The complex is being promoted internationally through Venture Taranaki and TNZ.

* Len Lye was born in Christchurch, grew up in Wellington where he left school at 13 when his father died but left for Western Samoa, then Sydney at the age of 22. He later moved to London and New York where he made his fame.

* In 1977, on his return to New Zealand, Mr Lye fell in love with New Plymouth, the energy of Mount Taranaki and the institutions and people of the area. He decided to give his work to Taranaki when he died. The Len Lye Foundation keeps his work in trust for the people of New Zealand. Mr Lye, “a unique artist”, died in New York in 1980.

* To day, more than 100,000 people have visited his work at the Len Lye Centre since it opened in July last year. It is the only New Zealand gallery devoted to one person.

* Mr Lye’s work reflects his lifelong passion for motion, energy and the possibility of composing them as a form of art.

* Govett-Brewster is a gallery of contemporary art and beside it is Monica’s Eatery, named in memory of the life and spirit of a globetrotting local even before air travel.

She was a founding patron of the gallery.

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Virtuoso opens regional office in Sydney MEMBERS of Virtuoso luxury travel’s US-based executive team have opened the organisation’s regional office in Sydney, marking a further strengthening of the brand in Asia Pacific.

The region is leading the way in growth for the luxury travel advisor network, increasing regional advisor numbers by 47 percent in the past 12 months.

From left: Virtuoso Asia Pacific business development managers Cristina Magni and Evan Pierce with David Kolner and Michael Londregan opening the office.

Virtuoso Asia-Pacific MD Michael Londregan says Virtuoso had an extensive schedule of member road shows in 2016, which includes events in Australia and, for the first time, New Zealand. “We are continuing to see strong momentum for luxury travel and the Asia Pacific region is leading the world in the growth of the Virtuoso brand, driven by last year’s expansion into Hong Kong and Singapore along with the organic growth of our existing members,” he says.

Accor promises more female hotel managers ACCORHOTELS has published findings of a worldwide study into the group’s socio-economic footprint, conducted by financial services company EY. The study assessed the direct impacts of the company’s business activities, including that within its supply chain and in local

economies for the 186 countries where it has properties.

It found that AccorHotels sustains 880,000 jobs and contributes US$25,000 million to world GDP. Meanwhile, Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin urges the world’s corporate leaders to do more to promote gender equality in the workplace. “It’s simple: individuals doing the same work should receive the same remuneration,” he says. “That’s a global issue linked to women’s empowerment and gender equality in the workplace.” For its part, Accor has pledged to have 35 percent women hotel managers by the end of 2017.

Road decision still long way down the track DURHAM Havill, chairman of the Haast Hollyford Highway, says he’s been waiting four years for Southland District Council to provide support in principle to the roading project. But the council says it needs more information about the project regarding costs, risks involved, advantages and disadvantages of the proposed highway before it can take it out for public consultation. Mr Havill says he has support from the mayors of Grey, Buller and Westland but he needs the SDC’s support before presenting it to the government as a project of a road of national significance.

Happy Valley for sale NELSON’S Happy Valley Adventures and Happy Valley Farm are for sale for the first time in 30 years. They include a range of adventure activities such as guided quad-bike tours, horse trekking, paintball theme park and a 3.2 km SkywireTM ride over a valley of native podocarp-hardwood forest.

124 charges involving misrepresentation PRINCESS Wool Co and Nangong Ltd representatives appeared in Auckland District Court this week to face a total of 124 charges relating to alleged misrepresentations over alpaca or cashmere duvets. The case has been brought by the Commerce Commission.

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Gambling profit “no cause for celebration” - Greens SKYCITY’S 30 percent profit increase comes at the cost of problem gambling affecting Auckland families and is no cause for celebration, says Green Party Auckland Issues spokeswoman Denise Roche.

The company posted a first half profit of $71 million, up 30 percent on the previous six months, reportedly boasting that it was already profiting from the pokies for convention centre deal.

“SkyCity’s boosted profit results reveal just who the government’s dodgy convention centre deal was designed to benefit - and it’s not Aucklanders. Every dollar of SkyCity’s casino profits has a real human cost,” she says.

“A huge gambling empire isn’t the kind of business that Aucklanders want in the centre of our beautiful city.”

Treetops launches Estate to Plate ROTORUA’S Treetops Estate is promoting a new premium food experience styled as The Estate to Plate Safari.

Published by South Pacific Media Services Ltd PO Box 1464, Paraparaumu Beach Kapiti 5252, New Zealand.

Publishing and Research Editor : Nigel Coventry.

Phone: +64-4-2973131 nigel@insidetourism.com Member: PATA, TIA, Skal ISSN 1179-2418

Tourism Brand Index + 64.2

“This unique and personal encounter with Treetops gamekeepers and specialist wild food chefs focuses on estate-reared meat and grown produce, 100 percent pesticide free and organic and all served up as a wilderness experience with delicious 21st century flavours,” says The Robb Report The Estate to Plate 4WD safari begins with a tour of the kitchen gardens.

“This fertile oasis is the source of many heritage and indigenous vegetables including native New Zealand spinach (tetragonia), kumara (sweet potato), fresh turmeric, wasabi, native cress, and abundant fruit trees, the report says.

Guests are welcome to sample garden produce, respectfully picking what they wish to taste,” it says. “After a visit to the manuka honey aviaries, which produce wild comb honey of exceptional flavour and health properties, the Safari moves out into the estate’s 1100-ha property to encounter some of the local wildlife.

“Wild deer and water buffalo share this wilderness paradise with wild pigs, sheep, rabbits, pheasants, partridge, geese, ducks, rainbow and brown trout. The Safari concludes with the tantalizing optional half-day Wild Food Cooking School that begins with foraging for native ingredients in Treetops’ pristine 800-year-old forests.”

Capital hotels selling fast WELLINGTON’S 200-room Ibis and its 132-room Travelodge are expected to be sold to CP group and Singapore interests respectively.

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