High school students invited to ‘dream big’ with tourism scholarship

by August 17, 2017

Media Release from AccorHotels Queenstown Two Queenstown businesses have joined forces with their local high school to offer a student a scholarship to kickstart their global tourism career. AccorHotels four Queenstown hotels have partnered with the award-winning Queenstown Resort College to award one lucky Wakatipu High School (WHS) student with a scholarship covering fifty percent…

Students can apply for the grant by submitting responses to several questions, including an inventive 100-word response to “the secret of their success if they ran a world-renowned Queenstown hotel in 2028”.

The scholarship is a collective vision to open up the world of hotel business to Queenstown students, exposing them to a compelling career path in tourism with the option to travel worldwide.

AccorHotels Regional Director of Talent and Culture Erin Dalton praised the leadership of the Queenstown hotels.

“It’s fantastic to see the four hotels nurturing their talent pipeline when faced with housing and immigration challenges,” she said.

“The scholarship demonstrates the value we place on engaging with our local community as a company.”

The opportunity will take students who are already ‘innately hospitable’ living in Queenstown and are a natural fit for the resort’s hotels.

The scheme is designed to engage Queenstown’s local community in the myriad of opportunities that exist for emerging young business leaders within the hospitality and tourism industries.

Wakatipu High School Principal Steve Hall described the scholarship as an amazing opportunity to study on “home turf”.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to begin a successful career in Queenstown and New Zealand,” he said.

“Financially, the WHS Scholarship will be invaluable to a local family. We have so many great hardworking students, and it’s such a fantastic opportunity to be awarded financial aid for further education.

“It’s important to recognise careers in adventure tourism or hospitality and hotel management as some of the best in New Zealand.

“The professional standards to which QRC prepares graduates with business training, along with practical experience, is highly sought-after by prospective employers.”

Queenstown Resort College Chief Executive Charlie Phillips said gaining a recognised qualification in the tourism and hospitality sector presented “unlimited opportunities”.

“It’s fantastic to see AccorHotels acknowledge the quality of QRC as the hotels have successfully employed many of our top graduates throughout the years,” he said.

“The hotel group acknowledges QRC as a quality provider with excellent outcomes and it makes sense for our local high school to consider us as their local tertiary provider.

“The scholarship is a great opportunity for students to work within New Zealand’s largest export industry. It’s fantastic to see all parties promoting the virtues of tourism as a career of choice.”

Applications must be submitted by September 30 2017 and shortlisted applicants will undergo a formal interview with senior AccorHotels’ management.

The successful applicant will be announced at the WHS Senior prize giving at Wakatipu High School on November 2 2017.

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1/ AccorHotels invites Wakatipu High School students to ‘dream big’ with tourism scholarship for a Diploma in Hospitality Management at Queenstown Resort College

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Great sexpectations for Gay Ski Week QT

by August 07, 2017

Media Release from Gay Ski Week QT The world’s number one condom brand Durex is pulling out all the stops to ensure the LGBTQI community has the most enjoyable Gay Ski Week QT yet. The latest Global Sex Survey, which polled over 29,700 adults in 36 different countries, revealed half the participants considered “a good…

As platinum sponsor of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Winter Pride event, Durex NZ is delighted to offer gay men and women convening in Queenstown in September “any excuse to play”.

“With over 80 years of experience in the bedroom, we’re dedicated to inspiring lovers to love sex safely and we’re proud to back New Zealand’s LGBTQI community,” said Durex Consumer & Shopper Marketing Manager Sarah Hollander.

“We’re all geared up for a fun winter wonderland celebration of diversity. It’s going to be a fun and social week-long celebration of skiing, glamourous hosts, drag races, karaoke, and fun between the sheets!”

Party-goers can walk away with male and female goody bags and VIP prizes throughout the week including condoms, pleasure gels, lubricants and personal massagers.

The 2017 line-up of events and activities includes the fabulous Miss Kola cabaret dinner, diversity day drag race at The Remarkables, a fun and social Queer Quiz Night and the not-to-be-missed Propaganda Gold Dance Party.

VIP local, Gold and Platinum pass holders are invited to join Durex on Thursday September 7 Toga Pool Party for an over-the-top fun-filled afternoon at the Toga Pool Party at Nugget Point Queenstown Hotel.

Gay Ski Week QT organiser Sally Whitewoods said Durex NZ was dedicated to creating a sexually healthy nation.

“We’ve been working with Durex for five years and it’s great to partner with them across a number of events this year as a platinum sponsor,” she said.

“They’re the perfect match as their products suit everyone, and we can’t wait to see what happens at this year’s event.

 

“If you haven’t already bought tickets, we encourage locals and visitors alike to come together and celebrate their diversity. Everyone’s welcome!”

Event tickets are available from the Gay Ski Week QT website www.gayskiweekqt.com/ and up-to-the-minute news can be found online at www.facebook.com/gayskiweekqt.

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1/ Great ‘sexpectations’ for this year’s Gay Ski Week QT

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International private equity company purchases iconic New Zealand-based tourism company

by August 04, 2017

Media Release from Active Adventures One of Australia’s fastest-growing funds management businesses has made its first investment into New Zealand reflecting its positive view on the country’s booming tourism sector. A consortium led by Blue Sky Alternative Investments has bought Queenstown-based Active Adventures, a tourism company that offers fully-guided, all-inclusive small group adventures in New…

It’s business as usual for the company’s 30 staff and 60 guides scattered around the world, although the sale is a significant step for the continued growth of the business.

