Corporate Team Event specialists CluedUp has recently moved to their new offices based in the new Williment Travel Group building in Hanson Street, Mt Cook. The move further consolidates the partnership between CluedUp (www.cluedup.co.nz) and Williment Travel Group (www.williment.co.nz), who recently acquired a 50 per cent share of CluedUp. “We’re thrilled that CluedUp has become a significant part of Williment Travel Group’s diverse selection of businesses,” said Williment Travel Group CEO, Hayden Armstrong. “The CluedUp team bring a wealth of experience in creating and delivering unique events and we know that their creativity and expertise will enhance our products and services and client experiences throughout 2008 and beyond.”
Still on CluedUp news, Angela Williams has been appointed general manager of CluedUp, based in Wellington. Ms Williams was previously a sales manager for Williment Business Travel. Williment Travel Group’s Hayden Armstrong and Peter Barlow have joined company founders Greg Norris and Nic Preddle as company directors, while James Clairmont has been appointed Auckland branch manager, based in Albany. Amber Pratt heads the team based in Melbourne.
A group of seven influential Australians visited Queenstown recently with the Queenstown Convention Bureau expecting a number of conferences to be booked in the resort as a result. The seven were professional conference organisers who were hosted by the QCB in conjunction with Air New Zealand to experience the beauty of Queenstown in autumn and its suitability as a conference destination. The visitors – all based in Sydney, flew direct into Queenstown with QCB Australian representative Jana Kingston. The four days spent in the resort were carefully planned by the QCB to showcase the wide variety of accommodation, activities and dining options available in Queenstown. Queenstown Convention Bureau manager Kylie Brittain, said familiarisation visits were important to demonstrate Queenstown’s product offering. “Only two in the group had been to Queenstown before; for some it was their first trip to New Zealand,” she said. “We packed a lot into their few days but we were keen to let them know we had by no means exhausted the many options on offer for a conference or incentive group.” During their visit the group went jet-boating, quad-biking, four wheel driving, experienced a Maori welcome and learnt more about New Zealand’s native birds, as well as enjoying a scenic flight taking in the views over Queenstown.
And the visitors loved it! “Queenstown and the highlights we experienced presented a combination of the spectacular, the scenic, welcoming people, colourful vegetation, wet rides, thrilling chopper views and people proud of their properties and services. Awesome is the only word I can use, in its original meaning,” said Allen Morley, executive director of AWCI. “The past four days have endorsed emphatically my belief that New Zealand is one of the most brilliantly marketed destinations in the world, in particular Queenstown NZ,” said Justine Jones of Erroll Jones.
Canterbury high country resort Terrace Downs has announced the launch of a new heli-taxi service – a timely winter addition to the array of exciting activities on offer at the luxury getaway destination just an hour’s drive from Christchurch International Airport. In partnership with Mt Hutt Helicopters, Terrace Downs will provide a heli-taxi service between the resort and the carpark at the Mt Hutt Ski Area for just $65 each way – the ultimate in value for money and convenience for winter sports enthusiasts. The service is available to both in-house guests and Park’n’Ride visitors.
Forget the usual 50-minute challenging drive up the mountain from Terrace Downs. With the heli-taxi service you will escape the hassle of chains and beat the mountain traffic. The scenic trip takes just five minutes by helicopter – so you’ll be sipping a hot chocolate at the Terrace Downs Clubhouse one minute, and within 10 minutes you will be up the mountain clipping on your skis or snowboard! For added convenience, Mt Hutt lift passes can also be purchased at Terrace Downs. For more information visit www.terracedowns.co.nz.
Wharekauhau Country Estate just outside Wellington has been awarded the 2008 New Zealand Beef and Lamb Hallmark of Excellence by the New Zealand Beef and Lamb Marketing Bureau. The award acknowledges leading establishments that have consistently presented the highest standards of beef and lamb cuisine in the country. Between September and November 2007, leading establishments around the country were anonymously assessed by the New Zealand Beef and Lamb Marketing Bureau, citing the quality in the preparation and presentation on beef and lamb main course dishes. Only a handful received the 2008 New Zealand Beef & Lamb Hallmark of Excellence. Cited were two Wharekauhau signature dishes. In a letter sent by the bureau, assessors praised the Wharekauhau Texel Lamb with butternut puree and asparagus pecan salad, for the well trimmed, flavoursome lamb, perfectly cooked with an emphasis on the lamb. Wharekauhau’s Wagyu Beef tenderloin with pomme rosti and Café de Paris butter dish was also recognised, noting the excellent beef, perfectly cooked and tender, and praised for its modern approach and visual appeal, with beautifully executed dish components.
A recent event hosted in Queenstown for a group of boutique luxury accommodation providers was described as a huge success with a record attendance of 100 delegates.
Crowne Plaza Queenstown was home to the Heritage and Character Inns of New Zealand Conference which was held in Queenstown for the first time and attracted more delegates than any conference to date. Heritage and Character Inns board member Louise Kiely was a local organiser and said the event was stimulating and inspiring to get together some of New Zealand’s iconic hosts. “As you can imagine, with some of the most genial hosts in the country getting together, a very good time was had by all,” she said.
Crowne Plaza Christchurch was recently awarded Territorial Forces Employer Support Council (TFESC) large private sector Employer of the Year. Following on from being named Canterbury Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR) Employer of the Year late last year, Crowne Plaza Christchurch was nominated by the hotel’s chief engineer, Chris Stevens, who has been in the Volunteer Reserve for 25 years as a marine engineer and is based at HMNZS Pegasus in Christchurch. The inaugural awards are designed to recognise employers who are committed to supporting Territorials in the workplace and 12 finalists from all over New Zealand were vying for the top honours in small, private sector, large private sector, wider state sector, and supreme winner. Crowne Plaza Christchurch general manager Blair Roxborough said the hotel was committed to supporting the volunteer forces, acknowledging that the skills learnt in the field lead to valuable team players in the work environment, with well-honed problem solving and communication skills.
The Rendezvous Hotel Auckland is offering a great winter special for the travel trade starting at $100 + GST NZD per room per day. The property completed refurbishments in June this year, and now offers an experience that ranges from the indulgent to the divine. Formerly the Carlton Hotel, it is located within walking distance of some of Auckland’s premier restaurants and shops and internationally recognised landmarks such as Auckland’s America’s Cup Village. Upgrades have included a pristine conference centre with brand new designer furniture, lighting, and two new bar areas in the Atrium and pre-function rooms. The conference facilities also supply an exclusive elevator to the conference area, bypassing the main hotel lobby.
Steve Martin has been appointed general manager at Hotel Grand Chancellor Christchurch. Mr Martin officially took over the reins from Tim Stonhill on July 1. Mr Martin has been rooms division manager with the Hotel Grand Chancellor since 2001. Having begun his tourism career as a guide on the Milford Track, he is now happy to have adopted Christchurch as the new home for his family.
Top
|