National Aquarium of New Zealand – MTG Museum – Theatre – Gallery – Kennedy Park Accommodation – i-Site – Par 2 Mini Golf – Library – Municpal Theatre – Conference Centre

Lake Tekapo – Upkeep of the Church of the Good Shepherd

The Church of the Good Shepherd has seen increasing impacts from the influx of tourists visiting Lake Tekapo and the Mackenzie district in recent years. TEC is working with the Church to assist with enhancement of the experience for visitors, car-parking and other related issues.

While infrastructure amenity funding has been made available to provide new toilet facilities on the west side of the Tekapo footbridge, there are costs involved in maintaining the church and enhancing the experience itself that are currently being borne by the local parish (the Mackenzie Cooperating Church). TEC encourages coach operators, rental vehicle and inbound companies that visit or promote the Church of the Good Shepherd, to make a donation to help cover the costs of maintaining the Church and experience.  You can find information on how to donate here. In addition, drivers and guides can also encourage their customers to make a donation either using the website or using the onsite donations box on the side of the Church.

Many thanks for recognising that we need to honour and assist this unique New Zealand icon so that it remains a beautiful and respected Church and attraction by all visitors to Tekapo.

Two new InterCity double-decker buses are hitting the road this week, offering a new level of luxury for long-distance bus passengers.

The new 65-seater InterCity GOLD buses will travel daily between Auckland and Wellington from Thursday 26 January, with stops along the way including Hamilton, Cambridge, Tokoroa, Taupo, Bulls and Palmerston North.

Each Scania K440 vehicle has 18 GOLD seats on the upper level – large soft leather recliners with individual charge ports and power outlets.

“We’re committed to providing quality travel experiences for our passengers, and InterCity GOLD offers the highest level of comfort in long distance bus travel,” says Sam Peate, InterCity Group General Manager Coachlines and Auckland Tourism.

“With personal charging facilities plus our free mobile WiFi, customers can stay connected throughout their journey.”

Standard seating will also be available on both levels, with standard seats also offering USB charge ports.

InterCity launched its popular GOLD service in 2014 and has been expanding its availability ever since, with GOLD buses now available in both the North and South Islands.

The new buses have more GOLD seats available than on previous vehicles, and are the first with GOLD seats on the upper rather than lower level. Built at a cost of over $1.5m, the 15-tonne double-decker buses stand 4.3m high and 13.5m in length.

InterCity GOLD seats are available on four out of InterCity’s six daily services between Auckland and Wellington. The premium seats are also available on services between Napier and Wellington and between Picton and Christchurch, with more routes to be announced in the near future.

Find out more about InterCity GOLD.

Hello all – I hope you all had a great festive break?

I just wanted to put out a message to a few people who wanted to run off a few excess meals from over the festive break. We have the Waitomo Trail run happening on the 29^th April 2017. It is a great run over some amazing scenery. Entries for the Waitomo Trail run can be made at http://www.waitomotrailrun.co.nz/ . It sold out last year so pre-booking is important.

Waitomo Trail run video – The distances are 6km, 11km and 22km.

THL would like to invite any TEC members an opportunity to visit the caves during the day with their families. This would be a great way to visit the region and visit the caves on an FOC basis for members and immediate family.

Regards and happy to help on any questions.

Heritage and CityLife Hotels have a fixed term role as a Sales Co-ordinator for our International Leisure segment covering a 12 month maternity leave.

You can find more details about the role and apply by copying this link into your web browser; https://heritagehotels.recruitmenthub.co.nz/Vacancies/3250175/title/Sales-Coordinator

If tourism operators want to employ skilled migrant workers they may have to start paying more. That’s the message from the government, TEC CEO Lesley Immink told the end of year symposium. TEC is working with TIA and MBIE on immigration visitor and migrant worker visas categories.  “the main message the government is saying to us is, if you value this employee you have to show your value by a pay rate or wage with a minimum of $47,000 (based on a 40 hr week) whether front office language speakers, inbound operator product managers or adventure tour guides”. Migrants applying for employment under the Skilled Migrant Category also now need 160 points to qualify for the visa compared to the previous 140 points. Priority weighting and points (30) are given to those who choose to work outside the Auckland region. It is expected further changes to Essential Skills and Working Holiday Visas will be announced early next year.

Ms Immink said TEC has an ongoing friend-and-foe relationship with DoC. “tour operators care for the environment, whether they be part of a group tour, Real Journeys or THL.  We all want to deliver that experience and most of it happens on the DoC estate but there are challenges with DOC working in the commercial space.” TEC is working with TIA, DoC and the Bus and Coach association looking at improving the compliance to guiding, parking and general concessions.  “It is big work in progress with DoC experiencing phenomenal growth in recent years. So many more people are getting out and experiencing wildlife which has increased the pressure on the infrastructure and environment.”

