media & trade • newsletter

February 2007

Staff Changes at Latitude Nelson

We sadly say goodbye to Nona Jackson, our International Marketing Manager, who is returning to the UK in mid March to spend more time with family.

Astrid Fisher has been appointed to the International Marketing Manager position.  Astrid has a strong tourism sales and marketing background and moves within the organisation from the position of Nelson Convention Bureau & Domestic Marketing Manager.

Angela Moriarty joins the organisation as the new Nelson Convention Bureau & Domestic Marketing Manager, replacing Astrid, and in her new role will manage Nelson Tasman's domestic and convention marketing programmes.

Angela is a communications professional with several years' experience working in broadcast and print media. This includes three and a half years as a reporter at the Nelson Mail, where she covered a number of news rounds and specialised in arts and Maori affairs.

Angela has recently returned to Nelson after six months consuming far too much pizza in Florence, Italy, and a year in London, where she worked in public sector communications.

Having grown up here, Angela shares your passion for the Nelson-Tasman region as a home and as a destination. As well as carrying out and building on current domestic marketing and convention bureau activities, Angela will be looking at how Latitude Nelson can increase proactive media campaigns and other communications initiatives.

Angela, who many of you may have met in the past month through her writing the Nelson Mail's summer Holiday Guide, joins us from February 12.
 
You can contact Angela by emailing angela@NelsonNZ.com or on her direct dial 03 545 6854.

These changes will see a continuation of the focused international and domestic marketing programmes we run using people with strong client relationship management skills. 

Latitude Nelson Workshops - Introducing our publications, website & i-SITE services      

Latitude Nelson will be holding workshops early March to help you to decide on your 2007/2008 season marketing activity.

Key staff will introduce our services and new Client Relationship Manager, Aidan Cronin, will be available to offer an in-depth explanation of our visitor guide, trade directory, website and i-SITE advertising options.  On-line ordering and payment processes will also be covered off.  There will be an opportunity to have one on one appointments in the afternoon session with key staff.

The workshops will be held in Nelson 5 March, Motueka 6 March and Golden Bay 8 March.  Further details will be sent to you direct.

Nelson Marlborough Trade Day 18 April      

Members of Nelson and Marlborough's International Marketing Group head to Auckland again this year in April to meet with key inbound travel operators and train Auckland i-SITE and travel industry staff on the Nelson and Marlborough regions.

The event has gone from strength to strength and this year will include a formal dinner prepared by guest chef Angela Bone of The Lodge at Paratiho Farms.

Auckland based conference market contacts will also be invited to attend a free flow afternoon session. 

Sustainable Tourism      

With all the headlines about sustainability and the environment over the New Year period, it's worth reminding operators of the growing importance of a business's environmental performance.

More and more tourism research indicates that there is a strong interest in sustainable products from visitors. Qualmark are also investigating ways to include additional environmental criteria in their certification processes.

The Nelson Tasman Sustainable Tourism Charter helps businesses to operate more sustainably by carrying out a Sustainability Assessment and helping to create a site specific Action Plan for each member. Three common areas for action in our region are energy efficiency, environmentally friendly cleaning products and supporting local suppliers. As well as environmental benefits achieved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing fresh water resources, simple actions such as these can lead to long term financial savings and help support the local economy.

For further details please contact Mark on 03 545 6857 or mark@nelsonnz.com or check out this link for further information and examples of actions on sustainability http://www.nelsonnz.com/sustainable.tourism/links 

High Praise Indeed!      

The following comments were passed onto us by Tourism New Zealand recently;

"Dear Mr Hickton, I feel compelled to write this brief e-mail to convey to you and your team at Tourism New Zealand just how proud I was to be a New Zealander over the Christmas /New Year period.  Every encounter we had with tourist operators and in particular, the information center in Nelson was 100% first class. My fiancé and I walked the Abel Tasman track which was stunning and it made me proud to show case that part of the country to a young Spanish man we met and befriended. He was simply blown away by the beauty of the area; but equally important was the level and high standards the track, huts and all related services were operated at.We often only hear the negatives at times in New Zealand but this trip reinforced to me just what a fantastic country this is.

Congratulations to all involved keep up the great work.

Regards Jeremy Castles"  

What's New - