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The Business of Tourism
 
Tourism Ticker
The Business of Tourism

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Tuesday 05 March 2024
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An Operator’s View: Inflite CEO Adam Joyce on margin squeeze and the state of luxury 4th March 2024 /

An Operator’s View: Inflite CEO Adam Joyce on margin squeeze and the state of luxury

Inflite’s boss on the return of the operator’s West Coast glacier heli-tours, coping with increasing costs, and the state of the company’s luxury market.


An Operator’s View: Cooper and Company’s Garth Solly 25th September 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Cooper and Company’s Garth Solly

A sustained focus on building value, conservation and sustainability are top of the agenda for the owner of The Landing and Hotel Britomart.


An Operator’s View: Foris Eco-tours’ Tom Lynch 4th September 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Foris Eco-tours’ Tom Lynch

The operator on the state of the luxury market, taking the long view, and its new conservation credit programme.


An Operator’s View: Auckland Sea Kayaks’ Nic Mead 28th August 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Auckland Sea Kayaks’ Nic Mead

The marine operator on his best year yet, controlling costs and pricing, the challenge of finding female guides, and the impact of the World Cup.


An Operator’s View: Taupō Sailing Adventures’ Dave Nesbitt 21st August 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Taupō Sailing Adventures’ Dave Nesbitt

Co-owner and skipper Dave Nesbitt on the operator’s recovery from the pandemic and how the addition of a significant new asset will help.


An Operator’s View: Akaroa Dolphins’ Julia Waghorn 24th July 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Akaroa Dolphins’ Julia Waghorn

The nature cruise operator on its “fantastic” post-Covid recovery despite staffing and promotional challenges at the small town.


An Operator’s View: Omana Luxury Villa’s Silmara Scholtz 8th June 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Omana Luxury Villa’s Silmara Scholtz

The Waiheke Island operator on recovering from the pandemic, the state of luxury, and the opportunities ahead.


An Operator’s View: Hanmer Springs Thermal Pool and Spa’s Graeme Abbot 13th March 2020

An Operator’s View: Hanmer Springs Thermal Pool and Spa’s Graeme Abbot

Hanmer Springs Thermal Pool and Spa’s general manager, Graeme Abbot, on the growth achieved since launching New Zealand’s biggest water slide and five new thermal pools, the boost this has created for local businesses and the impact visa processing has on the business.


An Operator’s View: Ezi Car Rentals’ Ross Morley 21st February 2020

An Operator’s View: Ezi Car Rentals’ Ross Morley

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An Operator’s View: Celestielle’s John Ziegler 17th February 2020

An Operator’s View: Celestielle’s John Ziegler

John Ziegler, co-founder and managing partner of Los Angeles-based luxury travel company Celestielle, on bringing a global business to New Zealand, using YouTube as a primary sales tool, and the growing trend towards experiential and multi-generational travel within the premium market.


An Operator’s View: Yello!’s Ramash Swamy 10th February 2020

An Operator’s View: Yello!’s Ramash Swamy

The co-owner of Yello! on growth, coping with extreme visitor peaks and troughs, and preparing for a quieter 2020.


An Operator’s View: ANZ Nature Tours’ Frank Hildebrandt 3rd February 2020

An Operator’s View: ANZ Nature Tours’ Frank Hildebrandt

ANZ Nature Tours’ founder on 25 years in the industry, the sale of the business to Haka Tourism Group, the need to develop tour guides for the future, and finding a way to stop offshore operators running tours without visas or concessions.


An Operator’s View: Scenic’s  Alexander Tschampel 24th January 2020 /

An Operator’s View: Scenic’s Alexander Tschampel

Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier’s GM on dealing with extreme weather, building infrastructure, and solving skilled staff shortages.


An Operator’s View: Alpine Luxury Tours’ Lee Saunders 17th January 2020

An Operator’s View: Alpine Luxury Tours’ Lee Saunders

The operator on the rapid growth of premium, how that market wants something different, and the value of sustainable growth.  


An Operator’s View: Punakaiki Beach Camp’s Jed Findlay 13th January 2020

An Operator’s View: Punakaiki Beach Camp’s Jed Findlay

The tourism manager on how the opening of NZ’s latest Great Walk is transforming his West Coast business.


An Operator’s View: Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours’ Nadine Toe Toe 19th December 2019

An Operator’s View: Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours’ Nadine Toe Toe

Nadine ToeToe, director at the Bay of Plenty’s Kohutapu Lodge and Tribal Tours – which won the 2019 NZ Tourism Industry Awards’ community engagement category – on fulfilling the demand for authentic cultural experiences, creating opportunities for young people, and the National Geographic Photo Camp that changed lives at the Murupara community.


