Please distribute to all staff

June 18, 2010

Kia Ora !*FIRSTNAME*!,

There have been a few changes at DRTM with the recent departures of two key staff members.
Karlene McCormick, Administration Officer, has taken a position with Harvey World Travel and has relocated to Whakatane. Karlene’s contribution to DRTM and the wider industry was outstanding.
Heather Carston, Media Advisor, has left to join Aaron Carotta and his Adventure Promotions Company. Heather was only with us for a relatively short time but managed to undertake an unprecedented number of famils that have resulted in great media exposure for Rotorua.
We wish both of them all the best for the future.

TRENZ this year proved to be a busy and successful time for all involved. Our welcome function turned a few heads with our body painted models serving the drinks.

DRTM ran two appointment streams and generally the signals were positive, with growth likely from Australia, Asia, India and North America, however, it looks likely that recovery from the U.K and Europe will be slow in the main. Participating industry members on the Rotorua stand reported optimistic forecasts from visiting attendees which is encouraging. To compliment our exposure during TRENZ week, DRTM installed this billboard below at the Café Number One Queen Street.

More detail on TRENZ in the international section below.

The first round of activity in the TNZ/JV Australian Campaign ends this month. The major part of this initial push into the Aussie market was designed to create greater awareness of Rotorua and the direct trans-Tasman flights. Early signs indicate that the campaign was a success and subsequent activity on social networks has been extensive.
Still working in market are a number of full page print advertisements targeting niche groups.
These include the following magazine titles: Australian Gourmet Traveller, Bride To Be, Signature, Spa Life, Holiday with Kids, Australian Mountain Biker, Fly Life (fly fishing), and Australian National Geographic Outdoor.

The ongoing development of the Australian micro website is progressing well and the value of being listed on this site will increase as we move into the next phase of the campaign, which will focus on conversion.

Proposals for the second round of funding are currently with TNZ and an announcement of the successful RTO’s is expected any day now.

Kind regards
David Whorwood
Marketing Manager
DDI (07) 349 7280

In This Issue

International Update

International Update: For any clarification of any of the information in this section please contact

TRENZ 2010

TRENZ 2010 was held at the ASB showground’s at the end of May. In total 18 Rotorua businesses were represented in the Rotorua region plus a number of others in the National areas.

In excess of 270 international buyers and media attended this year.
The direct flights from Sydney were heavily promoted to buyers and received positive reaction from a number of Asian and North American buyers.

While  many buyers were happy with their Rotorua arrangements it was evident a  number of companies were looking for new and exciting developments in which they could incorporate into there programs – particularly involving Maori culture, boutique accomodations and the lakes and forests. A number of opportunities also presented themselves for Rotorua promotion through some of the distribution channels open to these companies.

The continual rise of online booking was evident with many market leading online companies from various countries in attendance, especially out of a number of Asian countries and catering to the FIT market of North and South East Asia.

The GNZTR product manual continues to be a highly valuable and well received tool by buyers in promoting Rotorua and providing more reasons to visit and stay longer in the central North Island.

Don’t miss this International marketing opportunity.
Explore New Zealand publication - FREE

Tourism New Zealand’s Explore New Zealand publication is currently open for your business to register until Friday 16 July. The 2011 – 2012 edition will be published later this year.

Explore New Zealand is a discount programme that enables accredited travel agents and media from our key international markets to expand their experience of our tourism product while they are travelling independently in New Zealand. By providing industry rate discounts, New Zealand tourism companies can increase travel trade knowledge of their product and may receive international media coverage.  This opportunity comes up just once every two years, so don't miss the chance to register your business.

Visit this link for more information

Domestic Update

Domestic Update: For any clarification of any of the information in this section please contact

Media Schedule

Domestic advertising for the previous months have included the following online & print publications:

    • Banner ads on MSN, Stuff, NZ Mountainbiker, Vorb, Spoke, Endurance Sport.
    • Rotorua wallpaper skin on View Auckland website.
    • Print ads promoting Rotorua featured in Littlies, Luxury Holidays, NZ Mountainbiker & Spoke magazines.
    • Two page spa feature editorial in Luxury Holidays Magazine.

Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show

In a joint venture with Fish & Game, DRTM had a stand at the NZ Boat Show 13 – 16th May to promote Rotorua and fishing in the region. Over 30,000 people attended this year’s show and the Rotorua stand generated excellent interest throughout the four days from families to first time and experienced anglers.

A Rotorua prize draw of accommodation and activities was a fantastic draw card and enabled additional exposure to be gained in the official magazine handed out to every attendee at no extra cost.

