Destination Rotorua's new Australian marketing team
Three passionate Sydney-based Kiwis are on board to market the premier destination of Rotorua to trade, media and the conference and incentive market right here in Australia.
Following the introduction of Air New Zealand’s direct flights from Sydney to Rotorua, Destination Rotorua (DRTM) has contracted Joey Rihari as Business Development Manager – Australia. Joey joins PR Advisor – Australia, Hannah Blake who has been working with DRTM since early 2009, and Debbie Gee (Wootton) who recently joined the ranks as Conference and Incentive Representative – Australia.
Between them, the level of experience within the industry and passion for the city is huge. Joey, of Tuhoe and Arawa descent, moved to Sydney 22 years ago and has an extensive work history which more recently includes MCK Hotels and Newmans Holidays.
“I am very excited to promote Rotorua as a destination. I want to share with the Australian trade the many wonderful activities, accommodation options and some of my favourite places of interest that makes Rotorua the awesome place it is – and now Air New Zealand has made travelling there so much easier with twice weekly direct flights,” Joey says.
Following three years working at DRTM in Rotorua, Hannah rejoined the team last year in Sydney and has been working with Australian media to promote the city.
“Rotorua has so much to offer, with each little intricacy and story giving journalists a wonderful experience to write about. We don’t do boring and quite literally have something to offer everyone and because of that, Rotorua is a destination to be very proud of.”
Debbie Gee comes to the team following eight years of experience with The Organiser, a conference planning service in Rotorua and is thrilled at her new position of Conference and Incentive Representative – Australia
“I was born and bred in Rotorua and the city is my passion. It is exciting to watch Rotorua step up another level in the MICE market with the launch of trans-Tasman flights. I love a new challenge and am looking forward to working in the Australian market to promote Rotorua as the premier destination for conference and events.”
Don Gunn, DRTM General Manager is thrilled to have the team on board.
“With the introduction of Sydney to Rotorua services by Air New Zealand, we need to ramp up our activities in the Sydney market and bringing on the Sydney-based team is a key step in this direction. Having the team in place will complement and reinforce our marketing activity.
We are about to embark on a major promotion and marketing campaign that will initially run through to the end of June 2010. We are doing this in conjunction with Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand.
It is important that we have the resources to ensure the campaign and activity is successful and having Joey, Hannah and Debbie based in Sydney will greatly enhance this.”
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