Service is top of the list for Ruapehu's ski company plans

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 686, 13 May 1997, Page 3 (Supplement)

Service is top of the list for Ruapehu's ski company plans

It aoesn i laKe a Lonuon ocnooi of Economics professor to work out that two ski seasons hammered by eruption fall-out will have had serious financial implications on Ruapehu' s two ski field companies. But both fields are promising that visitors will not see any adverse affects. Turoa general manager Angus Grimwade said they will be offering even better service than before, to win back the customers they have lost in the last two years. He said the eruptions have put tremendous financial pressure on them but the company is still here and here to stay. "Visitors won't notice any difference and the service will be the same if not better than before." They have completed their staff interviews, having had the highest number of applicants for three years, with a very good quality of applicants as well. He said the confidence shown by the applicants was a good indication of confidence in the Ruapehu ski industry. He said they have spent a lot of time, money and effort during the summer ensuring all their lifts are back in the best possible condition to operate this winter, after the damage that the ash had caused. They are still working on repainting the ash-blasted towers, and the Maritime Transport safety inspectors have certified all the lifts. Turoa is planning to promote their learn to ski packages — among the cheapest of the main commercial fields in the country — to help boost the numbers of new skiers, which have been down in the past two

yeai:>. He said while the percentage of new skiers among their visitors has remained high, because they were only open 20-30 days last year due to ash, the total number was down. Snowboarders will get special attention — Turoa has one of the largest board hire shops in the country, and they will be creating a half-pipe with a dedicated rope tow as soon as snow conditions allow. And Ohakune will feature in Turoa's promotion. "One of Turoa's greatest assets is Ohakune," said Mr Grimwade, "One of the benefits of coming to Turoa is staying in Ohakune which is our apres ski town with lots of good accommodation and entertainment, bars and nightlife." Whakapapa Ruapehu Alpine Lifts general manager Dave Mazey said all lifts and other machinery are up to scratch on Whakapapa, staff numbers will be the same — on lifts, in ski hire and in the cafeterias — so the service should be tops. He said staff are really positive about the season and that the return rate of about 45 per cent, while down on previous years, still rates high in terms of the industry. RAL targets local people for employment. "They still regard us as a good employer." Mr Mazey said a consequence of the eruptions would be that the developments they talked about in '93 - '94 are now "a couple of years away". "We can't get over the losses of '95 and '96 in one season, even a good one." He said in future, capital investment would probably come from revenue rather than borrowing.