Tourism New Zealand has invited Australian agents to witness the delights of Middle-earth in a bid to assure the success of the holiday industry market.
Today Tourism New Zealand, in partnership with Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia, will run its largest trade familiarisation and training event for 2014.
More than 220 Australian travel agents from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, ACT, Western Australia and South Australia, representing companies such as Flight Centre Travel Group,helloworld, MTA Travel and Travel Counsellors will embark on a journey through Middle-earth.
The selected travel agents will experience New Zealand for five days, taking part in one of 12 familiarisation itineraries. The agents will start their journey in Auckland, participating in a day-long regional training workshop. An Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia alliance training session will highlight inflight product, the 787-9 Dreamliner and the two airlines’ reciprocal frequent flyer programmes.
The 12 itineraries across the country are primarily based on the touring regions of New Zealand. These include 17 Regional Tourism Organisations, such as Positively Wellington Tourism, Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism, Destination Queenstown and Hawke’s Bay Tourism.
Tourism New Zealand General Manager Australia Tony Saunders said the travel trade is critical to the success of New Zealand’s tourism industry as it’s one of the most effective channels to engage with potential holiday visitors.
“By partnering with Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia we’re certain these action-packed itineraries will allow agents to sell New Zealand product and flights more confidently,” he said.
Air New Zealand’s General Manager Australia, Leanne Geraghty said Air New Zealand is proud to be co-hosting this mega famil with partners Tourism New Zealand and Virgin Australia.
“Our partnership is a solid long-term relationship that allows us to not only bring these great opportunities to the trade but also gives our customers a broad range of choices to fly to New Zealand via an extensive route network,” she said.
“With Virgin Australia we operate an average of 200 return flights across the Tasman per week from eight ports carrying more than 65,000 customers from 45 destinations in Australia and 25 in New Zealand.”
Other travel partners include AAT Kings, Grand Pacific Tours, and Tourism Holdings Limited, who will provide agents with the knowledge and opportunity to deepen their understanding of New Zealand.
Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand will also use the familiarisation to raise awareness of TNZ’s 100 per cent Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme and Air New Zealand’s online training modules.
