Melbourne has found its perfect Kiwi soul mates and the word is spreading thanks to new campaign titled ‘When Melly met Welly… and Nelly’.
Launched today, the campaign celebrates one year of Jetstar flying direct between Melbourne and Wellington.
When Melly meets Welly…and Nelly stars Melbourne comedian Ash Williams as ‘Melly’, who discovers a kindred spirit just a short flight across the ditch, in like-minded destinations Wellington and Nelson.
Meeting ‘Welly’ (Wellingtonian Jordan Rivers) and ‘Nelly’ (Nelsonian Anneke Giblin), ‘Melly’ feels right at home exploring the neighbouring regions, while getting to know their unique attractions. It’s an unconventional modern love story – between destinations on the same wavelength.
“More Melburnians than ever before are visiting Wellington, but there are still a significant number who don’t know what the city and wider region have to offer.”
Chris Whelan, Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency CEO
“When Melly meets Welly…and Nelly is a fun way of showing Melburnians why people so often compare us as destinations, but also what else we offer just a short flight across the ditch.”
All three cities share a dedication to good coffee, love of cuisine and craft beer, and passion for the arts, Mr Whelan says.
After visiting the region for the first time as part of the campaign, Ash Williams says he’ll definitely be back.
Jetstar’s Melbourne connection has brought 62,000 passengers into Wellington since launching on 30 March 2015, while last year Melbourne visits to WellingtonNZ.com increased by 171 percent to over 155,000, Mr Whelan says.
Wellington Airport CEO Steve Sanderson says Jetstar’s service has added 40 percent capacity to the route, making Wellington an affordable short break destination and New Zealand entry point for Victorians.
“We are thrilled to see that travellers on both sides of the ditch have responded strongly.”
Steve Sanderson, Wellington Airport CEO
“The overnight flight from Melbourne has proven to be popular for connecting passengers from Jetstar’s long haul network and those who are making the most of their short break in Wellington.”
The digital content and PR campaign has been developed in partnership by Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA), Wellington International Airport, Nelson Tasman Tourism and Nelson Airport.