The Tourism Chat Show

This episode of The Tourism Chat Show hosted by Michelle Caldwell features Olivia Ponniah from Liv &Travel, a UK-based independent travel company launched right before the pandemic. Liv shares her experiences as a first-time attendee of the New Zealand tourism trade show, TRENZ, focusing on her search for unique New Zealand travel experiences that cater to luxury travellers. She emphasises the importance of building relationships with local suppliers and seeks to bring New Zealand closer to her clients. Liv also discusses the challenges of launching her business near the pandemic's start, her company's partnership with Major Travel, and the recent demand for travel to New Zealand from the UK market. Additionally, she talks about her strategies for maximising her time at TRENZ, gives advice to first-time attendees, and highlights the importance of sustainability and supporting local communities.   00:00 Launching a Travel Business Pre-Pandemic: A New Zealand Focus 00:28 Welcome to the Tourism Chat Show: TRENZ Unpacked Episode 00:40 Introducing Olivia Ponniah: A First-Time Buyer's Journey to TRENZ 02:34 Building a Global Travel Business: The Story of Liv &Travel 03:43 Exploring New Zealand: Anticipations and Aspirations 04:40 Seeking Unique Travel Experiences: The Luxury of Personalisation 07:15 The Challenges and Excitements of a First-Time Buyer at TRENZ 14:26 Sustainable Tourism: Balancing Luxury and Responsibility 16:43 Maximising Time at TRENZ: Strategies for Success 18:35 Advice for First-Time Attendees: Embracing the TRENZ Experience _______________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest: Olivia Ponniah - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviaponniah/ Liv &Travel - https://livand.travel https://www.linkedin.com/company/livand-travel/ Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle discusses the future of the tourism industry and the role of workforce development in achieving sustainable and resilient tourism. Michelle introduces Alex Dykman from Grow Tourism, who shares insights on the inception of Grow Tourism, a SaaS product aimed at providing contemporary, engaging, and practical learning experiences for tourism professionals. The company aims to support the industry's transformation towards sustainability, resilience, and commercial viability. Alex explains the challenges traditional education faces in keeping pace with industry changes and highlights Grow Tourism's agile, future-focused curriculum designed around five pillars for delivering high-value tourism outcomes. The episode also covers the pricing model, the benefits of professional development, and the potential for expanding Grow Tourism internationally. _______________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest: Alex Dykman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adykman/ Grow Tourism - https://growtourism.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-tourism/ Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

In this episode of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell introduces listeners to Thomas Orr from Helisika  and Paul Chaplow from Whanganui and Partners, who are attending the tourism event TRENZ for the first time. The episode focuses on their companies' backgrounds, their motivation for participating in TRENZ, and their preparation strategies. Thomas Orr discusses Helisika's approach to showcasing their helicopter-based adventure services and their hopes for gaining exposure. Paul Chaplow shares Whanganui and Partners' goals to present their region's offerings, focusing on arts, heritage, and their aspiration to attract more international visitors. Both guests discuss their expectations and the long-term relationship-building purpose of attending TRENZ. 00:00 Unlocking the Secrets of Inbound Tourism Operators   00:29 Welcome to the Tourism Chat Show: TRENZ Unpacked   02:41 First-Time Exhibitors at Trends: Helisika's Journey   04:38 Exploring the New Frontier: Kaimanawa Alpine Adventures   06:58 Preparing for Trends: Strategies and Expectations   08:20 Sharing the Spotlight: The Benefits of Collaboration   11:42 A Fresh Perspective: Whanganui and Partners at TRENZ   17:37 Setting the Stage for Success at TRENZ    This podcast has been produced with the support of Tourism Industry Aotearoa - the hosts and organisers of TRENZ.  _______________________________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest: Thomas Orr - https://www.helisika.co.nz/ Paul Chaplow - https://discoverwhanganui.nz/  Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

This episode of the Tourism Chat Show, hosted by Michelle Caldwell, focuses on preparing for and maximizing the benefits of attending TRENZ. Guest Brad "Paddo' Patterson, a seasoned sales manager with over 20 years of experience at TRENZ, shares his insights. Discussion topics include the importance of follow-ups, effectively selecting and scheduling appointments, researching buyers, and strategically approaching different types of sales calls. Brad emphasizes the value of relationship-building, both before and during the event, as well as the importance of respecting every appointment. The conversation also touches on common mistakes exhibitors make and offers advice on avoiding them. Additionally, Brad shares personal anecdotes and advice on family travel destinations within New Zealand. The episode concludes with quick-fire questions to know more about Paddo personally.   00:00 Introduction to Market Research 00:40 Welcome to the Tourism Chat Show 00:57 Preparing for Trends 01:22 Introduction to the Guest Speaker 01:47 Engaging with the Tourism Chat Show 02:48 Trends Unpacked: An Interview with Brad Patterson 03:23 Understanding the Tourism Industry 04:04 The Evolution of Trends 06:23 Brad Patterson's Journey in Tourism 11:33 The Importance of Understanding Your Business 13:47 Strategies for Securing Appointments with Buyers 16:48 The Importance of Networking in Tourism 17:40 Common Mistakes in Tourism Marketing 27:00 The Importance of Making Connections at Events 27:50 Overcoming Introversion at Large Events 28:22 Learning from Industry Veterans 29:14 Navigating Different Markets 29:45 The Importance of Asking for Help 30:12 The Impact of COVID on the Industry 31:27 The Importance of Follow-Up After Events 34:08 Understanding the Importance of Inbound Operators 35:08 The Challenges of Changing Rates 36:11 The Importance of Preparation for Events 40:52 The Value of Building Relationships at Events 41:43 The Cost of Attending Events 46:03 The Importance of Networking at Events 46:50 Final Thoughts and Quick Fire Questions 47:08 Favorite New Zealand Destinations     This podcast has been produced with the support of Tourism Industry Aotearoa - the hosts and organisers of TRENZ.  _______________________________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest: Brad Patterson - www.totallytourism.com Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

The discussion revolves around the journey of Island Aviation in Auckland, focusing on its sustainable initiatives. Chris Sattler, from Island Aviation, outlines the measures they have taken to reduce their environmental impact, their focus on community engagement, and future goals regarding sustainable aviation technologies. Some of these efforts include reforestation projects and carbon offsetting. He also candidly discusses the complexity of transitioning to electric or hydrogen powered aircraft, citing significant infrastructure and regulation hurdles. Sattler stresses the importance of collaboration with other stakeholders, be it regulators, fuel companies, or customers, to achieve long-term sustainability goals.   00:00 Introduction and Challenges of Switching to Electric Aircraft 02:57 Meet Chris Sattler from Island Aviation 03:22 The Journey of Island Aviation 05:28 Sustainability Initiatives at Island Aviation 07:57 Measuring and Offsetting Emissions 09:15 Engaging Customers in Sustainability 10:45 Challenges in Measuring Sustainability 12:16 Community Engagement and Sustainability 22:20 Future Goals and Milestones in Sustainability 31:12 Promoting Sustainability and Engaging Stakeholders 36:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   __________________________   Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest: Chris Sattler LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-sattler-023335/ Island Aviation - https://islandaviation.co.nz/   Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

In this edition of the Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle provides a thorough overview of how to work with trade in the tourism industry. She offers essential tips and information including refreshing market understanding, handling trade partnerships, and maintaining administrative capabilities. She talks about the importance of marketing collateral, setting and adjusting pricing, collaboration with other institutions, and maintaining efficient booking systems. Also, Michelle emphasizes the importance of Qualmark for tourism operators planning to work on the international platform. Finally, she shares some pointers on how to maximize impact during trade shows and the relevance of follow-ups.   00:05 Introduction and Overview   00:21 Understanding Trade Readiness   01:06 Why Work with Trade?   03:30 Challenges and Benefits of Working with International Travel Trade   09:53 Understanding the Travel Distribution System   12:02 Working with Inbound Tour Operators   20:58 Understanding Commission Levels in Trade   23:25 Tips for Working with Trade   24:21 Improving Your Booking System   25:13 Working with Tour Operators   26:16 Credit and Payment Policies   27:50 Understanding Your Rates and Contracts   29:18 Pricing Requirements and Strategies   34:42 Maximizing Your Impact   36:52 Admin and Resources Required   38:05 Marketing Collateral and Trade Shows   42:13 Final Thoughts and Tips     Are you Trade Ready? Checklist - Scroll to the bottom of the page and fill out the form for an immediate email response with the document https://www.destinatenz.com/representation      Blog Post - How to work with trade - https://www.destinatenz.com/post/ask-destinate-working-with-travel-trade    _________________________________Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle interviews Helen Hayes, a multi-award winning travel writer and editor from Australia. We delve deep into the art of storytelling in tourism. Helen shares some insider secrets about effective storytelling to attract travel media attention. She elaborates on the significance of authenticity, passion, and unique experiences in creating compelling stories. Further, she offers valuable advice on networking with editors, hosting journalists, crafting appealing pitches, and maintaining professionalism in the industry. Helen also emphasizes the importance of having high-quality photographs of your offerings, as visuals often clinch deals for businesses. This is your guide to captivating media in tourism and a show for all tourism marketers and business owners.   __________________________________________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest: Helen Hayes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-hayes-43269a31/  w: thefinerthingsintravel.com Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

This episode of the Tourism Chat Show features an insightful chat with Tom Collier, the owner of Kaewa Tours. As a first-time attendee at TRENZ this year, Tom shares his experience, success, and advice for those considering attending. He advocates for the value of the TRENZ show as integral to his business's growth and the capacity for networking and establishing fruitful relationships. Tom touches on his journey, from the corporate world to establishing his own tour guiding business, sharing the focus on sustainability and staying connected to his RTO. Michelle and Tom also discuss how a business can prepare, stand out, and benefit from TRENZ and the importance of aligning to your business goals. In addition to that, they highlight how businesses can leverage AI and their respective communities to further thrive in the ever-changing tourism landscape. This podcast has been produced with the support of Tourism Industry Aotearoa - the hosts and organisers of TRENZ.  If you haven't signed up to attend TRENZ 2024 yet, it's not too late.  Check it out here: https://www.trenz.co.nz/  _______________________________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest: Tom Collier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomcollier1/  Kaewa Tours: https://kaewatours.co.nz/  Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Welcome to our 100th episode!   We are excited to welcome Peter Harding, the Managing Director of Grand Pacific Tours to today's show.  We'll cover off Peter's career journey, the evolution of coach touring in New Zealand, the shift towards a more discerning and intimate travel experience with smaller vehicle capacities, and the success of their highly rated Ultimate and Premium Economy coach tours. Peter and Michelle delve into marketing strategies, the impact of technology and the importance of sustainable practices. Peter also shares personal anecdotes and exciting stories from clients' travels.  Keep listening to find out who Peter thinks should play him in a movie about his life in our quick fire round.  ________________________________________   Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest: Peter Harding - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-harding-824b2a2a/  Grand Pacific Tours - https://www.grandpacifictours.com/  Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