ITOs work hard bringing in groups and FITs to New Zealand but because of supply and demand for hotel inventory, there are constant price changes and allocations.“We are constantly working on your behalf up in market to bring new business to New Zealand and it has been frustrating when ITOs secure the business thinking they have allocation and contracted rates only to be told, sorry the status quo has changed, she told operators. This causes embarrassment to the ITO and the wholesaler at the other end, and is damaging the reputation of New Zealand as a destination. A pop-up survey last month with ITOs indicated up to 30% of business being lost from New Zealand because accommodation in Auckland and Queenstown cannot be secured to complete itineraries. We need to respectfully keep talking to each other so there are less ‘surprises’ and we don’t turn off wholesalers from dropping New Zealand as one of their destinations to sell.”

TEC took a risk supporting the Choose Clean Water Campaign but wanted to contribute to a worthy project – protecting the environment. Between the campaign, a successful petition (13,000), the submission to the Next Steps for Freshwater, TEC has bought the tourism industry into an important environmental discussion with 92% of members indicating they want TEC to continue advocating for the protection of the environment. When the campaigners appeared before a select committee the young group was impressive. “All are under 30, all are studying and it was inspiring to have these young people standing up for freshwater. The Select committee with representatives from Labour, National and Green Parties with local government were highly impressed with their presentation. That combined with the Havelock North water borne illness incident, has prompted them to recommend to government that Freshwater quality become and an issue of public health & safety.

Young TEC has grown to 270 members and in its short history has already won the PATA gold award for education and training. This may be extended to other PATA member nations. Young TEC is also keen to hold TEC Talks, similar to the popular and global philosophical and inspirational TED talks on Youtube.

We offer a large selection of helicopter and plane experiences throughout New Zealand. We also offer charter work and the southern hemisphere’s only ski plane experience.

Situated adjacent to the popular Tāhunanui Beach, the Holiday Park spans 54 acres with a comprehensive range of accommodation from non-powered sites to cosy cabins to two-bedroom motel units (600 sites and 89 accommodation units in total).  Qualmark 4-star and Gold Sustainable Tourism rating.  On-site: café/store, five-room Beachside Function Centre with in-house caterer, mini-golf, mega pillow, mega swing, flying fox, pedal-karts, 5 playgrounds, petanque and volleyball courts.  Dog friendly camping zone Feb-Nov.

Media release from Mt Cook Glacier Guiding

November 16 2016

Tourism heavyweights join forces – offer new experiences for visitors

South Island adventure tourism leaders Fox Glacier Guiding and INFLITE’s Mt Cook Ski Planes and Helicopters, the area’s pre-eminent tourism aviation experts, have teamed up to create new glacier-guiding experiences for visitors to Mt Cook National Park.

Their pedigree for the new venture is indisputable — Fox Glacier Guiding has been guiding visitors for over 40 years, while Mt Cook Ski Planes and Helicopters has been flying sightseers for over 60.

The new partnership is operating as Mt Cook Glacier Guiding with its operational base at the Aoraki Mount Cook Airport. The company offers heli-hiking, snowshoeing and ice climbing on the Haupapa/Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s largest.

Anticipation and excitement for the new joint venture is understandably high.

“The decision to go into partnership was an easy one given the experience, long history and resource capability we share,” says Rob Jewell, Fox Glacier Guiding CEO. “It all adds up to ensure our visitors receive the most authentic and safest glacier-guided experience possible.”

Mr Jewell sees other advantages too.  “Mt Cook Glacier Guiding is a natural fit with our operations in Fox Glacier, giving our visitors real options on both sides of the Southern Alps. It also gives our guiding team members at Fox Glacier the chance to apply their unique skills in a different location.”

INFLITE CEO Adam Joyce, owners of Mt Cook Ski Planes and Helicopters, is also looking forward to the partnership.

“It’s been a privilege for us to operate in the heart of the Aoraki Mount Cook and Westland National Park for the last 60 years. This is the home of New Zealand’s big mountain scenery, it’s definitely got the “wow” factor.

“Having Mt Cook Glacier Guiding joining us at our airport base will give our visitors the option of incredible scenic flights and glacier guiding. They can really immerse themselves in the beauty and serenity of the area.”

From a strategic perspective, Mr Joyce says the ability to offer world-class glacier guiding to visitors further enhances the company’s vision to deliver unforgettable New Zealand experiences.

The new Mt Cook Glacier Guiding team is raring to go.

“We’re looking forward to showcasing and educating visitors about this special place, so they can take home a great story,” says Mr Jewell.

ENDS

Picture captions:

1/ Tourism heavyweights join forces – Fox Glacier Guiding CEO Rob Jewell and INFLITE CEO Adam Joyce

2/ Guests and guide enjoying a Mt Cook Glacier Guiding trip

3/ Mt Cook Glacier Guiding ski plane and helicopter

4/ Mt Cook Glacier Guiding logo

For further media information contact:

Contact:                    Jo Wisniewski, Sales and Marketing

Mobile:                      022 108 6764

Email:                        marketing@mtcookguides.co.nz

Website:                    www.mtcookguides.co.nz