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The enhanced dinner experience perfectly blends the work delegates might do throughout their business day with the restorative power of a food and wine journey that is educational while still being fun.

Masterclass guests will soak up wine knowledge from a Mt Difficulty Wines representative including the region’s social history from the time of European settlement in 1860’s to environmental factors such as geology, latitude and climate that allows Central Otago to produce world-class wines.

Crowne Plaza Queenstown General Manager Anna Edie said the Masterclass product was the perfect way to help ignite the spirit of conference delegates.

“From mid-sized conferences to incentive groups and intimate meetings in the boardroom, we host a diverse range of events each year,” said Ms Edie.

“As market leaders, we’re always looking at ways of improving our conference packages and feel we’ve ticked all the boxes for a truly memorable experience.

“While three different varietals are served with dinner as part of the Masterclass experience, Pinot Noir is known amongst winemakers as being notoriously fickle.

“Just like business, winemakers need to have robust processes in place which strive for perfection. When inspiring leaders like winemakers get it right, the result is a thing of beauty.”

The Masterclass package starts from $100 per person including three courses from the new-look banquets menu with Mt Difficulty wine matches, and is available for up to 100 delegates.

Conveniently located in the heart of Queenstown’s retail and business district, Crowne Plaza Queenstown is well-known as the hotel of choice for conference and events bookings, the home of inspiring meetings in an inspirational setting.

The property has recently completed a half a million-dollar refurbishment offering a fresh new look for guests including new furniture and carpets in its conference spaces, restaurant and bar, and public areas.

The hotel’s four meeting rooms look out over breathtaking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range and are all located on one level, with floor-to-ceiling windows, high-end meeting technology and connectivity and balcony access with black-out capability when views threaten to become too distracting.

Crowne Plaza Queenstown’s ground-floor threesixty restaurant is the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, High Tea, or a good coffee as part of meetings or incentive packages.

Last year a High Tea experience was also launched for the meetings, conventions and business events markets. The High Tea can include such delights as a selection of finger sandwiches, homemade scones, and a range of sweets, all served on a three-tiered cake stand.

Picture caption:

1/ Crowne Plaza Queenstown’s threesixty restaurant overlooks the breathtaking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range

Originally from the Bay of Islands, Sarah said she was committed to working in the Queenstown market and was thrilled to make the “obvious” move to a public relations company where she could expand on her skillset.

“I’m delighted to take up a streamlined communications role working alongside such a creative team with an exciting and diverse range of clients,” she said.

Southern PR Director Fiona Woodham said Sarah was a “very welcome” addition to the team.

“We’re at a stage of expansion where we’re exploring new areas of social and digital marketing where the most successful PR campaigns are executed simultaneously across multiple channels,” she said.

“Sarah has superb local knowledge, having lived and worked in Queenstown for six years, and the ability to help drive new business opportunities for the company.

“She’s a dynamic and forward-thinking individual who will be a huge asset to our creative team, bringing fresh ideas and a new perspective.”

The Southern PR team includes director Fiona Woodham, a former UK-based national newspaper journalist who set up Southern PR 22 years ago, and experienced PR professional Laura Nicol who works with many clients across traditional media, PR strategy and communications channels.

Southern PR offers outstanding levels of service, reliability and creative energy for all clients, with tangible results. Its team of specialists offers the complete spectrum of services including public relations, strategic communications plans, social media, media releases, famils, marketing and specialist writing. It offers crisis management and training and media training, and assists with events and awards.

Picture caption:

1/ New Southern PR Account Manager Sarah Vujcich

Members of the public will be asked to donate to the cause, effectively ‘sponsoring’ the students in what is a ‘first’ for the World Vision 40 Hour Famine fundraiser.

The beauty of the idea is that charity starts at home with the meals urgently needed and very much welcomed by the charities within New Zealand. However as major meal components are being donated by New Zealand companies, that means all money raised can be directed to help the millions of Syrian refugees forced to flee their homes in search of safety.

