Upgrades to the country’s isite chain are helping to blend digital and local expertise, and New Zealand should “embrace the network”.
Napier’s refreshed isite has opened to the public – just in time for the 2023/24 cruise season.
The Dunedin visitor centre is one of the first in the country to debut a new-look isite following a national rebrand of the network.
A new isite is coming to central Christchurch at The Grand, the former post office building at Cathedral Square.
A new isite near Rotorua is the first in the country to open since 2017 and it showcases the brand’s new look.
Tourism New Zealand says upgrades are coming to the 60 locally-owned and operated i-SITES around the country.
Around 3,000 people are expected to descend on Taumarunui next month for the annual Kotahitanga Festival, which will also feature New Zealand’s first mobile i-SITE.
The network drops to 59 locations, prompting Tourism NZ to take a closer look at how i-SITEs can evolve.
The Kaikōura i-SITE will temporarily close its doors to visitors from 31 July until domestic and international visitors return to the town and a viable business model is identified.
The Hastings i-SITE has reopened in its new location within the redeveloped Municipal Building in Toitoi – Hawke’s Bay Arts and Events Centre.
Nelson Regional Development Agency is closing its i-SITE in the city for up to two years as it reviews the facility.
The new funding from the IVL fund marks its first allocation for tourism since the pausing of deployments in 2020.
Hastings i-SITE will relocate mid-year to the Municipal Building at the Toitoi – Hawke’s Bay Arts & Event Centre development.
Tourism New Zealand’s visitor information brand has lost more than a dozen offices since the pandemic struck.
The Stratford Information Centre i-SITE has moved to the Stratford Library in Prospero Place.
Job losses are coming after a “significantly larger” than expected funding cut for the RTO.
Taupō District Council will take over the management of two i-SITES from Destination Great Lake Taupō from 1 July.
Experience Mid Canterbury is shutting its doors with the loss of all jobs and the closure of another i-SITE.
“i-SITEs nationwide will be making some tough calls in the coming months,” says the RTO’s GM, Dylan Rushbrook.
Invercargill i-SITE will become a virtual service, while the Wellington i-SITE Visitor Centre will be closed until further notice.
The Thames-Coromandel District Council is seeking an operator to run the Whangamata visitor information service.
Rotorua’s i-SITEs are the first in the country to assign staff members as responsible camping ambassadors, says Destination Rotorua.
New initiatives, major events and booming cruise all contributed to significant gains.
Hamilton’s i-SITE moves to its new location in ArtsPost next week.
The event will bring the owners and staff from the network of 77 full member visitor centres across the country to Southland next year.
Rotorua, Lake Wanaka and Matamata jointly led the field at this year’s 2018 visitor network awards securing two gongs apiece.
A tough year for the i-SITE network saw closures, falling visitor numbers and sluggish sales.
Tokoroa’s i-SITE is set to permanently close its doors on Friday 27 September.
Collaboration between the i-SITE Visitor Information Network and the Department of Conservation has stepped up a notch in Rotorua with the opening of a new DOC visitor information hub in the tourism hotspot’s central i-SITE.
The conversion of Ashburton’s former i-SITE building into a new information and tourism hub is looking likely after positive progress was reported by the district council.
The event will bring more than 100 i-SITE owners and staff from across the country to the region for five days in September next year.
Tourism may be booming but the i-SITE network is not seeing it in sales.
Centres in Auckland, Rotorua, Palmerston North and Matamata have been recognised.
The i-SITE Visitor Information Network and Department of Conservation have held a workshop in Auckland to discuss further collaboration.
Christchurch’s Guthrey Tourism has pushed north with the acquisition of three i-SITES in Auckland in a move that also complements its purchase of online holiday company Relaxing Journeys.
Real Journeys is ensuring visitors to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound enjoy a remarkable experience every step of the way, with the official opening of its new visitor centre in Te Anau.
Experience Mid Canterbury has decided to close its Ashburton i-SITE, saving the tourism organisation around $100,000 in costs.
Innovation, enterprise, and conviviality were celebrated last week at the 2017 i-SITE Visitor Information Network Conference in Ruapehu.
The Christchurch i-SITE’s successful move into the restored Arts Centre has seen the visitor centre win at the i-SITE network’s annual conference this year.
Ruapehu’s tourism and visitor sector is anticipating a big jump in interest following the success of the National i-SITE Visitor Information Network Conference.
Visitors to Auckland’s new i-SITE and Department of Conservation Visitor Information Centre are set to get star treatment with a team of consultants providing a personalised, insider’s guide to New Zealand.
Ruapehu District Council and the National Army Museum in Waiouru have signed-off on arrangements for operating an official i-SITE visitor information centre within the Museum as part of the $2.5 million redevelopment of its entranceway.
Ruapehu Council has deemed the nine-month trial of an i-SITE at the Department of Conservation (DoC) Visitor Centre at Whakapapa a success and voted to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with DoC to continue its operation for another three years.