ITC Industry News Bulletin #46
TOP STORIES
Air NZ ‘most reputable company’
Air New Zealand has once again taken the number one spot as the country’s most reputable company, according to a survey by research consultancy AMR.
Every year, AMR asks the public for their opinions on the top 25 organisations across a number of areas such as products, innovation, and performance. It’s the third year in the top spot for the airline, with survey respondents citing the company’s prices, service, planes, financial results and safety videos as reasons behind the votes. Air NZ last held first place in 2011 and 2012, but is generally in the top three with a second place ranking in 2015.
In an AMR press release, Managing Director Oliver Freedman explained the win, saying, “for Air New Zealand, the constantly high level of customer service has been a key reputational driver”.
New Zealand wins best country in the world for the fourth year in a row
It appears the readers of the UK’s Telegraph publication have a soft spot for New Zealand, as they just voted it the best country in the world for the fourth year running!
New Zealand secured the top spot in the Telegraph Travel Awards, it was revealed on April 12. Hot on our heels was the Maldives and South Africa.
The Telegraph said that New Zealand’s stunning scenery, “magnificent Maori culture”, superb nature walks and “strong ties to Britain” all contributed to the win.
The last time another country won this accolade was in 2012, when the United States took out first place. Here’s hoping New Zealand holds onto this honor for many more years to come.
IN BRIEF
Dunedin recently saw off the last of the cruise ships, the Dawn Princess, for the summer, but the city is already planning for an influx next season. There are 96 ships scheduled to sail into the harbour, up from 82 as originally planned. The surge will put pressure on the destination, but experts are saying that with proper planning and preparation, it won’t be an issue. Read more
Winter is coming – to Wellington
Winter is on its way, but the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA) is not about to surrender tourists to the snow-laden South Island just yet. In a new campaign focusing on the world’s ‘coolest little capital’, the agency is calling for kiwis to visit the city for a fantastic time no matter the weather. Read more
NZ hotels and motels reach record occupancy highs
The New Zealand hotel and motel industry is faced with planning new infrastructure in light of record numbers of tourists filling rooms every night. In February, motels saw occupancy rates rise to 75.3 per cent, and hotels saw a similar increase to 80.3 per cent – both of which are new records. Both statistics are unsurprising considering February tourist arrivals also hit a new record. Read more
Camp ground becomes one of the first to go smoke free
The Russell Top 10 Holiday Park has announced that it will become a smoke-free area come May 31. While the majority of New Zealand campsites ban smoking from public areas, it is believed that this Russell site may be one of the first to ban it outright. So far, site manager Becky Tilton has seen a few complaints, but has told the NZ Herald that the positive feedback has outweighed the negative. Read more
Marlborough seeks to attract megaliners
New dredging work in Port Marlborough may soon be underway in an effort to make space for Ovation of the Seas megaliner when it visits in December this year. Port Marlborough’s wharf can currently host ships up to 320 metres long, but this isn’t enough to allow megaliners to dock in the harbour. A plan to remove almost 20,000 cubic metres of material from the seabed at Shakespeare Bay would accommodate much larger ships and potentially boost the regional economy. Read more
Posted in News, Travel and Tourism News | Tagged Air New Zealand, Cruising, Dunedin, Telegraph Travel Awards, Wellington | Leave a reply