World Vision says the money will help re-establish the basic needs of refugees and supply them with things New Zealand families take for granted, like clean drinking water and a safe place for children to be children.

The student team is “thrilled” with the level of support they’ve had to date from local companies. Working with them is leading chef Mark Gregory, the first New Zealand chef awarded the ‘Master of Culinary Arts’ by the Royal Academy and the French Master Craftsman status. Now a culinary consultant and director for leading companies, he is a founding trustee of DineAid, the charity for the New Zealand restaurant industry.

As well as being a guiding hand over the 40-hour weekend, he has provided them with their three meal options — Shepherd’s Pie, Thai Chicken and Coconut Rice and Spiced Apple cake.

Silver Fern Farms has donated 400kg of beef to the ‘Cook for a Cause’, apples have been donated locally and Wholesale Foodservice Distributors Bidfood Queenstown is supplying ingredients.

NZSki’s Coronet Peak ski area is supporting Cook for a Cause by donating the use of its industrial kitchen on the mountain and some staff, as the students prepare, cook and package the meals over the 40-hour weekend.

All containers and packaging has come from Packaging Plus, and transport company Big Chill has pledged to chill and deliver the meals all around the country.

Harley Hamilton, the Christchurch-based Senior Schools Partnership Manager for World Vision who is working with the students, said he wanted to stress how “grateful, inspired and impressed” he was with everyone involved.

“From the initial blue sky ambitions back in December, to the work that has gone in behind the scenes from students Beatrice Onions, Hugh Taylor and Zed Moore, teacher Penny Hearn and the rest of the leadership team, to all of the community support and involvement – it’s insane!”

“I’ve worked with schools for three years and I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Wellington City Mission Foodbank and Volunteer Co-Ordinator Louise Mearns said the charity was equally impressed.

“We’re so impressed by the project these young student leaders have come up with to help combat food poverty in New Zealand. The food they’re providing will be used in our Drop-in Centre kitchen to serve meals to our community, and distributed to individuals via our Foodbank service,” she said.

“We’re very grateful for this amazing contribution.”

A Facebook page set up by the students to publicise their efforts goes live today (Thursday May 18) and links to the Wakatipu High School World Vision Cook for a Cause fundraising page.

The World Vision 40 Hour Famine is New Zealand’s largest youth fundraising event, attracting each year more than 90,000 young Kiwis to participate.

The situation in Syria is described as the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time. Over six years, fighting in Syria has reportedly killed as many as 400,000 people, including nearly 14,000 children. Nearly five million people have fled the country and 6.1 million are displaced in Syria. In the past year, hundreds of thousands have fled to Europe to seek safety. More than half of those affected are children – more than the entire population of New Zealand.

Money raised from the campaign will be used to fund World Vision’s child-friendly spaces in Jordan. They’re safe, supportive learning environments where children have access to arts, sports, education and counselling, enabling them to be kids again.

Photo caption:

1/ Wakatipu High School student team leaders with Harley Hamilton from World Vision (L to R) Hugh Taylor, Harley Hamilton, Beatrice Onions, Zed Moore

The hotel rooms, including eight suites, enjoy unique views to the city, coast, hills and Southern Alps, with features in each room designed to make the most of the scenery.

A comfy window seat with cushions invites guests to sit back and relax with a book and a freshly-brewed T2 tea, while thanks to a glass panel between the bathroom and bedroom in some rooms, guests can even soak up the view from the shower.

Guests are guaranteed a peaceful night’s sleep with new beds in comfortable ‘zen-like’ rooms and a range of Executive, Deluxe and Superior configurations. With leisure travellers in mind, the hotel also offers extra spaces to relax such as the hotel library, or guests can stay active in the brand-new fitness centre.

The hotel hasn’t scrimped on technology that really works — staying connected to the outside world is easy with unlimited free WiFi and Samsung Smart TV’s complete with Bluetooth connectivity and wireless mobile device mirroring. Several USB ports throughout the room mean guests can easily recharge devices.

The new hotel also features the 80-seat Market Place restaurant and bar, it’s ground-floor Café 1851, and the upmarket Social Wine Bar.

