Accolades for air tour operator & council marketeers

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 661, 5 November 1996, Page 1

Accolades for air tour operator & council marketeers

After one of the most frustrating years for the district's tourism industry last Friday night saw two organisations representing the district rewarded for their excellence at the New Zealand Tourism Awards Mountain Air, who recently won the National Quality Awards, took out the hotly-contested small operator award among a field of 57 operators, while Heartlarid New Zealand, a marketing cooperati ve comprising the Ruapehu District Council, Destination Lake Taupo, Tourism W aikato and Destination N apier won the marketing award for their South East Asian campaign. Mountain Air was also a finalisl in last year's New Zealand Tourism Awards, and also recently won a National Business Quality Award. Thrilled Robin McKenzie said it was a real thrill to win the award, especially as it was judged by peers in the industry. New Zealand Tourism Board deputy chief executive Chris Ryan said Mountain Air was the largest scenic flight operator in the North Island. "Mountain Air's mission is to provide a safe, reliable, entertaining and educational experience to travellers visiting the Volcanic Plateau. This win as the best small tourism operator in New Zealand, along with its National Business Quality Award, must cement the company's reputation for excellence." The Heartland New Zealand Campaign was also a finalist in the same category last year. "Heartland has had significant success in the South East Asian market, forming strong relationships with major wholesalers and introducing a new approach to providing market-oriented product," Mr Ryan said.

"As a measure of this success, South East Asian visitors to the area increased by over 40 percent from 1994'to 1995." Mr Ryan said tourism in the central North Island was going from strength to strength. "The central region has scored a remarkable success in Turn to Page 2

Tourism accolades

FROM PAGE 1 that each of its finalists in this year's New Zealand Tourism Awards have won awards." Wairakei Resort, Taupo, won the conventions and incentives category. "This must be great news for the central region tourism industry, and for the community as a whole,'" Mr Ryan said Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton, who attended the awards ceremony held in Auckland, said he was very proud of the efforts of these two organisations that have

shown excellence in all aspects of their particular field. "You have to appreciate the stiff competition that these organi sations faced in winning their respective awards. Mountain Air won their award from 57 other entries in the small operators category and the Heartland co-operative were voted the best tourism marketeers from some of New Zealand' s finest marketing campaigns," said Mr Kirton Mr Kirton said the cooperative marketing of

• Heartland New Zealand is innovative and sets a new direction for other regions to aspire to in developing their international strategies. "We are investing in programmes providing the best results," said Mr Kirton. "I am especially pleased for our local tourism industry, as recognition such as this continues to put our district in the national and international arena," he said. He also quipped that he enjoyed flying back from Auckland to Ruapehu on an "Award Winning Airline". The two awards were presented by Tourism Minister, Hon. John Banks, to Keith McKenzie goveming director of Mountain Air, and Bruce Rollinson marketing manager for Ruapehu District Council.