We are back with our first in a series of special episodes dedicated to TRENZ.   Applications have opened for sellers and buyers open today so it's time for you to start planning your international trade activity for 2024! We have Lou Baddiley from Rotorua NZ on the show today. Lou was a first timer to TRENZ this year so shares some great insights into what the show entails and some great tips on how to get ready for it from an RTO perspective.  She outlines her role as an RTO in the complex world of trade sales and how they support their operators in making connections with key partners from around the globe.  Lou gives some fabulous tips on getting organised for the show, how to do your follow up and how to manage getting a lot of information across in a 15min appointment.  Lou achieved some great success at TRENZ last year and if you've signed up to go and would like some extra tips, or are still on the fence about attending then tune in and see if we can convince you it's the place to be!  For more Tips on WHY you should attend TRENZ, check out our episode from last year (16/11/22), TRENZ Talk 1 - Why Should I attend TRENZ?  www.trenz.co.nz  ____________________________________________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest: Lou Baddiley - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lou-baddiley-47317932/ or Instagram @louthebeautyfoodie  RotoruaNZ - https://www.rotoruanz.com/  Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Welcome to this week's episode of The Tourism Chat Show! Our guest is Kumar Swaminathan from Xperienz, and he shares fascinating insights on several topics. We delve into his journey into the US market, exploring the opportunities and challenges he's encountered along the way. Kumar also provides his perspective on the world of luxury and premium travel, and he explains his strategies for identifying and connecting with his 'ideal customers' who seek these exclusive experiences. In addition, we explore how technology has played a pivotal role in setting Xperienz apart in the highly competitive travel industry. Kumar shares innovative approaches they've employed, enhancing the overall travel experience for their clients. And don't miss the quick fire round, where Kumar reveals his all-time favorite book that he's read over 20 times, offering a glimpse into the literary inspiration behind his journey. Tune in for a captivating and informative discussion on the world of travel and tourism! _________________________________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest: Kumar Swaminathan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kumarstoo/ Xperienz - https://www.xperienz.nz/  Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Totally Tourism's Mark Quickfall joins us on the podcast today to discuss his 30 year love affair with the tourism industry.  We cover the changes and challenges he's seen throughout his time in tourism, what has changed for the better (and worse) and he shares his views on governance and advice for operators starting out in the tourism industry.  We tackle the hot topic of tourism in Milford Sound and what's required to get things done.  And in the quick fire we ask Mark who the most famous person in his phone is.....  Thanks for tuning in to The Tourism Chat Show.  ___________________________________________________________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

It has been a while since you've heard from us, but we are still here, and still committed to publishing great content for you to enjoy.  This is a new era for our podcast, with a refreshed look and feel, new music and a great line up of guests from not only New Zealand, but around the world!  This short episode outlines our plans and we'll be back next week with our very first guest.    Powered by: Destinate NZ

In today's episode, we have the pleasure of hosting Tourism Industry Aotearoa's Chief Executive, Rebecca Ingram. We delve into her first year in the role, the various projects she has been involved in, and the challenges she foresees in the industry. However, the primary focus of our discussion is on TRENZ, New Zealand's most significant tourism trade show. With only two weeks left until the event, we explore the changes made to the traditional program, the new additions to the event, and the exceptional theming that promises to wow the delegates. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of the tourism industry in New Zealand's economic recovery, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism Industry Aotearoa - https://www.tia.org.nz  TRENZ - https://www.trenz.co.nz  ___________________________________________ If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

As the TRENZ trade show in Ōtautahi Christchurch approaches in three weeks, we're sharing tips on how to make the most of your time there. We discuss the importance of preparation to ensure a smooth week, using appointment times to build relationships and gain market insights, structuring presentations during appointments, and following up after the event. We're fortunate to have Adele Marsden from New Zealand Educational Tours, and Louise Bilbie and Rachel Wallace from ANZCRO in Australia, joining us to share their memorable experiences with TRENZ appointments and provide tips for standing out with buyers at the trade show.   Timings:   14.28 - Adele Marsden (https://www.nzet.co.nz) 23.31 - Louise Bilbie and Rachel Wallace (https://www.anzcro.com.au)  34.57 - Update on gifts and pack-in details at TRENZ  _____________________________________________________________ If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

In this episode, we welcome James Donald, co-founder of Yonder and Head of Development to the show. We explore the fascinating world of ChatGPT, a cutting-edge language model developed by OpenAI. Based on the GPT-3.5 architecture, ChatGPT is capable of understanding and generating human-like language, making it a valuable tool for a variety of applications, including tourism. We delve into how ChatGPT works, including its training process and the types of data it uses to generate responses. We also discuss the potential impact of ChatGPT on the tourism industry, such as its ability to provide personalized recommendations and language translation services and also cover off some of the ethical considerations in using it. Join us as we discover the inner workings of ChatGPT and explore its potential to revolutionize the way we communicate and travel in the future. You can find James here > https://www.yonderhq.com/contact-us ______________________________________________ If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

This week we head to Ōtautahi Christchurch to have a chat with Christchurch NZ's Head of Tourism, Kath Low.  In May, TRENZ returns to Christchurch for the first time since 2006! (who was there?) A lot has happened since then so we cover off what's new and exciting, some of the things we can expect (but not ALL the secrets) and Kath very generously shares some local insider tips on what to do over the weekend if you're extending your stay.  It's less than 6 weeks to go until we are at TRENZ so now is the time to start planning your stay and to get excited about what you're going to experience.  For more info, head to https://www.christchurchnz.com/  _______________________________________ If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

It was a month ago that Cyclone Gabrielle ripped through parts of the North Island so today we head to Hawke's Bay for an update on how the visitor sector is faring with Hawke's Bay Tourism Trade Marketing & Sales Manager, Heather Matthews.  We have an in-depth discussion about the state of tourism in Hawke's Bay covering off access in and out, what's open, how the locals feel about welcoming back visitors and of course, how we can all help.  It's time to start planning that winter getaway to Hawke's Bay!  https://www.hawkesbaynz.com/ __________________________________________ If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

It has been two long years since we did a cruise update on the show so today we're delighted to welcome Ro du Plessis-Wentzel from ID Tours to discuss how the restart has gone, the incredibly challenging summer we've had, plus what they look for when building shore excursion programmes for their cruise line customers.  It's a very informative episode for anyone who works in the cruise industry, or for tourism operators who are keen to learn more about this growing industry.  www.destinatenz.com __________________________________  If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

If you're attending TRENZ this year, this is an episode designed to help you make the most out of your appointment schedule.  I'll cover off my tips for building your comprehensive trade page on TRENZ Connect as well as the homework you should start doing NOW to be prepared for the appointment schedule opening on 6th March.  Tune in, take notes and get cracking on organising yourself for the biggest Tourism Trade event of the year!   Some useful tips: Page builder user guide https://portal.trenzconnect.co.nz/guides/TRENZ_Connect_Seller_Guide.pdf TRENZ FAQs page https://www.trenz.co.nz/trenz/trenz-2023/faqs TRENZ Seller page https://www.trenz.co.nz/trenz/trenz-2023/sellers TRENZ TS page https://www.trenz.co.nz/trenz/trenz-2023/tourism-services TRENZ Seller/TS programme (download) https://www.trenz.co.nz/media/3555/download/Seller%20and%20TS%20Programme%202023.pdf?v=1 Unofficial functions form https://forms.office.com/r/UgT5HB82wi Sellers TRENZ Tips #2 https://mailchi.mp/tia.org.nz/trenz-tips-15800808?e=14f98c2d70 ____________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Thanks for tuning in to our first episode of 2023.  What a start to the year it has been.  Today is a short episode welcoming in the New Year (we're starting it late) and I also share some tips for communicating through a crisis.  If you're an operator struggling in one of the weather affected regions and need some help, please don't hesitate to contact me to see how I may be able to assist.    Happy New Year.  www.destinatenz.com

Chamber is back for the last episode of 2022 and boy is this a fun episode!   Here's a list of all the topics we cover in this action packed show.  2.31 - Differences between working in Australia and New Zealand 4.28 - Travelling long haul again - what's changed?  6.01 - Tourism Australia's Marketplace event in the UK 14.22 - ATEC Meeting Place in Cairns 17.24 - What they're saying about NZ 20.09 - Is Regenerative Tourism a thing in Australia?  24.49 - Things we've learnt in 2022 35.32 - What we're taking into 2023 - our plans 42.47 - Merry Christmas from us    Thanks for listening in and supporting this podcast in 2022, we hope to have you back to join us in 2023 - the next episode will air on18th January 2023.  Meri Kirihimete  ________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Air New Zealand are one of the major partners for TRENZ so we are fortunate to have two international GMs join us today for a market update.  Ben Evers-Swindell, General Manager Americas and Jonathan Zhang, General Manager Asia for Air New Zealand join Michelle in today's episode.  We discuss the level of interest from trade in attending TRENZ 2023 and changes in the distribution channel in these major markets.  We touch on Air NZ network and capacity updates with some surprising results!  And we look at demand for travel to NZ alongside some changes in booking patterns and consumer trends.  It's a really informative episode packed with insights from the international General Managers.  Thank you to Air New Zealand for being so generous with your team's time, and for also being such a great partner for TRENZ.  www.airnewzealand.com ____________________________________________  This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Steven Dixon has been the General Manager at Qualmark for just over a year now so we thought now is the right time to catch up and hear about the plans he has for the future of the quality assurance programme.  Steven gives us insight into the benefits of being part of Qualmark and shares some of the challenges they've had and how they are working their way through them.  He tells us about some of the updates we'll see to Qualmark and shares some tips on how to get ready for that assessment.  Keep an eye out for Qualmark's new website coming soon! www.qualmark.co.nz __________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you'e like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Fresh off their two big wins at this year's NZ Tourism Awards, we welcome Nadine Toe Toe from Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours in Murupara.  This is a raw and real interview that covers starting a regenerative tourism business before it was even a thing we talked about.  Nadine opens up on the challenges they've faced and the success they've had through their very authentic connection with their local community.  Every now and then, you sit and listen to someone speak who really inspires you, someone you just want to give a big hug to and say thank you for all you do..... this was that interview for me.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  https://www.kohutapulodge.co.nz/ ____________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