Swiss-born head chef Mirco Turtschi brings to the table a wealth of experience from hotels and restaurants in Switzerland and New Zealand, and said his vision for the restaurant, café and bar was to capture a diverse audience at different times of the day and become known as a popular dining hub for locals and visitors.

“We’re aiming to appeal to everyone, keeping good old-fashioned favourites that are generous in portion but reasonable in price, while offering health conscious guests some lighter options,” said Chef Mirco.

Market Place restaurant and bar takes inspiration from the local markets which once thrived just metres away in Victoria Square. Featuring an interactive marketplace dining concept, diners will be encouraged to pick and choose from a range of dishes, showcasing the best local produce the city has to offer.

There will be a live cooking station where guests can choose from a selection of meat, fish or seafood each evening, cooked to order just how they like it.

Café 1851 is set to delight tastebuds and give friends, locals and families a place to connect in a contemporary environment. Serving expertly brewed Mojo coffee, T2 tea, fresh juices and smoothies, pastries, cakes, sandwiches and salads, the light-filled café features clean lines and Scandinavian-inspired décor.

Social Wine Bar will be the place for get-togethers and drinks over shared plates, an extensive wine list and a selection of NZ craft beers, an “elegant and comfortable” space with a cosy fireplace.

General Manager Reinier Eulink said he could not wait to open the doors to the hotel’s first guests.

“We know it will be a hub for leisure and business travellers and a meeting place in the heart of the city for our wider community,” he said.

The 4.5-star hotel is part of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).  With the opening of the new hotel, IHG will operate six properties in New Zealand including Crowne Plaza hotels in Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch, two Holiday Inn properties in Rotorua and at Auckland Airport, and the InterContinental Wellington.

Click here to visit Crown Plaza Christchurch’s website

Picture caption:

1/ Cool, clean lines at Café 1851 at Crowne Plaza Christchurch

Both investments have ensured the multi-award-winning South Island tourism attraction, renowned for its innovation and continued business developments, continues to be at the forefront of ‘must-do’ activities for visitors.

Tekapo Springs owner Karl Burtscher said Tekapo Star Gazing had been “extremely well received” by international and domestic visitors as it combined the top two attractions in Tekapo.

The tours take advantage of the fact that the tiny township of Tekapo sits within the world’s largest international dark sky reserve (4144sq km), only the fourth such reserve in the world.

They incorporate a 40-minute guided night sky tour with trained star guides followed by a 40-minute soak in the hot pools. Guides continue to give information, answer questions and ‘story tell’ on request, while guests chill out to relaxing astro music. Guests can also get closer to the stars and planets by looking through one of three powerful telescopes installed at the pools.

“Developing a product that marries our beautiful Southern night sky with a visit to the relaxing Hot Pools makes for an exceptional experience,” said Mr Burtscher.

“Visitors have called it an ‘out of this world experience’ or said they felt like they were floating in space, and our guides have been praised for being so knowledgeable about some of the closest and brightest features in the night sky such as stars, planets, constellations, and galaxies.”

Mr Burtscher said bookings were highly recommended as some tours were booked out well in advance.

“Even if the weather’s not perfect for star gazing, our guides provide an indoor audio visual about the night sky using the same content, with a high definition projector screen and astro photos and videos,” he said.

“It makes the tour an all-weather attraction, and we even have a cosy open fire to warm up the night too!”

The tours will operate on a winter schedule until October 31 with tours departing seven nights a week at 9.30pm (Mandarin-speaking), 10.30pm (English tour) and 11.30pm (both languages). The latest tour will also cater for visitors who like astro-photography.

From November 1 tour times change to 10.30pm, 11.30pm and 12.30am.

Last year Tekapo Springs also officially launched its new pools to great acclaim, proving “hugely popular” with visitors and locals and resulting in a significant increase in visitor numbers.

“We now have two busy seasons both summer and winter,” said Mr Burtscher.