Blue Sky’s private equity investment director Nick Miller and Blue Sky investment associate Ben Milton will join the Active Adventures board.

The Blue Sky consortium also includes Australian businessman Brett Godfrey, the former co-founder and CEO of Virgin Blue and current deputy chairman of Tourism Australia and Auckland Airport.

The final member of the investment consortium is New Zealand-born and Sydney-based Scott Malcolm, who has over 20 years’ experience in the investment banking industry in Australia and the USA. He founded independent corporate advisory firm Greenstone Partners in 2003 and is chairman of the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust.

Immediately preceding the sale, the company’s three shareholders were Robin Wiseley, Phil Boorman and Michelle Trapski. Under the new partnership arrangement, Mr Boorman has divested his shares in the company, while Mr Wiseley and Ms Trapski retain a significant shareholding in Active Adventures. Mr Wiseley and Ms Trapski both join the new board.

Reflecting on the last few years in business, Mr Wiseley described it as “one of the most rewarding professional and personal experiences” he had ever had.

He said the new board was a highly passionate, motivated and skilled group with very impressive business and governance credentials.

“This new partnership will own and operate this company into the future, and it’s a very exciting future,” he said.

“Over the last four years we’ve enjoyed amazing growth, more than doubling our turnover, adding new destinations to our business and our new brand New Zealand Walking tours, launched in April.

“The company has grown to a point where we were able to attract the skills and investment capabilities of our new partners.

“Blue Sky has brought a very clever and passionate team of young professionals to the business. We have the right partners in the right company at the right time, when Active Adventures is poised to realise the next phase of its future growth potential.

“There are so many options in terms of growth through acquisition, development of new niche brands and potentially new offshore destinations.

“We’re very impressed with Blue Sky’s levels of integrity and attention to detail which is why we chose them as partners, and I’m very confident in Michelle and the incredible team we have built here to take the company into the future.”

“From a business perspective, this brings additional levels of governance and expertise to the table, but for clients nothing has changed. They will continue to experience the same level of hospitality, attention to detail and personalised service that Active Adventures is renowned for.”

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1/ Off the beaten track with Active Adventures

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New GM at Tekapo Springs brings a wealth of experience to the role

by August 03, 2017

Media Release from Tekapo Springs Tourism marketing strategist Anton Wilke is applying a wealth of experience in sales, marketing and general business management to his new role of General Manager at Tekapo Springs. In a career spanning over 27 years, he’s built an enviable reputation in the competitive New Zealand tourism industry having worked within…

Established more than a decade ago by owner Karl Burtscher, the pools, ice rink, snow tube park, café, day spa and now star gazing offering has grown into a key visitor attraction for Lake Tekapo and the McKenzie district.

Mr Wilke described his appointment at Tekapo Springs as “perfect timing”, with the introduction of star gazing tours earlier this year married with the launch of new pools for the complex putting Tekapo Springs firmly on the global tourism map.

“Destination Lake Tekapo is in the throes of moving to the next level and it’s a great time to be involved as we see new retail, attraction and accommodation developments planned in the village over the next few years,” he said.

“As GM, I’m running a business with five internal business units, each with its own manager, and ensuring we all go in the same direction at the same time delivering on our brand promise of ‘lifting your spirits’.

“We have some new and innovative ideas moving forward that will improve and expand on the current offer. As the tourism industry continues to grow, Tekapo Springs must be prepared to welcome more guests and provide a market relevant experience.”

Mr Wilke said that as the business developed, experiencing a longer year-round season than in the past, it faced the challenge of staff retention, as Tekapo is very small with limited accommodation.

“It’s something we’re acutely aware of and are working on strategies to relieve that issue,” he said.

“Developing business relationships on a district and regional basis is imperative for the ongoing success of our business.”

Mr Wilke’s background means he is uniquely placed to oversee the success of the five business units at Tekapo Springs.

His most recent roles include that of Managing Director of Tourism and Accommodation Marketing Services, MD of NZ Motel Marketing Ltd, and Sales and Marketing Manager at Canterbury’s Porters Ski area.

He is currently Vice Chairman of RTO Experience Mid Canterbury and has previously been Sales and Marketing Manager for Canterbury Tourism. He was also previously Commercial Manager at Rainbow Springs and Rainbow Farm Show in Rotorua, among other key industry roles.

Tekapo Springs owner Karl Burtscher said Mr Wilke’s extensive experience in the tourism industry could not be a better fit for the business.

“In recent years Tekapo Springs has made continued multi-million-dollar investments into two new pools and an aqua play area at the complex as well as launching star gazing tours in one of the world’s top ‘clear sky’ locations,” he said.

“We’re renowned for our innovation and continued business developments in order to remain at the forefront of ‘must-do’ activities for international and domestic visitors.

“Anton will help manage a cohesive approach to our business which has grown exponentially over the past four or five years in particular, and we welcome his passion and drive for New Zealand’s tourism industry.”

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.

Click here to visit Tekapo Springs website.

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1/ Tekapo Springs new General Manager Anton Wilke

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