PurePods have received a lot of attention in the news recently with their capital raise, so I thought it would be fun to have a chat with their Business Development Manager, Kate Baxter to find out more.  Kate has a history working in tourism but has now swapped her high heels for gumboots and combined her love of the country with her industry experience.  PurePods offer farmers a fantastic way to diversify their income and with it, provide some really unique and innovative sustainability projects and goals.  If you have space and want to know more about PurePods, you can find them here https://www.purepods.com/ _______________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

TRENZ is New Zealand’s largest international tourism business event and most important event of the year on the tourism events calendar. TRENZ brings hundreds of international Travel Buyers together to meet with New Zealand’s leading tourism operators (Sellers) over four days to build or renew relationships and negotiate business for upcoming seasons. We’re excited to be heading to TRENZ at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, Ōtautahi Christchurch in 2023. This week we cover off why you should attend Trenz.  We’re very excited that 2023 will see the first full Trenz since 2019 and the first in Ōtautahi Christchurch since 2006! 5:49       What is TRENZ? 11:07     Operator Perspective – Rob Jewell, CEO Fox Glacier Guides 15:44     Purpose of TRENZ 17:36     TRENZ Tech 18:50     What’s new for 2023? 21:40     RTO Perspective – Rebecca Evans, Marketing Manager, Hamilton Waikato Tourism 28:19     My top 10 tips on why you should go to TRENZ   Here’s a list of useful links TRENZ website Seller specific page FAQs–we will continue to add to this as planning progresses Seller pricing (pdf download) Seller criteria (pdf download) Tourism Services (formerly known as Trade Booths) page Tourism Services pricing (pdf download) Tourism Services criteria (pdf download) TRENZ/TRENZ Connect –how it works   Melissa is the Seller expert and the one for you to know. Seller questions are best sent to: info@trenz.co.nz Adrienne is the TIA membership guru and can help get new members signed up - contact her at member@tia.org.nz __________________________________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

This week we welcome Maverick Digital's Zac Watson to the show.  Zac is Head of Partnerships at Maverick but has held a variety of interesting roles throughout his tourism career.   We chat about everything tourism, from his career journey, to his studies and look at advice for those starting out in the industry and operators heading into our first proper tourism summer for a number of years.  I start the show by discussing Adult Play and the benefits of including this into your daily routine, not just at home, but also at work.  This episode is jam packed with tips and suggestions for all tourism businesses so please enjoy the show.  ____________________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

We're joined today by Tracey Goodall, GM at Great Journeys NZ and Commuter - Kiwirail.  Tracey shares her very interesting career story to date and some of the success stories from working in the regions.  We also discuss the changes and reimagining of the tourism side of NZ Rail and what the team have been up to during the past two years.  This is a great story for those who might be looking at a career in tourism and wondering where their love of travel could take them.  Thanks for listening in.  www.destinatenz.com  __________________________________ Connecting Leadership to Success October 5, 2022   This week is an ode to one of the most successful AFL Captains of all time - Geelong Cats' Joel Selwood.   But bear with me, there is a correlation to tourism and to business.  I'm back from attending the AFL 2022 Grand Final with 100,023 others at the MCG and I couldn't help but notice to the leadership on and off the field and start thinking about how that relates to us in business. So this is my short take! Would love to hear your thoughts so please drop me a line.  ______________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

This week is an ode to one of the most successful AFL Captains of all time - Geelong Cats' Joel Selwood.   But bear with me, there is a correlation to tourism and to business.  I'm back from attending the AFL 2022 Grand Final with 100,023 others at the MCG and I couldn't help but notice to the leadership on and off the field and start thinking about how that relates to us in business. So this is my short take! Would love to hear your thoughts so please drop me a line.  ______________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Tourism is all about people, and our relationships in the industry is often the main driver for people staying in the industry.  So how do you become a better networker? We're joined today by Te Puia's Adam Taylor-Eruera who is often classed as the King of Networking in NZ Tourism.  Adam has built an incredible network during his time working in the industry so we ask him to share his tips for being successful.  It's Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori too so we have a chat about language and how tourism can do it better when it comes to using Te Reo.  Enjoy the show. Back next week!  www.destinatenz.com _______________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

What does sustainability mean? And how does it differ from Regenerative Tourism?  These are just two of the questions we tackle today on the show.  We're joined by Tourism Industry Aotearoa's Sustainability Advocate, Gisela Purcell to discuss Sustainability in Tourism.  We cover off the Tourism Sustainability Commitment that over 1500 NZ Tourism businesses have now signed up to, and the best ways to get started on your sustainability journey.  We discuss measuring carbon and Gisela shares some free calculators you can use in your business if you're just starting out. (see below) It's an all encompassing chat about taking a more sustainable path in your business and in your personal life so we hope you enjoy this episode.  Sign up for the Tourism Sustainability Commitment here: https://sustainabletourism.nz/sign-me-up/ Free carbon calculators: Sustainable Business Network: https://www.tools.business.govt.nz/climate/footprint/intro Ekos: https://ekos.co.nz/businesslitecalculator Toitū: https://carbonassess.toitu.co.nz/   www.destinatenz.com  ______________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

A short episode this week to cover off the Better Work Action Plan that is out for consultation with the industry at the moment.   MBIE are seeking your feedback on the draft Action Plan to understand: Which Tirohanga Hou (actions) in the draft Action Plan are most important How the Tirohanga Hou (actions) should be prioritised Whether anything critical has been left out of the draft Action Plan MBIE also want to hear any other comments you may wish to make on the draft Action Plan.  If you love tourism, and care about our future workforce and wish to be heard, please go along to one of the online workshops, read the draft plan online and fill out the survey which can be found here https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/better-work-action-plan/ Thanks for listening.  www.destinatenz.com  ______________________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Our guest today is well known around NZ as a passionate connector and voice of regional tourism.  He is Air New Zealand's Regional Affairs Manager, Jason Dawson.  Jason joins us to talk about the role our national carrier plays in driving regional economic development initiatives and conversations around the country.  In this chat we cover off everything from route development, new airports, sustainable business initiatives and the importance of connecting and communicating to achieve common goals.  It's an insightful view into the life of a Regional Affairs Manager role, and I'm sure you'll enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed chatting with Jason.    Thanks for tuning in.  www.destinatenz.com  _________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Content is one of the main pillars of marketing in tourism, so today we thought we'd chat about building communities and content with Sarah Chant from New Zealand Travel Tips.  Sarah lives and breathes content and community, and is convinced of the positive impact both can have on tourism.  Having worked as a travel writer, content designer and community builder for years, she has seen first-hand the benefits of creating online ecosystems and is keen to help you do the same. The founder of New Zealand Travel Tips (an engaged Facebook community and travel website), Sarah started her tourism career working for Air New Zealand and as a tour guide for New Zealand Educational Tours.  She then went on to teach, juggling tourism alongside her career in the classroom - as you’ll all appreciate though, once you’ve been bitten by the tourism bug, it’s hard to let go! Her blogging career started with Exploring Kiwis, a successful international travel blog.  After learning on the job, she went on to create Exploring Auckland and NZTT.  Sarah’s strategy is constantly evolving, allowing her to best support her community and the wonderful tourism operators that are a part of the group. She now runs both these sites and Facebook communities while working for the Auckland Council as a content advisor. We cover off all kinds of topics on this episode, from the benefits of blogging, to how to choose an influencer.  Thanks for tuning in, please enjoy!  Interested in becoming a preferred supplier with NZTT?  Click here > https://nztraveltips.com/work-with-us/ _________________________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

What an amazing week for our industry with the borders now fully open!! We will soon be welcoming cruise ships back to our shores and friends from everywhere around the world.  There is a lot of talk about staffing, and being ready so today we tackle this, and I share some tips from my 'Turn your Customers into Raving fans' workshop.  The inbound operators are busy, and we need to be ready to welcome guests back to our wonderful country - if you haven't completed a Customer Journey Map or walked through your business in your customers' shoes recently, now is the time.  To book a workshop: www.destinatenz.com/workshops #CustomerExperience #JourneyMapping #StaffEmpowerment #Leadership #TourismMarketing _____________________________________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

When it comes to NZ tourism icons, there is none bigger than our resort town of Queenstown.  Today we’re joined by the new CEO of Destination Queenstown Mat Woods.  It’s fair to say that Mat hasn’t had the traditional career path through the industry to get to his current role, but I'm sure you'll enjoy hearing his interesting back story and how he came to be the new RTO Chief Executive.  In this episode, we cover everything from the pressure of maintaining an iconic brands’ position, to workforce challenges, to destination management plans.  There has been a lot happen in the RTO world over the past two years so it’s great to hear a fresh perspective from someone relatively new to the sector. Mat Woods is the CEO of Destination Queenstown (DQ). DQ is the Regional Tourism Organisation responsible for the marketing of Queenstown as the Southern Hemisphere’s premier four-season lake and alpine resort Prior to joining the tourism industry, Mat had extensive experience in outdoor adventure sports retail, he was the Managing Director of R&R Sport before selling to what is now Torpedo 7. Recently Mat has been working with Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone as the Head of Sales & Services before joining the parent company RealNZ as the GM of Experience Whakatipu. With a strong background in governance Mat has recently held the position as Chair for Lake Wānaka Tourism. He is on the Board for Snow Sports NZ, Sport Otago and a director at Racers Edge. Thanks for tuning in, please enjoy the show.  www.destinatenz.com ____________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Ever wondered what goes into putting a TV series on air?  We are joined this week by Sarah Farag, owner of leading luxury destination travel business Southern Crossings, and part of the team behind the hugely successful 'Lap of Luxury' TV series that's been showing on our screens.  When the borders closed, Sarah had to think differently in order to keep her business afloat, but also be able to support the luxury experiences that she showcased in all of her bespoke itineraries.   It was a conversation with one of those luxury lodges that sparked an idea, and after a bit more brainstorming, and with the support of Screentime, Lap of Luxury was born.  We discuss some of the challenges of filming the series, along with the highlights and success of the show; where it is currently being aired and how it has helped the luxury sector.  Thank you for joining us.  Enjoy the show.    For more info: https://southern-crossings.com/lap-of-luxury/ www.destinatenz.com __________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Have we got the Customer Experience right?  There is a lot of talk about customers having to make their own beds, that NZ is not ready to welcome customers due to our shortage of key workers - none of which is helping our reputation both here in NZ or off-shore.  What are some of the steps we can take as tourism operators to ensure that customers are welcomed into our businesses, have clear expectations of what the experience will entail and still walk away raving fans of ours?  In this Ask Destinate episode, we cover off the importance of having a customer experience programme and the ways we can break our ideal customers into personas to map their journey through our business.  Hopefully this sparks some ideas in your business, or you might like to get in touch to share your story of success - or concern with some of the messaging currently coming out.  Thanks for listening, enjoy the episode.  _________________________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