“The pools are popular throughout the year, perfect for visitors in summer who want to relax while enjoying views of the lake and surrounding mountains, while in winter they’re a magical escape for visitors day or night.

“We just keep adding more and more reasons to visit Tekapo Springs including our winter ice skating rink, winter snow tubing and a huge inflatable summer waterslide.”

Tekapo Springs is a year-round attraction nestled on the shores of stunning Lake Tekapo, beloved by visitors from all around the globe and winner of multiple tourism awards. The new pool additions – themed ‘High Country Tarns’, each with its own distinctive shade of aqua green – are part of Tekapo Springs’ long-term growth strategy for expanding its aquatic attractions and offering a wider range of water temperatures and features.

Click here to visit Tekapo Springs’ website.

Picture caption:

1/ A stunning display of stars and constellations lights up the night sky for Tekapo Star Gazing at Tekapo Springs

The hugely popular Zip & Wilderness combo neatly packages up a Ziptrek Adventure, soaring to new heights ‘zipping’ through the trees above Queenstown, with a Dart River Wilderness Jet journey from Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu deep into Te Waipounamu World Heritage area of Mt Aspiring National Park.

Both experiences offer a unique combination of breathtaking scenery and exhilaration, and Ziptrek Ecotours is “delighted” to be working with Dart River thanks to a shared passion for environmental sustainability and protection.

Dart River Business Manager Harald Ulriksen said they were delighted to be working with Ziptrek.

“Both experiences have a natural affinity with nature and our environment,” he said.

The Zip & Kiwi combo combines a Ziptrek tour of the visitor’s choice with entry to the Kiwi Birdlife Park just a short walk from the zipline base. The combo with the park, which has over five acres of forest sanctuary, has proved extremely popular as it “tells the story of New Zealand”.

Ziptrek Ecotours already has a close relationship with the park since sponsoring a brand-new reptile wing to house its collection of rare and endangered wildlife, in particular tuatara and critically-endangered Otago and Grand skinks.

“This is a great example of us working with other businesses to help tell the New Zealand story,” said Ziptrek Ecotours Executive Director Trent Yeo.

“There’s continued interest in eco-tourism and we aim to be at the forefront of that, gaining the type of visitor who wants to see and experience the ‘real’ New Zealand and not just go shopping!”

That philosophy also sits well with the company’s third combo on offer – Zip & Ride. The combo is the perfect choice for those wishing to explore the region by air and land. After being taken to new heights with a gravity-driven Ziptrek Moa or Kea tour, guests can take to ‘pedal power’ with Around the Basin to discover parts of the region unreachable by car, meandering past lakes, rivers, the historic village of Arrowtown or through stunning wineries.

At last year’s TRENZ, Ziptrek used world-leading virtual reality video technology to bring its exhilarating zipline tour to buyers, a move that proved “hugely popular”.

Buyers were able to immerse themselves in the world of Ziptrek by donning the latest Samsung VR headset which literally ‘put’ the buyer on the company’s framed treehouses, zipping downhill and able to look around them at the stunning views as they did so.

“It was incredibly successful at getting people to feel what it is like to fly through the trees and see the majesty of our tree architecture in context,” said Mr Yeo.

“We’ve continued to use the headsets for overseas sales trips, as a tool for staff training and even in our Queenstown store to give people a ‘taste’ of the trip before booking. Watch this space for more!”

Leading the way in zipline innovation and sustainable business practice, Ziptrek Ecotours launched in New Zealand in November 2009 and since then has completed nearly three-quarters of a million zips through the forest canopy on ‘gravity fed ziplines’.

Click here to visit Ziptrek Ecotours’ website.

Picture caption:

1/ A Dart River Wilderness Jet journey is part of a popular Zip & Wilderness combo with Ziptrek Ecotours

Crowne Plaza has selected Rituals products as its premium bathroom amenities, specifically the Happy Buddha range. Guests can also enjoy a touch of luxury with a make-up mirror, dual head shower and large heated mirror featured in every bathroom.