An Operator’s View: GO Rentals’ James Dalglish 13th December 2019

An Operator’s View: GO Rentals’ James Dalglish

James Dalglish, managing director of GO Rentals, on celebrating the company’s 20th year, a new digital strategy, and using new technology to simplify and automate the customer experience. 


An Operator’s View: Skydive Tauranga’s Tristan Webb 28th November 2019

An Operator’s View: Skydive Tauranga’s Tristan Webb

The co-owner on creating a business that encourages customer contribution towards local environmental projects.


An Operator’s View: Scenic Hotel Group’s Brendan Taylor 21st November 2019

An Operator’s View: Scenic Hotel Group’s Brendan Taylor

The MD on Scenic’s latest $23m investment and the problem with targetting hotels to pay for infrastructure.


An Operator’s View: Velocity Valley’s Simon Short 15th November 2019

An Operator’s View: Velocity Valley’s Simon Short

The MD on 21 years of pioneering rides, the need for more local tourism investment, and the lack of support for the backpacker and youth sector.


An Operator’s View: Greg Hunt on Gibbston Valley’s $20m luxury expansion 8th November 2019

An Operator’s View: Greg Hunt on Gibbston Valley’s $20m luxury expansion

The CEO on a $20m expansion into luxury and the challenges that presented for the Queenstown winery.


An Operator’s View: RAL’s new CEO, Jono Dean 24th October 2019

An Operator’s View: RAL’s new CEO, Jono Dean

Jono Dean, on the business expansion to incorporate year round operations, the challenges presented by changing climate and the associated investment in snowmaking, and the skill shortages making it difficult to hire locally. 


An Operator’s View: Rafting NZ’s Pianika Boddington 17th October 2019

An Operator’s View: Rafting NZ’s Pianika Boddington

The adventure operator on a new venture with iwi, securing $500k from the PGF, and the challenge of climate change.


An Operator’s View: Middle Hill’s Genevieve King 11th October 2019

An Operator’s View: Middle Hill’s Genevieve King

The new operator on how Kaikoura’s earthquake helped build the region’s newest attraction.


An Operator’s View: Look After Me’s Julia Anne 13th September 2019

An Operator’s View: Look After Me’s Julia Anne

Look After Me founder Julia Anne on expanding her homestay business into tours and events, navigating the challenges of NZ’s shared access economy, and being one of the few female tech entrepreneurs in the tourism industry.


An Operator’s View: Red Barn’s Bridgette O’Sullivan 6th September 2019

An Operator’s View: Red Barn’s Bridgette O’Sullivan

The Waikato operator on diversification, expansion, launching into tourism and catering for the luxury market. 


An Operator’s View: ZEALANDIA’s Chris Fitzgerald 29th August 2019

An Operator’s View: ZEALANDIA’s Chris Fitzgerald

The commercial development manager on conservation awareness, managing growth, and climate change.


An Operator’s View: Touch of Spice’s Jacqui Spice 23rd August 2019

An Operator’s View: Touch of Spice’s Jacqui Spice

Touch of Spice’s founder and MD on the growth of luxury, how the market is holding up, and the need for better recognition of tourism’s value.


Adventure South NZ’s Philip Wyndham 16th August 2019

Adventure South NZ’s Philip Wyndham

The tour operator GM on diversification, dealing with the slowdown and the growing threat of flight-shaming.


An Operator’s View: The Rees Hotel’s Roman Lee-Lo 8th August 2019

An Operator’s View: The Rees Hotel’s Roman Lee-Lo

The director of operations on expansion plans, supporting Winter Pride, and the staffing challenges faced by hoteliers.


Mangawhai Heads Holiday Park’s Richard Gunson 1st August 2019

Mangawhai Heads Holiday Park’s Richard Gunson

The owner on the sector’s growth, battling the bed tax, and dealing with government ignorance.


Waimangu Volcanic Valley’s David Blackmore 26th July 2019

Waimangu Volcanic Valley’s David Blackmore

The GM on a submarine exploration and the challenges of maintaining a unique geothermal environment.


An Operator’s View: EcoZip Adventures’ Gavin Oliver 19th July 2019

An Operator’s View: EcoZip Adventures’ Gavin Oliver

The managing director on building a sustainable tourism business with conservation at its heart.


An Operator’s View: OneNineFive’s Greg Norris 12th July 2019

An Operator’s View: OneNineFive’s Greg Norris

The premium experience tour operator on building a new brand and running NZ’s first Pure Pursuits event.


An Operator’s View: Eichardt’s James Cavanagh 5th July 2019

An Operator’s View: Eichardt’s James Cavanagh

The hotel GM on Queenstown’s evolving luxury market and the resort’s infrastructure and labour challenges.   