When I was young, I had a t-shirt that said "Anything boys can do, girls can do better". It was the 1980's and I thought I was so ahead of my time!  Well today, we're chatting with an upcoming Rising Star of the Tourism Industry, Alice Orr who is proving that girls can do anything.  Alice is a commercial jet boat driver and all round customer service and sales star at Hukafalls Jet in Taupo and decided at a pretty young age that tourism was going to be her industry.  It's a great story of someone who was told off at school for talking too much has turned that trait into a career!  This is an episode dedicated to all of the upcoming stars of our industry, and to those who might be thinking about choosing tourism as a career option.  Thanks for listening www.destinatenz.com  _________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

A lot of us have moved around the country for different roles, but it takes a whole lot more to move your family to another country - in the middle of a global pandemic!  This week, we welcome industry favourite, Tash Lawrence to the show to share her journey and experience in moving to Singapore late last year.  She's tackled setting up her new business (Kario Consulting), setting up home and settling her daughter into a new school.  We hope you enjoying hearing Tash's story, and of course her infectious laugh!    Thanks for listening in.  www.destinatenz.com  _________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

This year, Aotearoa celebrates Matariki as a nation, with a public holiday to mark the occasion set for 24th June.  We wanted to discuss this significant event and invited the 2021 Tourism Industry Champion from the NZ Tourism Awards, Ceillhe Sperath back onto the show.  Ceillhe shares with us how she celebrates Matariki with her whānau and the plans she has in her business.  We discuss the significance of Matariki, how tourism businesses can get involved and give some ideas about how to mark the occasion.  If you're in Auckland, I highly recommend you check out some of the great events and activations Ceillhe and her team have been working on at www.aucklandexperiences.co.nz    Nga nihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori.  Happy Matariki / Happy Māori New Year.  Thanks for listening.  _____________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

Attracting and retaining talent back to the tourism industry is a hot topic in every meeting room around our industry right now, so we thought it would be great to get our industry training organisation onto the show to discuss how they can help you do this.  We're joined by General Manager Industry Engagement at Service IQ, Tony Laskey. Tony is a sales and marketing professional with extensive experience in the travel and tourism sectors. Having worked in inbound and outbound travel both here and overseas, Tony has experienced all aspects of the industry from being a tour guide, through to leading the sales, marketing and communication activities for Contiki in New Zealand and Asia. Tony was also Director of Marketing and Communications at The Travel Corporation (NZ) before, in 2019, moving into the education sector as General Manager – Industry Engagement at ServiceIQ. ServiceIQ is the industry training organisation (ITO) for the aviation, hospitality, retail, travel, tourism and museums. Outside of work Tony and his wife, Catherine, have two young sons who share their parents passion for travel. We discuss the benefits of offering training linked to a qualification in your business, and how to go about doing it. HINT> It's really easy! If you're interested in finding out more, drop Tony a line at intel@serviceiq.org.nz or via the website https://www.serviceiq.org.nz/ Thanks for tuning in today.  Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode and if you enjoyed it, please leave us a 5-Star review.  __________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ If you're like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast

What will travel look like post-coronavirus? Making the most of what’s on our doorstep, planning dream trips and greater flexibility than ever before are likely to become part of our future as we try to support an industry that’s been on its knees since the pandemic began in early 2020. Today we’re digging deep into some of the stats from one of our largest travel websites – The NZ Pocket Guide.  And we’re joined by founder Robin Censure. There has been a bit of talk around the industry about some of the changes we’re starting to see in traveller booking patterns so we thought we’d go directly to the source to see what you’re seeing on the NZ Pocket Guide. While it is almost a certainty that travel will be back, the virus will forever change the tourism landscape. No longer will people be inclined to “tick” all the boxes by traveling willy-nilly everywhere or purchase the most exciting travel accessories find. Instead, tourism will become a more mindful, deliberate experience punctuated by increased flexibility and more personalised experiences. We’ve had a few of the inbound operators on the show and heard what they had to say, so let’s see what travellers are doing online too. Are trip lengths increasing or decreasing?  How far in advance are people booking these days?  How much are they spending?  What planning are they doing?  How are they searching for info?  We delve into these questions and a whole lot more in this insightful chat with Robin who is extremely generous in sharing stats from his website.  If you wish to touch base with Robin to discuss how he could help your business, you can find him here -  hi@southpacificpocketguide.com ____________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ

This episode goes live as the first planes out of Australia land, loaded with Aussie visitors!  The borders are open!  As one of Australia's leading travel wholesalers and NZ specialist, we wanted to invite Nick onto the show to hear how bookings are looking for the upcoming ski season, as well as further out to summer.  Nick shares who the first NZ Supplier visit was from, and how motivated his team is to learn all about NZ products once again.  It's a wide ranging interview covering booking patterns, travel and tourism history, challenges in restarting a business and much more.  Thanks for listening.  ________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ

Trenz Connect is currently on so we thought it would be perfect timing to share our four E's of putting your best foot forward online.  The past two years has seen an exponential rise in the use of online video conferencing for meetings, sales calls and trainings.  But it's sometimes easy to forget best practice and things can become a little too relaxed.  Michelle & Chambers are back together to present to you this episode that starts off by discussing Michelle's recent visit to Australia, what she has noticed and how things were in SE Queensland, and an update on how Chambers is going in Cairns.  Remember, if you have a topic you want us to tackle in a future Ask Destinate episode, please drop us a line via the podcast website page.  Thanks for listening.  _______________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ

Some of the best Covid success stories have come out of collaboration. When communities work together, they become stronger and this is very evident on Waiheke Island where they joined together very early on in the pandemic to target the domestic traveller and help keep Waiheke Island on the map.  Join us as we chat with Ecozip Founding Director, Gavin Oliver this week. Gavin has been a guest speaker on many webinars throughout zoom and offers a great perspective on how to keep it all together when things seem out of control. He also shares how Waiheke Island collaborated like never before to achieve some cut-through and great results in the domestic space.  For more info on Ecozip: https://www.ecozipadventures.co.nz/ ______________________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ

This is part two in a two part series chatting with some of the leading Inbound Operators in NZ.  Today we are joined by Mark Badland from Pacific Destinationz, Tim Reid from Southern World and John Gregory from Terra Nova Tours.  Are you ready for the international market to return?  What does your business need to do now before borders reopen?  Listen in to these two episodes to learn and understand how you can be part of the tourism reset and rebuild when we are reconnected with the world.  If you would like a hand with your sales and marketing efforts, please drop me a line to see how I can help.  _______ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ

This is part one of a two part series where we interview a panel of some of the top inbound operators in New Zealand.  They share the feedback they've received from their international markets and discuss what the demand will be when the borders open.   They also talk about what product or regions they think will do well, and give advice to the tourism industry about getting involved and ensuring your experiences are loaded into reservations systems ready to be booked.  Today we are joined by Anna Black from General Travel, Scott Mehrtens from Leisure Time Group and Geoff Yee from GSN Pacific Tours.  This episode is as good as sitting in a tourism conference listening to our market experts give an update so share this with your colleagues and friends and enjoy the show.  ___________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ

It's no secret that tourism has a perception problem when it comes to encouraging youngsters into working in our industry.  There has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes to improve this via the education system, community engagement and industry advocacy.  The Go with Tourism Workforce Wānanga in November last year brought together great minds from across the Tourism & Hospitality industry, associations, unions, educators and local/central government to develop solutions that will improve and build our workforce. The Action Plan 2 has just been released so we’re joined today by Go with Tourism’s new Programme Director Heidi Gillingham to discuss the outcomes.  Heidi Gillingham is one of New Zealand’s up-and-coming tourism leaders. Having been in the industry in one way or another since leaving high school, it’s no surprise that her path in life led her to the adventure capital of the world. Originally from the UK, Queenstown was her home for seven years before relocating to Auckland in 2022. Heidi progressed to the role of Programme Director for Go with Tourism after spending 18 months as a regional coordinator for the initiative, managing the Education Programme and other youth-oriented initiatives. Her previous work experience includes human resource management, and training and development with Taco Medic, AJ Hackett Bungy and Queenstown Resort College. In 2019, she won the HR New Zealand Emerging Practitioner of the Year Award. Heidi’s motto is “work hard, play hard”. While she is a strong believer that good results come directly from hard work, she is equally adamant that success is found when one can switch off at the end of the day and enjoy life outside of the ‘office’. To find a copy of the Action Plan 2 - click here >https://www.gowithtourism.co.nz/knowledge-hub/go-with-tourism-workforce-wananga-2021   Enjoy the show, thanks for listening.  Please leave us a review/rating!  ___________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰   Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com   Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ

There are many reasons that market research is important for all businesses, such as lowering business risks, understanding your customers better, simplifying decision making, testing a new product offering, and outselling your customers to name but a few.  We’re joined today by Cristine Angus from Angus & Associates, who are New Zealand’s leading provider of independent research, market intelligence and strategic business planning services for the tourism and leisure industry, and a partner to key public and private organisations in other sectors. We discuss why market research should be added to your box of business tools to help you run your business.  Cristine’s extensive experience in market research and past 20 years specialising in tourism means that she will provide really valuable tips on how to go about conducting market research and what to look out for.  Cristine gives us real insights into the work they’ve done on the domestic market – and even offers some tips for tourism businesses still looking to grow their share.  What do kiwis think of the borders reopening?  Are the Aussies wanting to come to New Zealand? We cover all of this and much more in this episode. Cristine has kindly offered our listeners the opportunity to be sent insights as they are released, you can join their mailing list here> https://www.angusassociates.co.nz/insights/ Thanks for listening! ___________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by donating the cost of a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com

We're back with another Ask Destinate episode and this time, we have a special guest in the studio with us - Kerry Lahood.  Kerry has a extensive background working in sales across various sectors in the tourism industry so we thought he would be a great person to join us in discussing how to work best with the travel trade.  In this episode, we share our top tips from nearly 70yrs combined experience working with the travel trade around the world.  What you need to know, how you should prepare and what to expect are all covered off in this episode.  If you're a tourism operator who hasn't had much exposure to the international travel trade, or if you're new in your sales career, then hopefully you'll pick up some tips on how to break through during your sales calls.  Thanks for listening.  ________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by donating the cost of a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com