It goes without saying that guests are guaranteed a peaceful night’s sleep – with new beds in comfortable ‘zen-like’ rooms and a range of Executive, Deluxe and Superior configurations from suites to king bed, split king, doubles and wheelchair accessible options.

Thanks to the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage programme, with its superb bedding, pillow options and quiet zones, guests are guaranteed to wake up with a smile.

And while the emphasis is on modern classic lighting, and a range of carefully thought-through textiles, textures and colourways in each room, the hotel hasn’t scrimped on technology that really works.

Staying connected to the outside world is easy with unlimited free WiFi and Samsung smart TV’s complete with Bluetooth connectivity and wireless mobile device mirroring. Several USB ports are also part of the room design, allowing for easy device charging from the bedside table and desk.

“Guests are encouraged to share their travel experiences and enjoy their own digital content from the comfort of their room, just like they would at home,” said Front Office Manager Krysten Butler.

Up-to-date hotel information is available from each guest TV, and if they need help setting it up or some assistance during their stay, they’re encouraged to call on the hotel’s ‘tech-savvy’ porters or front desk.

“We’ll even loan guests cables to connect their device if they need them,” said Ms Butler.

For guests who want to catch up on the latest news, the hotel offers free access to over 6,000 magazines and newspapers within the PressReader app. For those who prefer a more traditional approach, free newspapers can also be delivered daily to their room.

With business and conference travellers in mind, each room includes a desk and comfortable office-style chair, making catching up on emails or working on a presentation or business document a breeze.

The new hotel also features Market Place restaurant and bar, Café 1851 on the ground floor, the upmarket Social Wine Bar, hotel library, fitness centre and a range of function rooms.

The property is situated at the corner of Colombo and Armagh streets on Victoria Square, making it an easy stroll to all key attractions and alongside the gently-flowing Avon River.

“Within two minutes’ walk from the hotel guests can be exploring the many cafés and boutiques of New Regent Street, strolling through Cathedral Square, taking in the latest Arts Centre exhibition, shopping in the new city centre or visiting the Christchurch Casino,” said General Manager Reinier Eulink.

“We can’t wait to open the doors to our first guests, making it a hub for business and leisure travellers and a meeting place in the heart of the city for our wider community.”

The eagerly-awaited 4.5-star hotel, part of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), will be the largest upscale hotel in the Christchurch city centre when it opens mid-year.

Click here to visit Crowne Plaza Christchurch’s website.

Picture caption:
1/ An artist’s impression of a room at Crowne Plaza Christchurch

“I got to travel in the best regions in the world,” he said. “There were some very interesting moments too – one day we delayed serving breakfast so everyone on board could watch four polar bears breakfasting on a walrus!”

After his stint on the Enderby, Chef Robin went on a self-styled “culinary adventure” through Europe, visiting Austria, Russia and Germany among other countries, before returning to Queenstown where he had worked in a variety of chef roles at hotels and restaurants over a six-year period.

At threesixty, Chef Robin is overseeing delivery of the restaurant’s existing autumn menu while planning a range of hearty winter dishes for hungry skiers and snowboarders, a fantastic European-feel après ski offering.

“I’m excited to adapt my knowledge of international cuisine to the role, looping back to my roots and taking influence from my Canadian heritage,” he said.

“New Zealand has a very ethnically diverse food offering and our menu is a showcase of everything that New Zealand has to offer culturally.

“We’ll serve hearty favourites like beef cheeks and braised ribs with fresh produce sourced from our own “backyard”, inspired by the freezing winters in Banff, where I’m from.

“A European-feel après ski environment will showcase mulled wines, and local craft beers will invite guests and locals to socialise over sharing plates and reminisce about their favourite ski moments.”

Chef Robin said designing banqueting menus for the conference and incentive market was a “speciality”.

“I plan on revamping the banqueting menus with a modern-twist encompassing trending foods and creating exciting alternatives for dietary requirements.”

He said he was delighted to join the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for the first time.

“IHG nurtures staff and offers employees room to grow and develop skills, and I see Crowne Plaza Queenstown as an opportunity to gain more experience in one of the most beautiful settings in the world.”