Dive! Tutukaka’s Jeroen Jongejans 28th June 2019

Dive! Tutukaka’s Jeroen Jongejans

The operator on 27 years in the business, environmental challenges, and the importance of destination development.


Manaaki Adventures’ Dan Meade 7th June 2019

Manaaki Adventures’ Dan Meade

Manaaki Adventures and Manaaki Rugby Tours’ cofounder Dan Meade talks about developing his tours and a new, unique product created in partnership with the Crusaders.


An Operator’s View: Himatangi Beach’s Reuben Ebrey 27th July 2018 /

An Operator’s View: Himatangi Beach’s Reuben Ebrey

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Queenstown Holiday Park & Motels Creeksyde’s Erna Spijkerbosch 22nd June 2018

Queenstown Holiday Park & Motels Creeksyde’s Erna Spijkerbosch

Queenstown Holiday Park & Motels Creeksyde’s director and owner Erna Spijkerbosch on the evolution of the 30-year old park, becoming an Earthcheck Master and the importance of preserving camping facilities close to town.


An Operator’s View: GO Rentals’ James Dalglish 15th June 2018

An Operator’s View: GO Rentals’ James Dalglish

GO Rentals managing director James Dalglish on the operator’s recent expansion, its new technology service, and working to ensure the industry is not “Ubered” in the future. 


An Operator’s View: Off Road NZ’s Ian Tew 6th April 2018

An Operator’s View: Off Road NZ’s Ian Tew

Rotorua-based Off Road NZ boss, Ian Tew, on developing adventure activity products for the C&I market, how Rotorua is competing for the luxury market and the need for more air connectivity to the North Island tourism hotspot.


An Operator’s View: Tekapo Star Gazing’s Anton Wilke 23rd March 2018

An Operator’s View: Tekapo Star Gazing’s Anton Wilke

After celebrating its first year, Tekapo Star Gazing’s general manager Anton Wilke tells us about the opportunities to grow the guided hot pools and star gazing experience despite the challenges of operating in a small town.


An Operator’s View: WRAL’s Mark Morgan 9th February 2018

An Operator’s View: WRAL’s Mark Morgan

Waikato Regional Airport chief executive Mark Morgan tells the Ticker why the group has decided to enter the hotel market with a $3m acquisition and the plans underway to boost the CCO’s non-aeronautical income.


An Operator’s View: Glenstrae Farm’s Alastair Trewin 17th November 2017

An Operator’s View: Glenstrae Farm’s Alastair Trewin

Land-based tourism operators in the Kaikoura region are struggling to get back on their feet but Glenstrae Farm 4 Wheel Adventures’ Alastair Trewin is trying to turn the disaster to his advantage with a new earthquake tour.


An Operator’s View: Chris Jolly Outdoors’ Simon Jolly 13th October 2017

An Operator’s View: Chris Jolly Outdoors’ Simon Jolly

Following the retirement of founders Chris and Sue Jolly, son Simon and his wife Katie are buying Taupo’s Chris Jolly Outdoors. Simon Jolly tells the Ticker of his plans, the launch of the operator’s cultural tours, and why the Taupo region has so much more to offer than just its beautiful lake.


An Operator’s View: Dig This’ Ed Mumm 6th October 2017

An Operator’s View: Dig This’ Ed Mumm

Founder Ed Mumm on founding the business in the US and how this week’s shootings in Las Vegas is something he has always worried about in America.


An Operator’s View: Heletranz’s Sofia Ambler 29th September 2017

An Operator’s View: Heletranz’s Sofia Ambler

Heletranz’s co-owner Sofia Ambler tells the Ticker how she went from trading stocks to selling dreams, her company’s recent expansion, and how its new Instrument Flight Rules service is helping inbound tour operators.


An Operator’s View: Kapiti Island’s John Barrett 15th September 2017

An Operator’s View: Kapiti Island’s John Barrett

Kapiti Island Nature Tours founder John Barrett on the value of culture to its eco-tourism business, overcoming significant opposition to its launch, and expanding beyond the island.


An Operator’s View: Rotorua Canopy Tours’ James Fitzgerald 8th September 2017

An Operator’s View: Rotorua Canopy Tours’ James Fitzgerald

Rotorua Canopy Tours’ co-founder and GM, James Fitzgerald, on how winning last year’s Supreme Award had an immediate impact on his business.


An Operator’s View: Black Water Rafting’s Angus Stubbs 1st September 2017

An Operator’s View: Black Water Rafting’s Angus Stubbs

As Black Water Rafting celebrates 30 years this month, operations manager Angus Stubbs tells us how the business has evolved since it launched off the back of a ute, coping with growth that has seen 200 customers a summer become 200 a day, and how caving was a family affair for the Waitomo local.