This week we continue our series of checking in with NZ Tourism's source markets to see how they are faring, and what we can expect when the borders reopen.  We're joined by one of NZ's top Japanese market experts, Tony Boot from BTM Marketing who will share his thoughts on the market, tell us about some trends that are starting to emerge and give operators some tips on how to approach working with the Japanese market.  We discuss some of the changes that have happened in the wholesale market both here in NZ and in Japan. If the Japanese market is one that you want to target in future, grab some tips for free right here.  Thanks for listening.  ______________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell and her great industry buddy Lisa Chambers. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Destinate NZ is on @buymeacoffee! 🎉 You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com

There has been some great research come out over the past year or so that talks about the changing trends we’re seeing in consumer behaviour with regards to their expectations of businesses - and one of those big trends is consumers want speed - which means that businesses will be forced to adopt a digital-first mindset to deliver it.  This week, we chat with INFLITE NZ CEO Adam Joyce to discuss their journey and the benefits and pitfalls to watch for when you embark on this journey in your business.  Given that this is all based on human behaviour,  it can be hard to assess the effectiveness of Customer Experience (CX), but there are certain agreed factors that determine a positive customer interaction. Responsiveness to booking queries, or phone calls, for example, is better when it’s faster, while customers appreciate and now expect communications that are personalised and tailored to their position in the purchasing journey.     Thanks for tuning in.  For more info: https://inflite.nz/ _______________________________ Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com

This week we head to Rimini, Italy to chat with Craig Smith.  Well we actually do that via zoom but we wished we were able to get to Italy right now!  Craig has a long history of selling NZ and Australian tourism experiences to the UK and European markets and joins us to chat about life from a European perspective.   We have an interesting chat about regional dispersal, which markets will respond first when borders do reopen, and some advice for operators managing their bookings with no certainty over border openings.  We start the episode by discussing a couple more of the Skift Megatrends in redefining travel in 2022, and ask you what you're doing to diversify your business in these times of uncertainty.  Check out our workshops here for curating online experiences: https://www.destinatenz.com/workshops. Please enjoy the show and we'll be back next week.  Michelle & Chambers xx   Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here - Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com

We welcome very special guest Renata West, MD of Pacific Storytelling.  We chat through the similarities and differences in the approach to Covid between Tahiti and New Zealand.  How has Tahiti managed to keep its thriving tourism industry afloat?  What has changed in their operations since Covid arrived? What are the biggest challenges still facing them?  It's an insightful chat about how different approaches have been taken across different countries.  Renata also gives advice to NZ operators on re-engaging with the US trade market in preparation for the NZ border re-openings.  For more information and to contact Renata: https://www.pacificstorytelling.com/ Please leave us a 5-star review on your preferred podcast app :) __________________________________________________________________ Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here - Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com

Welcome to our very first episode of 'Ask Destinate'.  We invited you to send in your questions about tourism marketing and this is the first in the series answering some of those for you.  This week we tackle two big questions:  1. How to create a compelling advertising campaign.  - The key steps needed for success - Understanding your Why - Getting to know your ideal customer - Emotionally connecting with your audience 2. How to select and get the most out of influencer marketing. - Vetting influencers  - Maximising Value  - Setting and agreeing upon outcomes  - Why they work (mostly)    We hope you enjoy this episode and take away some tips for your tourism business too.  If you have a question you'd like us to answer in future episodes, you can submit it here - https://www.destinatenz.com/destinatenzpodcast  ________________________________________________________________ Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here - Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com

Happy New Year and thanks for tuning back in for 2022!    Michelle & Chambers are back from a short break to continue bringing you interviews with the best in the tourism biz.  This week, we welcome Rob Jewell, Chief Executive of Fox Glacier Guiding on the West Coast.  Everyone in the industry knows that the West Coast has been one of the hardest hit regions since Covid hit, so we check in to see how their summer is going, share some tips on the best things to do on the West Coast, and talk resilience and the power and value of networking.    Rob is also the co-chair of Glacier Country Tourism and GM of Mt Cook Glacier Guiding and has a wealth of knowledge and experience from his many years in tourism.  For more info:  https://www.glaciercountry.co.nz/ https://www.foxguides.co.nz/ _____________________________________________________________ Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here - Say hi to us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com

It's our 50th episode so happy birthday to us!   In our final episode for 2021, we chat with the outgoing Chief Executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Chris Roberts.  It's a candid chat about the highs and lows of the tourism industry over the past 7.5 years, the challenges still to face the industry and some sage advice for Chris' successor in the role.  We also ask Chris what it's like in the Beehive and get a bit cheeky asking him who his favourite tourism minister has been!  It's a banger of an episode for us to see out 2021 and we thank you for listening in.  Merry Christmas.  We'll be back on 12th January 2022. More about Tourism Industry Aotearoa - https://www.tia.org.nz/  _________________________________________________ Resources and Links to connect with Destinate NZ Subscribe to receive our free 101 Ways to Destinate your Tourism Business here -  Say hi to us on social:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DestinateNZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/destinate-nz Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com

As we glide into Christmas, we wanted to share another tourism success story with you.  A story about opening a brand new independent 5 Green-Star hotel in the heart of Auckland.  The Hotel Britomart's General Manager, Clinton Farley joins us for a chat about what it takes to do just that.   Clinton shares his varied and exciting career history with us, tells us what exactly a 5 Green-Star hotel is, and some of the challenges in opening a hotel in the middle of a global pandemic.  It's a great story of innovation, tenacity and kiwi ingenuity that goes into building a new brand that is making waves on the global market even with the borders closed.  Thanks for listening.  Check out The Hotel Britomart - https://thehotelbritomart.com/ To contact us:  https://www.destinatenz.com  #DestinateNZ #tourismMarketing #newhotel #hotelmanagement

This week we welcome Goway General Manager, Kathy Turner.   Kathy has enjoyed a long and varied career in tourism in New Zealand and overseas, having started in the campervan industry at Auckland Airport back in the mid 1990s. From there, she hopped the ditch for the first time to work for Britz, before entering the world of selling travel online in 1998, at a time when online travel was not really even “a thing”! After a stint in the UK, Kathy returned home to Auckland to spend over 9 years at the helm of AOT New Zealand, also serving on the Board of TECNZ for 4 years. This was followed by a period in digital marketing and tourism software, satisfying the “geek” in her, with roles at Tomahawk and Tourwriter before crossing into true OTA with a role as Country Manager of Agoda.com, one of the Booking Holdings group of companies. This led to a move back to Sydney to a senior Agoda role, before finding her way back to her true home in Inbound, as General Manager of Goway Inbound. Kathy is a Board member of Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC). We discuss what the Australian Tourism Industry has done in terms of alignment and lobbying through Covid, how Goway were able to respond to the border closures, the aviation landscape and outlook, and what the Australian market is thinking about NZ's border announcements.  We end with a chat about resilience and wellbeing after such a long lockdown in Sydney and Kathy imparts some advice for the rest of the tourism industry.  Thanks for tuning in.  www.destinatenz.com #tourismmarketing #inboundtourism #nztourism #tourismnz #goway #tourismrecovery

This  week, Michelle & Chambers are back to discuss the week's news - from border reopening dates, to YHA closing, to the new Traffic Light system coming in to play soon.   Then we spend the rest of the episode covering off our top tips for entering Business Awards and being successful.   These tips have been compiled by talking with award organisers, judges and from our own personal experiences.  If you've ever wanted to enter an award, but don't really know where to start, this podcast is a great place!   We'd love to hear from you with any other tips you might have, drop us a line via www.destinatenz.com/destinatenzpodcast and we'll update our blog post.   Thanks for listening, please leave a review and subscribe so you don't miss an episode.   #awards #businesstips #businesspodcast #podcast #MarketingPodcast #marketingtips #businessawards #TourismAwards #girlboss #tourismmarketing

It's hard to believe we've now reached our final episode in our 2021 NZ Tourism Awards special feature.  11 episodes, 31 interviews, 27 businesses later!  Today we have two more inspiring finalists and we also grab some time with the Tourism Industry Aotearoa Events & Marketing Manager to discuss the Awards night.  First up is Freeman Ehu from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari - this is their second guest appearance on the show as they are also finalists in the DOC Conservation Award.  Our final finalist is Adam Haugh from Waiho Hot Tubs in Franz Josef.  This is an interview that everyone should hear - he tells it with passion and emotion but also so much hope for the future.  Waiho Hot Tubs are finalists in the Westpac Resilience and Innovation Award and you have to admit that the West Coast has had it tougher than almost anywhere in NZ during this pandemic.  Then Lynn Robinson from TIA joins us for a chat about the Virtual Awards, and we try to get some secrets out of her about what will happen on the Awards Night!    Michelle & Chambers then wrap up the series with a summary of their own personal highlights and a few giggles.  We wish all the finalists the very best of luck for the Awards on 29th November.  Thanks for listening.  Timing:  8.49 - Freeman Ehu, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (https://www.sanctuarymountain.co.nz/home) 19.06 - Adam Haugh, Waiho Hot Tubs (https://waihohottubs.co.nz/) 36.25 - Lynn Robinson, TIA (https://www.nztourismawards.org.nz/)  49.15 - Michelle  & Chambers wrap up the series (https://www.destinatenz.com)  #NZTourismAwards21 #NZTourism #TourismNZ #TourismMarketing #MarketingMatters #GirlBoss #WomenInBusiness

It's the penultimate episode of our NZ Tourism Awards special series!  This week we interview three more finalists from this year's awards as we count down to the big 'virtual' awards on 29th November.  In this episode we start with Freeman Ehu, Marketing Manager at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari - finalists in two categories, but this week we focus on their Community Engagement Award.  Paul Norris from RealNZ, who is believed to be NZ Tourism's only Chief Conservation Officer joins us next to talk about what their business is doing in southern NZ to be named finalists in the DOC Conservation Award.  Finally, we chat with Kerry Wicks, owner at the Miranda Holiday Park.  They are finalists in the Tourism Talent Employer of Choice Awards and it's super clear how much aroha there is for their team during this chat.  We announce the winner of the Mountain Bike Rotorua competition from last episode and this week we offer up a Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise for TWO valued at $400.  Don't forget, there is only one more week to enter the Dart River Funyak Adventure too - go to www.destinatenz.com/competitions to enter that one.    Timings:  8.34 - Freeman Ehu, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (https://www.sanctuarymountain.co.nz/home) 23.04 - Paul Norris, RealNZ (https://www.realnz.com/en/) 40.13 - Kerry Wicks, Miranda Holiday Park (https://mirandaholidaypark.co.nz/)    www.destinatenz.com  #nztourismawards #Conservation #Leadership #CommunityEngagement #TourismMarketing #NZTourism #TourismNZ #newzealand #competition

