New Zealand Industry Promotes Meetings

<B>New Zealand Industry Promotes Meetings</B>

By Judy Jacobs

While New Zealand still seems to be a bit of an unknown when it comes to meetings and incentives, the country's tourism officials and destination management companies are hoping that its beauty, variety of activities and very favorable exchange rate will encourage more planners to pay attention to the island nation Down Under.

"New Zealand, from a North American standpoint, is a very cost-effective and dynamic destination for both corporate meetings and incentives," said Alan Trotter, chief executive of Convention & Incentives New Zealand, the industry-funded body that on July 1 took over the marketing of the country as a meetings and incentives destination. "With the New Zealand dollar currently buying US$0.39 (US$1=NZ$2.56), we offer fantastic value for money. When you add this to our natural attractions and friendly people, we should be getting a lot more business than we are."

While Trotter said that business should be better, Diana Queenin, meeting and conference manager of Auckland-based ID Tours, one of the country's main incentive-handling destination management companies, sees the market from North America getting stronger. "We have been constantly surprised at the increasing size of the groups traveling, and many of our incentive houses tell us that New Zealand is one of the most popular destinations they have ever offered. Because of this popularity, the group sizes have been increasing. We are handling groups of 150 people on a regular basis, and this year saw a program of 800 attendees who traveled back to back in groups of 400," she said.

But the incentive market in New Zealand is not just changing as far as group size. "New Zealand has become a stand-alone destination over the past four or five years instead of being combined with Australia," said Lynda Baum, president of Exclusive Destinations of San Jose, Calif. "It's not a typical incentive destination. It's a destination for individuals. People go off in 10 to 15 different directions every day, depending on their interests. You can do everything from bungee jumping to a scenic hike." Because of the adventure and outdoor activities available, Baum said New Zealand appeals to the younger people involved in the high-tech industry.

A typical New Zealand incentive combines Auckland, the country's gateway and biggest city located on North Island, with Queenstown, the lakeside tourism center of the South Island. "We feel that an Auckland-Queenstown combination offers the best of both worlds, as we are able to offer some of the "big city" attractions along with the wonderfully scenic soft adventure attractions of Queenstown. It also allows a day in Auckland to recover from the flight before being thrust into the high adrenaline world of Queenstown," Queenin said. Activities run the gamut from helicopter flights over the fjords and wine tasting to jet boat rides and mountain treks.

New Zealand's terrain and reputation for adventure have lent itself to some unique incentive activities. "In Auckland, we recently arranged flights on an old "war bird" DC3 aircraft. It was a hit with many of the older men in the group and, combined with a farm lunch and some sampling of locally grown wines, provided an unforgettable day, Queenin added. ID Tours also runs sailing regattas to an uninhabited island in Auckland harbor and takes groups on excursions to a local farm.

In Queenstown, the company has organized evenings in the historic gold-mining town of Arrowtown, with music and can-can dancing and barbeque snacks served on the sidewalk. Nearby Skippers Canyon has been used for a day of adventure, featuring four-wheel drives, jet boating, gold panning, bungee jumping and hot air balloon rides.

Meanwhile, New Zealand is known for its upscale lodges, the most famous of which is Huka Lodge on the North Island. Although not large enough for most groups, they are often used as accommodations for VIP extensions for top achievers, and the number of these lodges is increasing. One new lodge, Blanket Bay, lies on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, not far from Queenstown. Blanket Bay has 13 guest rooms accommodating a total of 26 people. Another new lodge, Paratiho Farms, accommodates up to 12 people in six suites and is on a 2,000-acre working farm near Nelson, located on the northern coast of the South Island and an artistic center, dotted with galleries and the homes of many New Zealand artists.

Although not quite in the same league as the lodges, another hotel with meeting facilities has opened at Hanmer Springs, 90 minutes north of Christchurch. Dynasty Hotel Group, which operates The Heritage Hotels & Resorts, debuted the latest incarnation of the historic Hanmer Springs Lodge, which completely was restored and reopened in February as The Heritage Hanmer Springs. The 65-room property includes guest rooms, garden suites and villas, as well as conference space for 150 attendees. The second phase of development, expected to be completed by year-end, will add a "wellness" spa.