If you would like to be considered for Consumer Shows please let Craig know. Alternatively if you are attending a consumer show, again contact Craig if we can assist in any way or whether there is potential for a Rotorua presence next time.

Rotorua What’s On

The new winter edition of Rotorua Whats On is now available & has been distributed throughout the Jasons network. Please note, DRTM are planning a review of the current joint venture arrangement with Jasons to produce our official visitor guide and would welcome your input into this. Please feel free to email Craig with any feedback you may have regarding advertising in this guide.

Promotion Campaigns

The winners have now been announced for our recent print and online campaigns using a holiday in Rotorua as the draw card within Mindfood, NZ Life & Leisure and Luxury Holiday Magazine. Thanks again for your support with these initiatives; they have enabled us to leverage excellent promotion opportunities for the destination. The winners are obviously excited to have won & looking forward to their visit to Rotorua.

Domestic E-newsletter

The winter edition of the Rotorua domestic e-newsletter is due to go out before the end of the month. If you have any significant updates or news you would like communicated within this please e-mail Craig before 23rd June.

C&I Update

C&I Update: For any clarification of any of the information in this section please contact

Australia

Melbourne Sales Trip
May – Three days were spent in Melbourne on sales calls to a group of PCO’s  (Professional Conference Organisers). It was good to catch up with a faithful client like Nadia from Kenterra who considers Rotorua as one of her favourite destinations. Nadia has offered to be Rotorua’s ambassador which is greatly appreciated and her wonderful offer has been taken up. While in Melbourne Debbie has recognized and has drawn up a new list of contacts for her next visit which is scheduled for July.

Sydney

Debbie continues to work hard in the Sydney market ensuring that Rotorua is being considered for any Conference or Incentive that has the potential to come to NZ. There is still a number of active quotes out in the market place which Debbie continues to keep in touch with the organizers. Her hard work has paid off and one large conference out of Australia has just confirmed for 2012.

ABE – Business Expo on the 22nd and 23rd  July is being held in Sydney and arrangements are well underway. We will update you on the success following the event.

New Zealand

Convention Bureau Membership; on Tuesday 15th June a meeting was called between the Convention Bureau and the Industry working within the Conference and Incentive market. The meeting was to invite Industry to support a membership with the objective being:

  • To have a collective industry fund to assist with building a solid platform for C&I within NZ and Australia
  • To increase industry consultation and communication with the Convention Bureau
  • To increase awareness and business opportunities for our members within the domestic and international MICE market.

Meetings 2010 is about to take place
On Wednesday 23rd  and Thursday 24th June the Rotorua Convention Bureau and thirteen of its key industry partners will be participating at the Meetings trade show in Auckland. The Convention Bureau has two full appointment streams and is excited about the caliber of buyers they will be meeting with. Melissa Gray Convention Bureau coordinator, Debbie Gee Australia representative and Denise Siviter Convention Bureau Manager will  be welcoming buyers to the Rotorua stand.

Whats coming up?

  • ABE – Sydney 22 -23 July
  • Mega Familirisation 4-6th August
  • Australia PCO familirisation 28th – 31 August

Trade Familiarisations

Thank you for those involved and your continued support of Trade Famils to Rotorua.

Various TRENZ and Tourism New Zealand delegates 20 May – 2 June

  • Harvey World Travel – Sydney 11 – 13 June – 11 Agents
  • Flight Centre – Melbourne 4 – 6 June – 14 Agents
  • Harvey World Travel – Sydney 13 – 15 May – 9 Agents
  • Flight Centre – Sydney 20 – 23 May – 22 Agents
  • Travelscene Amercian Express – Adelaide – 20 - 22 May – 11 Agents

Visitor Activity Statistics

New Zealand Tourism Industry Monitor – Jun 2010

(Source:  Covec – Tourism Industry Monitor Apr 2010)
Results from the NZ Tourism Industry Monitor indicate New Zealand tourism businesses expect demand to increase by 0.4% and profitability to decrease by 0.8% for the three months commencing 1 June 2010 over the same period of the previous year.  29% of respondents have a positive outlook of demand increasing over this period, while a further 29% have a neutral outlook and 42% a negative outlook.  The Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau regional outlook for growth in demand is for demand to change -3% to +2%. 