Part 9 already!   Three more incredible finalists this episode.  We're joined by NZME Visitor Experience Award Finalist, Bruce Thomasen from Redwoods Treewalk in Rotorua.  He even gives us an exclusive scoop on their new summer attraction opening soon!  Then we welcome our final Marsh Tourism Industry Champion finalist, Bridget Legnavsky from Real NZ (formerly Wayfare).  Bridget's passion for developing people and excellence is real and if you've seen her videos from Cardrona, you'll already know this.   And finally we welcome back a familiar voice to the show - Tak Mutu from MDA Group in Rotorua who are also finalists in the He Kai Kei Aku Ringa Maori Tourism Award.  We interviewed Tak in the last episode for their Community Engagement Award.  There is no shortage of talent in the NZ Tourism Industry and we're very proud to be able to bring a snippet of this to you every week.  We announce our competition winners from last episode and this week there is a competition to win 2 x full suspension full day bike hire with MDA Group in Rotorua so head to our instagram page to enter.    Timings:  7.41 - Bruce Thomasen, Redwoods Treewalk (https://www.treewalk.co.nz/) 23.46 - Bridget Legnavsky, Real NZ (https://www.realnz.com/en/) 41.57 - Tak Mutu, MDA Group ( https://www.mtbrotorua.co.nz/ & https://www.mdanz.com/)    www.destinatenz.com #tourismmarketing #NZTourismAwards #Leadership #Marketing #MaoriTourism #VisitorExperience #CustomerExperience #Excellence #SmallBusiness #NZTourism #TourismNZ

In Part 8 of our NZ Tourism Awards special we welcome three more awesome finalists.  Tak Mutu representing MDA Group from Rotorua who are finalists in the Community Engagement Award.  Amy Hughes from Wellington Zoo who are finalists in the Environment Award Nineke Metz and Owen Taituha from Waitangi Treaty Grounds who are finalists in the Maori Tourism Award.    We announce the winner of the iFly competition last week and remind you to enter our Dart River Funyak Adventure Competition www.destinatenz.com/competitions We are also giving away a family pass to visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds AND Wellington Zoo.  Head to www.destinatenz.com/competitions for details.    Timings:  MDA Group: 7.23 (https://www.mdanz.com/about) Wellington Zoo: 23.58 (https://wellingtonzoo.com/) Waitangi Treaty Grounds: 42.25 (https://www.waitangi.org.nz/)    Thanks for listening in. Tell your friends, share with your colleagues!  www.destinatenz.com  #tourismmarketing #NZTourismAwards #NZTourism #TourismNZ #collaboration #leadership #GirlBoss

We kick off this week by announcing the winner of the two night stay at Russell Orongo Holiday Park and then welcome three more inspirational tourism leaders for a chat about their NZ Tourism Awards Finalist entries.  First up is Claire Waghorn from Christchurch Airport.  Claire is the Sustainable Transition Leader there.  Christchurch Airport are finalists in the Toitu Envirocare Environment Award, and huge props must go to their entire team for the work they have been doing for well over a decade to champion our environment and make a real difference.  Not easy for an airport!  Then we welcome Matt Wong, Managing Director at iFly Queenstown.  They are finalists in the Tourism Talent Employer of Choice Award so we tackle how they managed to keep their team engaged through lockdown and come out the other side stronger than ever.   And finally we chat with Visitor Destination Manager at Nelson Regional Development Agency, Tracee Neilson about their Tourism New Zealand Industry Collaboration entry.  They're also doing some great work carbon off-setting their visitor economy and it seems like the entire region has got in behind the project.  It's great to hear and see our industry 'walking the talk' and making a real impact.  There's another competition - this week an iFly Kickstart pack for two people valued at $198.  Timings:  9.17 - Claire Waghorn, CHC Airport (https://www.christchurchairport.co.nz/) 30.46 - Matt Wong, iFly Queenstown (https://www.iflynz.co.nz/) 51.08 - Tracee Neilson, Nelson Regional Development Agency (https://www.nelsontasman.nz/)   Enjoy the show. Vote for us in the NZ podcast awards (www.nzpodcastawards.com)  www.destinatenz.com  #NZTourismAwards #TourismMarketing #Environment #Climate #Collaboration #EmployerofChoice

We start by announcing the winners of our Dive! Tutukaka competition last week and announcing this weeks' competition to win a 2 night stay at the Russell Orongo Bay Holiday Park valued at up to $360.  You must listen to find out how to enter!  First up we welcome Ceillhe Sperath from Time Unlimited Tours who is a finalist in the Tourism Industry Champion Category. Full name Ceillhe Tewhare Teneti Hema Sperath - is a New Zealander of Maori descent from the largest Ngapuhi tribe in Northland with the added bonus of her Irish heritage on her paternal side that affords her the gift of the gab. Ceillhe is a direct descendant of Patuone ("The Peacemaker") and Tamati Waka Nene, two of the main signatories on the Treaty of Waitangi - New Zealand's founding document in 1840. Ceillhe is passionate about her indigenous culture and wishes to share her experiences of a rich living culture that uses the essence of time to draw on the past, present and future to ensure her manuhiri (valued guests) are central to the experience and feel integrated in a meaningful and connected way. Winner of several global tourism awards as well as named as one of the world’s top 25 global guides in 2021, she will share her extensive knowledge and love of New Zealand in a way that ensures people and places are equally respected.   Sam Taylor from ChristchurchNZ drops in to talk about their Industry Collaboration Finalist entry with Christchurch Airport.  Sam is a senior marketer with a background in branding across the private sector and some of NZ's most iconic brands including Just Juice, V Energy, and JUCY Group. In his current role at ChristchurchNZ he leads the team delivering marketing across the full economic development remit, including tourism. This means he has an understanding of how tourism marketing fits in to the bigger picture of economic development goals and how important a strong destination is to a place more generally. And finally, we welcome back Tori and James Burns from the  Russell Orongo Bay Holiday Park – this time talking about their second finalist entry, this time in the Community Engagement Award.   Timings:  8.26 Ceillhe Sperath - www.newzealandtours.travel 29.42  Sam Taylor -  https://www.christchurchnz.com/ & https://www.christchurchairport.co.nz/ 49.09 Tori and James Burns - https://russellaccommodation.co.nz/   Terms and conditions for the prize can be found at www.destinatenz.com/competitions #NZTourismAwards #TourismMarketing #MarketingTips #Marketing #TourismAwards #NZTourism #TourismNZ #NewZealandBusiness

Part 5 of our series on the 2021 NZ Tourism Awards finalists delivers another three awesome businesses right to your device.  Our first guest needs absolutely no introduction as we introduced him to you last week.   And if you haven’t listened to the Part 4 episode we strongly recommend you go back and do that right after this.  It’s Matt Stenton from Go With Tourism and this week we’re talking about their finalist entry in the Tourism New Zealand Industry Collaboration Category. Following Matt, we chat with Alex Dykman from Maverick Digital Tourism Marketing who are finalists in the Tourism Talent Employer of Choice Award.  Passionate about empowering tourism to embrace change through technology, Alex is the Founder of Maverick Digital, a digital agency working exclusively with tourism. In doing so, Alex has helped to lead the charge in a new era of digital transformation for our industry. Alex currently leads a staff of 16 tourism marketers, and through a culture of workplace wellness, staff engagement and career development, she is dedicated to making Maverick one of the best places to work in New Zealand. Currently experiencing huge growth, Maverick was recently named #250 in the Deloitte Fast 500 for Asia Pacific Technology businesses. And last by definitely not least, we welcome another double finalist to the show – James and Tori Burns from the Russell Orongo Bay Holiday Park. In 2018, James and Tori were offered the opportunity to buy the Russell - Orongo Bay Holiday Park. Russell had always been a special place for them, they were married there 5 years earlier in Christ Church - NZ’s oldest working church. The Holiday Park had always been a magical place for them to stay, set in 14 acres of native bush. The night sky is magnificent with kiwi calling all around and a kiwi trail to explore. It is home to some rare birds - the ornithological society identified 55 species of birds in one day.  As newbies to the tourism industry, and big debts hanging over them, it has been a roller coaster few years and they have had to pivot, diversify, be resilient and use innovative ideas to survive.  Today we are chatting to them about their finalist entry in the Westpac Resilience and Innovation Award. We also have a competition on our socials ( https://www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ and https://www.instagram.com/Destinate_NZ) to win a trip for two out to the Poor Knights Islands with Dive! Tutukaka who featured last week on the show.  Winners drawn and announced on next weeks' show.  Timings:  10.10 - Matt Stenton (https://www.gowithtourism.co.nz/)  30.12 - Alex Dykman (https://www.maverickdigital.nz/) 49.06 - Tori and James Burns (https://russellaccommodation.co.nz/)    For competition details and to contact us - www.destinatenz.com/links    #tourismmarketing #NZTourismAwards #TourismAwards #celebratingsuccess #nzpodcast #marketingpodcast #competition

This week we’re joined by two more amazing finalists – and we decided to stick with just two this week as their stories were so entertaining and interesting, we didn’t want to cut them short. First up, we have a finalist in the Marsh Tourism Industry Champion Award, Matt Stenton.  Having led multiple youth entrepreneurial programmes and contributing to various steering groups, boards and government boards in New Zealand, Matt brings an exciting and diverse set of experiences. Matt’s motto is “Simple done well”, and he demonstrates this with his incredible ability to create simple solutions for complex problems. Combined with his cheeky personality and ability to get ‘stuff’ done, he’s a master of cutting through the ‘BS’ to get to the heart of the matter. Matt is known for his extensive network and international tourism & hospitality connections. In 2011 he helped shape Virgin Australia New Zealand by introducing their new service design methodology and establishing new ways to train the aircrew. In late 2014, he was instrumental in delivering Gulfstreams 100th G650ER into service in New Zealand. Matt is currently the Programme Director for Go with Tourism. And following on from Matt, we welcome Jeroen Jungejans from Dive! Tutukaka, finalists in the Westpac Resilience and Innovation award. Jeroen is owner of Dive! Tutukaka, Perfect Day and Lodge9 - a marine adventure company based in Tutukaka, Northland, and heading out to the Poor Knights Islands - any activity in on or under at the best little Marine Reserve on the planet. A strong focus on the blue economy, the marine environment, leaving our rohe a better place than we found it, and acting as great ancestors are the driving forces behind Jeroen and his business. These interviews are seriously good, so listen in until the end and please enjoy the show.  Don’t forget to leave us a 5 star rating wherever you listen in, and please share this with your colleagues and mates. Don't forget, we also have the Dart River Adventures competition going – and this is especially for you our listeners … it’s super easy, just jump on our website www.destinatenz.com/competitions and fill out the form to tell us your favourite episode so far and why.  We’re loving hearing all your reasons so far, but we know there are more of you who haven’t yet entered!  The prize is a funyak safari for two valued at $598! Who doesn’t want to win that?  Thanks to www.dartriver.co.nz    Timings:  4.59 - Matt Stenton www.gowithtourism.co.nz 26.18 - Jeroen Jungejans, Dive! Tutukaka www.diving.co.nz  www.destinatenz.com #DestinateNZ #tourismmarketing #NZTourismAwards #NZTourism