Crowne Plaza Queenstown General Manager Anna Edie said Robin’s knowledge of international cuisine was a perfect fit for threesixty.

“We look forward to welcoming diners to experience mouthwatering dishes from across the globe – all while sampling the very best of the regions wines,” she said.

The property has recently completed a half a million-dollar refurbishment offering a fresh new look for guests including new furniture and carpets in its public areas, restaurant and bar, and conference spaces.

Conveniently located in the heart of Queenstown’s visitor, retail and business district, Crowne Plaza Queenstown’s ground-floor threesixty restaurant is the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, High Tea, or a good coffee.

Click here to visit Crowne Plaza Queenstown’s website.

Picture caption:

1/ threesixty restaurant new head chef Robin Lilley at Crowne Plaza Queenstown

“My overall vision for these three venues is to capture a diverse audience at different times of the day and become known as a popular dining hub, for locals and visitors,” he said.

Chef Mirco’s culinary journey started at the age of 15 when he started his chef apprenticeship in a four-star hotel in Switzerland.

Mirco came to New Zealand at the age of 26 where he honed his skills in cafes in Blenheim and Picton, before making the move to top Auckland hotels and then Queenstown.

And while he loves the simple pleasures of fresh bread, pastries and roasted coffee beans in the morning, a small goods platter in the afternoon or sizzling steak on the barbeque, he names his favourite dish as his Aunty’s lasagne.

“We’re aiming to appeal to everyone, keeping good old-fashioned favourites that are generous in portion but reasonable in price, while offering health conscious guests some lighter options,” said Chef Mirco.

Crowne Plaza Christchurch’s features three premium offers in one inspiring new space. Market Place restaurant and bar takes inspiration from the local markets which once thrived just metres away in Victoria Square. Featuring an interactive marketplace dining concept, diners will be encouraged to pick and choose from a wide range of dishes on offer.

The menu for Market Place restaurant and bar is still under wraps, but Chef Mirco said his vision was to give locals and visitors the opportunity to discover the best fresh produce the city has to offer.

“I’ve been visiting our local farmers markets each week to get inspiration for ingredients and dishes and we’re excited to be opening up our very own interactive market inspired dining concept,” he said.

“There will be a live cooking station where guests can choose from a selection of meat, fish or seafood each evening, cooked to order just how they like it.”

Located in the lobby, Café 1851 is set to delight tastebuds and give friends, locals and families a place to connect in a contemporary environment. It will serve expertly brewed Mojo coffee, T2 tea, fresh juices and smoothies, pastries, cakes, sandwiches and salads.

The light-filled café features clean lines and Scandanavian-inspired décor. With free wifi available it will be the perfect spot for meetings, a work break or tasty ‘grab and go’ food.

Social Wine Bar will be the place for get-togethers and drinks over shared plates, an extensive wine list and a selection of NZ craft beers. Chef Mirco said the bar would be an “elegant and comfortable” space with a fireplace adding a cosy vibe.

“The selection of dishes on offer will include small, medium and large plates all designed to be shared by friends, colleagues, couples or groups,” he said.

“It’s sure to be the perfect space for socialising, meetings, a place to grab a quick bite before a show or game, or perhaps a nightcap after a busy day.”

Crowne Plaza Christchurch General Manager Reinier Eulink said he was honoured to be working alongside Mirco once more, after the pair previously worked at IHG’s Crowne Plaza Queenstown.

“Mirco’s strong knowledge of classical and contemporary techniques was perfect for Crowne Plaza Queenstown’s local and international guests and the feedback we received was outstanding,” he said.

“We can’t wait to see our restaurant, café and bar come to life thanks to his expertise at the helm of our food and beverage operation.

“We look forward to inviting Christchurch locals to visit at any time of the day, for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.”

Click here to visit Crowne Plaza Christchurch’s website.

Picture caption:

1/ Crowne Plaza Christchurch’s new Café 1851 will offer something for everyone