International Visitor Arrivals (IVA) to New Zealand – Apr 2010

(Source:  Statistics NZ – External Migration Jan 2010)
International visitor arrivals to New Zealand for the month of April 2010 were down 4.0% over April 2009.  Arrivals were up from Australia (up 0.4%) and Korea (up 34.9%).  There were fewer arrivals from UK (down 20.9%), USA (down 14.6%), China (down 3.7%), Japan (down 12.3%), Germany (down 23.1%) and Canada (down 0.6%).

Rotorua Commercial Accommodation Monitor (CAM) – Apr 2010

(Source:  Statistics NZ – Commercial Accommodation Monitor Jan 2010)
Visitor nights spent in Rotorua commercial accommodation for the month of April 2010 were down 7.0% over April 2009 (versus +0.8% nationally) - domestic visitor nights were down 12.3% (versus +0.3% nationally) and international visitor nights were up 0.3% (versus +1.5% nationally).  For the same period, the only sector of Rotorua commercial accommodation that had positive growth in visitor nights was the hotel sector (up 2.2%).  All other sectors had decreased growth in visitor nights - motels down 4.8%, holiday parks down 17.9% and backpackers (down 26.0%).    

Rotorua Attraction & Activities Monitor – Apr 2010

(Source:  APR Consultants  – Rotorua Attraction & Activities Monitor Jan 2010)
Visits to Rotorua Attraction & Activities Monitor participant businesses for the month of April 2010 were down 5.9% over April 2009 - domestic attraction/activity visits were down 9.0% and international attraction/activity visits were down 3.9%.

Upcoming Statistics NZ releases

International Visitor Arrivals to NZ:  May 2010 will be released 21 June 2010
Commercial Accommodation Monitor: May 2010 will be released 12 July 2010

Most of the New Zealand tourism monitors can be freely downloaded from tourismresearch.govt.nz

For more information about Rotorua visitor statistics or to subscribe to any of the Rotorua specific tourism monitors please contact Gina on DDI (07) 349 7289 or

Sustainability

Help Bring Bio-Diesel to Rotorua

If you have a diesel vehicle and are interested in reducing your carbon emissions this function is for you.  The Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter will be holding a Sustainability in Action function to investigate the possibility of establishing a biodiesel consortium.  A representative from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) will talk about the already successfully operating consortium in Queenstown and how that model could be emulated in Rotorua.  Also present will be a bio diesel supplier and an expert in engineering issues associated with using bio diesel. 

Date: Thursday 22 July 2010
Time: 1.30pm
Place: Tamaki Heritage Experiences HQ, Hinemaru St, Rotorua

All Rotorua businesses with a diesel fleet are encouraged to attend this Sustainability in Action function.  Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter members will receive an invitation in early July.  Non-Charter members with a diesel fleet wishing to attend this function please register by email to

For further information about the Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter visit sustainableNZ.com or contact Gina on (07) 349 7289.

Events - June/July 2010

Magic Vs Thunderbirds

Saturday June 19, 2010
The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic play the Adelaide Thunderbirds in this game of the 2010 ANZ Championship Netball competition at the Energy Events... More info

NDuro Winter MTB Series

Sunday July 11, 2010
New Zealand's most popular MTB Race Series on some of the worlds finest single track. Events designed by mountain bike owners for ALL mountain bike... More info

The Daily Post Home and Leisure Show

Friday July 16, 2010 - Sunday July 18, 2010
The second year running at the Rotorua's Energy Events Centre, more than 100 exhibitors will occupy over 200 stands displaying everything from... More info

Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua 2010 (Secondary Schools Nationals)

Tuesday July 27, 2010 - Friday July 30, 2010
Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua 2010 is the National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competition, held in the Rotorua Energy Events Centre from Tuesday 27 July... More info

For more information or to check out the latest events, go to rotoruaNZ.com/events

Dates for the diary

Blue = Destination Rotorua Marketing participation

2010

22 – 24 June, Meetings 2010 – Auckland

22 – 23 July, Australian Business Events Expo – Sydney

25 - 29 July, UK IMA Workshops - London

2 - 9 August, Grand Pacific Roadshow - Australia

8 September, PAICE Plus Expo – Sydney

13 - 17 October, Kiwilink Asia - Singapore

December, PCO Conference – Tasmania

Recipient and sender details

We have collected your contact details. This information is collected to enable us to keep you up to date with tourism news pertinent to the Rotorua tourism market and keep you informed of the activities of the Destination Rotorua Marketing office. We will not disclose your contact details to third parties.

David Whorwood
Marketing Manager
Destination Rotorua Marketing
Private Bag 3007, Rotorua
Phone +64 7 349 7280
Fax +64 7 349 4133