We are super excited to welcome another three awesome finalists in the NZ Tourism Awards 2021 to the show.  We're joined by Nicole Botting, finalist in the PATA NZ Trust Emerging Leader Award.  A very smart marketer who has made a huge impression in the industry in every role she has had.  After that, we're joined by Jared Simcox who is the Business Manager at The Dark Sky Project in Tekapo.  The Dark Sky Project is a finalist in the He Kai Kei Aku Ringa Maori Tourism Award.  This is the only place you can go to hear the stories of the stars as told by the local Maori - they are not shared online! And finally, we welcome the woman with the best job in the world - Emma Bean from the National Kiwi Hatchery in Rotorua.  Emma spends her day caring for kiwi eggs that are brought in from the wild to hatch at the facility - it's a true conservation in action story and it's no surprise they are finalists in the DOC Conservation Award.    Please enjoy the show - and head to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/DestinateNZ to enter our competition to win a Summit Experience for TWO valued at $298 at the Dark Sky Project.  Winners drawn 5th October and announced on the show on 6th October 2021.   Timings:  8.44 Nicole Botting (https://www.maverickdigital.nz/) 23.45 Jared Simcox, The Dark Sky Project (https://www.darkskyproject.co.nz/) 46.26 Emma Bean, The National Kiwi Hatchery (https://www.nationalkiwihatchery.org.nz/)   Enjoy the show, thanks for listening.  www.destinatenz.com #DestinateNZ #TourismAwards #NZTourismAwards #NZTravel #NZTourism #NewZealand

In week 2 of our 2021 NZ Tourism Awards special, we are joined by three finalists.  1) Loren Heaphy from ChristchurchNZ who is a finalist in the PATA NZ Trust Emerging Tourism Award.  https://www.christchurchnz.com/ 2) Dr Arthur Chin from NZ Nature Highlights, a unique story of his online experience and how he has grown to be one of Airbnb's top rated experiences and now a finalist in the NZME Visitor Experience Award. https://baabaa-nz.com/ 3) Jolanda Cave from Dart River Adventures, part of the Ngai Tahu Tourism group who are also finalists in the NZME Visitor Experience Award. https://www.dartriver.co.nz/ This is a great selection of talent from our industry and we've only just begun.  Timings:  0.50: Winner Announced from last week's competition 7.24 Loren Heaphy's interview 27.05 Arthur Chin's interview 47.12 Jolanda Cave's interview  We have another fabulous competition just for our listeners this week so tune in to find out how you can enter!  www.destinatenz.com  #tourismmarketing #NZTourismAwards #Leadership #VisitorExperience

Thank you for returning to listen to The Destinate NZ Show. We have a really exciting series of episodes lined up over the next few weeks, all focused on the 2021 NZ Tourism Awards Finalists.  Today we start by chatting with Eve Lawrence from the Haka Tourism Group, followed by Heidi Farren and Nigel Hobbs from Altitude Tours in Queenstown.  Eve is a finalist in the PATA NZ Trust Emerging Tourism Leader Award and Altitude Tours is a finalist in the NZME Visitor Experience Award.  Our guests are exceptional examples of the excellence we enjoy celebrating in the tourism industry.  Don't forget to enter our Instagram competition to win an Altitude Tours Wine Sampler Wine tour which has been awarded the World's BEST Wine Tour by TripAdvisor 2020/2021.  It's valid for two people and valued at NZ$378.  (Prize drawn 21st September 2021) Episode Timings:  Heidi/Nigel, Altitude Tours: 14:45 Eve Lawrence: 34:20  For more info on our guests: https://www.altitudetours.co.nz/  & https://hakatourismgroup.com/    www.destinatenz.com | #DestinateNZ | #TourismMarketing | #CelebratingSuccess | #NZTourismAwards

We were so close to having a domestic cruise bubble in NZ - the health official had approved it, the ship had been chartered, and it was on its way with the crew.  And then NZ Immigration turned down 61 essential visas for most of the crew because they thought those roles could be filled by kiwis - yet only 6 (yes SIX) people applied!  It has been an incredibly heart-breaking and frustrating time for an industry that has gone for 12 months without a cent of revenue - and despite what some of our ministers say, it is NOT EASY to 'pivot'.   We go deep with the Chair of the NZ Cruise Association and all round cruise expert Debbie Summers to discuss what happened, what needs to happen and the damage that this may have done to NZ's reputation.  It's a good one - pass it on to Minister Nash if you get an opportunity!  Thanks for listening.  #CruiseNZ #ImmigrationNZ #TourismNZ #DomesticTravel #domesticbubble #domesticcruising www.destinatenz.com

This week Robin Censure from the South Pacific Pocket Guide joins us on the show.  The NZ Pocket Guide started over 8yrs ago and has grown to be NZ's largest online travel guide.  They have now expanded into the South Pacific with guides for Fiji, Tonga, Nuie and more!  Listen in to hear how they work with governments and tourism bodies off-shore to help solve challenges like over-tourism in peak times, and how businesses in the South Pacific have embraced sustainability as part of their every day practices.  We have a chat about the value of working holiday visas and Robin gives his views on what NZ should be doing now to promote this opportunity.  To get in touch with Robin > https://nzpocketguide.com/contact-new-zealand-pocket-guide/   www.destinatenz.com  #tourismmarketing #pocketguide #travelguide #travelguidenz #nztravel #nzmustdo #sustainabletravel

What do you do when your business is made up of 96% international visitors and the borders close?  You innovate.  Tune in to hear from Te Puia's GM Sales & Marketing Sean Marsh about how they've faired through lockdown and since and how a new product is helping to put them on the domestic visitor's map!  www.tepuia.com #tourismmarketing #pivotordie #reimagine #domestictourism #destinatenz #internationaltourism #productdevelopment    www.destinatenz.com

The CEO of TECNZ (Tourism Export Council of NZ), Lynda Keene joins us on today's episode to discuss the Tourism Recovery Plan for 2021.  Lynda has worked tirelessly as the voice for the inbound sector for the past 12 months during really demanding times, but has some great initiatives underway to advocate and lobby government on, on behalf of the TECNZ members.  When will the borders reopen? How will the inbound operators survive?  What more can government do to help?  Listen in for all the answers and much more.  www.tourismexportcouncil.org.nz  #inboundtourism #distribution #export #tourismnz #NZtourism #Marketing #internationalmarketing #destinatenz #TECNZ  www.destinatenz.com

Jezza Williams from Makingtrax joins us on this week's episode.  After a life changing canyoning accident in the Swiss Alps, Jezza looked into the adaptive adventure industry. Blown away at the lack of opportunities and infrastructure, Makingtrax was born. Jezza talks to us about the difference between accessible and inclusive tourism and is creating a global movement to encourage more tourism operators to jump on board!  His infectious personality and lust for life and growth will leave you with a huge smile, so listen in and enjoy this episode.  And if you haven't joined the Inclusive Tourism Movement yet, what are you waiting for?  Contact Jezza:  https://www.makingtrax.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/makingtrax.co.nz/ https://www.facebook.com/makingtrax.co.nz Email: info@makingtrax.co.nz   #inclusivetourism #accessibletourism #tourismmovement #tourismmarketing #jezzawilliams #destinatenz  www.destinatenz.com

This week, Loren Aberhart joins us on the show.  Loren is GM Destination and Attraction at Christchurch NZ, and it's fair to say she has a huge job!  Loren has been called 'The Trifecta' - female, under 40 and Maori, but she's taken that in her stride as she's carved out a very successful career in tourism at a young age.  She's one of our industry's brightest sparks and we're thrilled to have her share her story on our show today. She's also been through a lot in her career so join us as we discuss her career path to date, her passion for equality and diversity in the workplace and yes, we do mention her time spent on our TV set! (Loren was on The Block NZ 7 years ago) We get serious about mental health and Loren shares her tips on how to cope and more importantly look after yourself in a crisis.  Are there too many RTO's?  Listen in to hear our views, along with all the exciting things happening in Christchurch this summer.    www.christchurchnz.com  www.destinatenz.com  #christchurchnz #regionalmarketing #regionaltourism #tourismmarketing #marketingnz #destinatenz #mentalhealth #wellbeing #reslience

We are joined this week by two of our great friends, Anna Black from General Travel and Adele Marsden from New Zealand Educational Tours.  2020 has been a pretty tumultuous year for tourism, and we thought it would be nice for our final episode of the year to look back on some of the highs and obvious lows, but also to look ahead to 2021 with our hopes and plans for the year ahead.  Anna and Adele both own inbound tour operations so their business has been decimated by the border closures.  Despite that, they are still optimistic about the future of inbound tourism, and share some of their plans, and tips on what you can do to help them as a tourism business.  We're taking a break next week and will be back with a brand new episode on 6th January 2021.    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Meri Kirihimete!  Michelle & Chambers    www.destinatenz.com  #inboundtourism #marketing #tourismmarketing #reflections #hopes #newyearsresolutions

It's been a crazy year for tourism operators, but there is one going further than many others - by opening a BRAND NEW attraction in 2020!  Jake Downing, Weta's Head of Tourism joins us for a chat to launch Weta Unleashed, a brand new Fantastical Film FX experience opening in Auckland on 15th December.  He reflects on some of the challenges of opening a business in 2020 (Covid aside) and looks ahead to how this Part Film Set, Part Creative Workshop will help to transform the tourism landscape in Auckland.  Thanks for listening.   https://wetaworkshopunleashed.com/ www.destinatenz.com    #WetaWorkshop #WetaUnleashed #TourismAttraction #AucklandNZ #NZMustDo #DoSomethingNewNZ #Marketing #TourismMarketing

This week we're joined by Keith Marsh - an absolute expert in selling NZ and Australia to the UK and EU markets.  Keith shares all his tips on how to crack the market, what you should be doing NOW to prepare for the borders reopening - even if we don't know when they might - and we discuss his views on what he thinks might happen when they do.  Is Flight Shaming a real thing? How does the UK market think NZ is handling Covid-19?  What are they concerned about? And what can you as a tourism operator do to get ahead of your competition?  Listen in, it's a great episode not to be missed.    You can contact Keith at www.tailormaderepresentation.com or www.mytraining.guru www.destinatenz.com  #UKMarket #TourismMarketing #Relationships #Networking #SalesManagement

This week GM Sales & Marketing at Hobbiton, Shayne Forrest joins us for a chat.  We learn a lot of new things about Shayne that had never come up in conversation before, but aside from being the 'best thing to come out of Central Otago', he is an absolute wealth of info and knowledge on our tourism industry and shares his journey and tips with our listeners.  Tune in to hear what strategies Hobbiton has adopted through these tricky times, and also what tips Shayne has for other tourism businesses.  It's a great fun chat and we hope you enjoy it!  www.destinatenz.com  HOT OFF THE PRESS:  Hobbiton are launching a brand new experience especially for the domestic market on 20th December - how good does a second breakfast at the Millhouse sound?  Check it out here https://www.hobbitontours.com/en/experiences/second-breakfast/  #hobbiton #tourismmarketing #customerexperience #dosomethingnewnz #domestictravel #travelnz #exploreyourbackyard #supportlocal

It has been a big week in the tourism industry.  We heard from our new Tourism Minister and it's fair to say he has ruffled a few feathers by saying we only need to focus on the wealthy travellers.  In this episode, we break down the value of the youth market with YHA's GM Marketing & Sales, Brian Westwood.  We cover why we shouldn't ignore this sector, the value they bring (aside from visitor spend) and some ideas to solve some of the infrastructure issues NZ tourism is facing.  We also discuss time management as Brian is another very business tourism professional and he shares some great tips for youth who may be looking at a career in tourism.  This is a great episode, enjoy!  Thanks for listening.  www.destinatenz.com #tourismmarketing #infrastructure #YouthMarket #Backpacker #AdventureTravel

We welcome Dylan Rushbrook to the show this week.   He's a super busy guy who shares his tips on time management with us,  he divulges a few secret spots in Central Otago and offers up some tips for tourism businesses from an RTO perspective.  We talk about working in tourism, how to get work in tourism, and the importance of developing great content to help sell your experience.  Dylan is the GM of Tourism Central Otago, Covid-19 Recovery Manager for the Central Otago District Council, co-Founder of Tourism Talent, Director for Dunedin Venues, a trustee for Regional Tourism NZ, husband and dad to two young boys, Cooper and Beau.      To find out more:  https://centralotagonz.com/ https://www.tourism-talent.com/ Thanks for listening.  www.destinatenz.com

This week, Chambers is back from her kiwi holiday around the top of the South Island, we check in on her #DoSomethingNewNZ activities along with how Good Vibes went in Abel Tasman.  Can you imagine 150 skydivers all having the time of their life in the sky high above us?  We also cover off the changes in our central government and our new...... Tourism Minister!  Welcome Stuart Nash, we hope you enjoy the episode. We couldn't let the week go by without a mention of the US Elections (bye bye Trump) and finally we discuss some of the insights shared at the recent Tourism New Zealand roadshow events.  Thanks for listening.  www.destinatenz.com  #election2020 #nzpol #Tourism #TourismMarketing #DoSomethingNewNZ

In today's episode, Chambers is back and this time she has hijacked the me (Michelle Caldwell).  We chat about all things tourism, how I found my way into this career - from selling pharmaceuticals to campervans - and some of the highlights I've had along the way. We discuss the importance of relationships and the wonderful people who work in tourism and even some of the incredible projects I've been involved in creating and launching in roles.  We touch on how Covid has affected me, and the opportunities that have presented themselves as a result.  And of course, there is the quick fire round at the end!  Thanks for listening and enjoy.  www.destinatenz.com  #tourismmarketing #tourismcareers #destinatenz

In this episode, Michelle & Chambers have a chat with Garth Oakden, the owner of Tongariro River Rafting based in Turangi.  Garth shares his unique insights into providing great customer service and how he manages to average an NPS score of 91 in his business.  We chat about the Fish! Philosophy https://www.fishphilosophy.com/fish-philosophy-story/ along with the ex Wellington Mayor Mark Blumsky's book Slippers and Service https://books.google.co.nz/books/about/Slippers.html?id=VGa-wpMXmLkC&redir_esc=y Join us as we hear about the team's night out on 'Mum's rules' and how that has led to this leading tourism business gaining so many fans from all over the world.  Tongariro River Rafting www.trr.co.nz Thanks for listening.    www.destinatenz.com

This week, we are joined by RAL's Human Resources Manager, Sarah Webster to discuss Women in Leadership and the Dots Communication Method.  In a mammoth week for NZ politics, we thought it was timely to have a discussion about women in leadership, and some of the challenges we've faced along with our hopes for the future. We also discuss Dots!  Are you a blue, red, purple or yellow dot?  Check out https://amyscott.co.nz/ to find out - she is a great Dots facilitator!  Thanks for listening.  www.destinatenz.com  #WomenInLeadership #Diversity #TourismMarketing #Communication

So since last week, I’ve been on a bit of a tiki tour around the country.  I’ve visited Wanaka, Aoraki Mt Cook, Tekapo, Twizel, Hazelburn, Darfield, Christchurch, Te Aroha and Ruapehu and of course I’m now back here in Taupo!  It has been a pretty hectic week!   But one thing has really stood out this week, and that’s the passion and determination shown by our tourism industry colleagues!  Despite everything that’s been thrown at them this year, they are still looking forward at how they can develop their businesses, target new markets and create new experiences for their guests, and as a consultant, I am incredibly proud to be working with these people. But one common theme has cropped up in nearly every consult or meeting I’ve had and that’s  “Michelle, how can I figure things out so I’m not so busy?” When we break that down, it almost always come down to time management.  It’s fair to say that most of us are doing the work of multiple people right now – most businesses have scaled back their operations to be able to afford to keep going – and as a result the staff how are left are multi-tasking like never before.  They are cooking, cleaning, doing the accounts, managing the social media, welcoming guests, doing maintenance and so much more!  And it’s tiring!  I feel for you if you’re doing this – but I have a few tips which may help you to get through in this episode.   #timemanagement #business #tourism #TourismMarketing #destinatenz

In this episode, we welcome Lisa Chambers from the INFLITE Group to the Destinate NZ podcast.  We chat about how we found our way into the tourism industry, some advice for those starting out, and how Covid has affected us personally and professionally.  Join us for a few laughs and hopefully some insights into what others have been doing throughout 2020.  Thanks for listening. www.destinatenz.com   #tourismmarketing #marketingnz #tourismNZ #DestinateNZ

So here’s a little fun fact for you – on Sunday we only have 90 days left in the year!  Someone reminded me of this on LinkedIn the other day and when you see it written like that, it’s a bit scary!  Although to be fair, a lot of us are also pretty excited by the prospect of bidding farewell to 2020 too!   The person who shared this little fact was also talking about 90 day goals and how it would be a great opportunity to set yourself one last goal for 2020!  In this episode, I challenge you to set yourself a 90 day goal, and also discuss some immediate things you can do in your marketing to get results.  It's school holidays in NZ, and people are travelling.  But how do you ensure you're set up to maximise your bookings at this time?    Thanks for listening #marketing #tourismmarketing #Businesstips #DestinateNZ  www.destinatenz.com

I’m not sure if you’re noticing the same thing I am at the moment, and that’s the fact that nearly every second post on my social media is someone offering me a magic silver bullet to make me a millionaire!  Promising 7 figure results in the matter of months.  If only it were that easy! In this episode, I talk through the steps I take with my clients when we're developing their new marketing and sales plans.   We start with STRATEGY.  Thanks for listening.  www.destinatenz.com  #tourismmarketing #marketing #silverbullet #growth #businessnz

Kia ora! It's Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori, or Maori Language Week in New Zealand, so I thought I would take the time to celebrate this fun week and have a go myself.  Afterall, it's one of the three official languages of Aotearoa so we should all be trying to learn a few words.  And whilst we're celebrating, I also give a shout out to a very special tourism business celebrating 65 years in operation this month - the Mount Cook Ski Planes.    Thanks for listening.  www.destinatenz.com  #tourismmarketing #reomaori #celebratesuccess #happybirthday

Hopefully by now you’ve all had plenty of domestic visitors through your doors.  I’ve been really fortunate to be working with some amazing operators right around the country who have been busy refocussing their efforts on the domestic market and in this episode I discuss a few trends I’ve started noticing.   I’d be really interested to hear from you as to what you’re seeing in your business too after this episode. The one thing to remember through all of this is that all the work you do now in the domestic space isn’t just helping you through these times with the borders closed – it also sets you up for the future – where you can have a diversified customer base and not be reliant on one market.  And if you can convince the team of 5 million to love you now, think how powerful that is when the international visitors arrive and ask for advice on where to go and what to do!   #tourismmarketing #marketing #domestictravel #domestictourism #nztourism  www.destinatenz.com

We all know that having agents and media experience our products is one of the best selling tools we have. But do you make the most of each of these visits? In this episode, I share some of the most memorable (good and bad) famils and some tips for making them fab.  Happy hosting!  Thanks for listening www.destinatenz.com

How many of you have your business goals written down somewhere that your whole team can access?   Most of us start a new year and write down some resolutions, only to find that by the end of the Christmas holidays they’ve been forgotten and you’re just back to life as usual. So why is this?  Writing down your goals isn’t enough - Most likely of all is that you didn’t create a plan – and a goal without a plan is just a wish! In this episode, I talk about my tips for setting goals using the SMART goal approach and how to take steps to smash them.  Good luck!  Thanks for listening  www.destinatenz.com

How many of you have invested heavily in professional photos for your tourism business? I’m hoping most of you!  And how many of you simply grab your own camera and snap away?   Now that’s okay if you have some photography skills but don’t underestimate the power of great photos for your business. In this episode, I talk through what it takes to create a great photography brief, tips on choosing a photographer and how to survive the photoshoot day!    Thanks for listening www.destinatenz.com

On the last episode I talked about the first step in becoming a loved brand being to define your target market and I’ve had a couple of people ask me how to do this for a tourism business, especially when you pretty much just want anyone who is travelling through your area to come and spend some money with you.  And that’s true.  But there is power in refining your position in the market and connecting on a deeper level with your customer.  It’s all about relevancy and relating to the person on the other side of the counter. In this episode, Michelle Caldwell explains how.    www.destinatenz.com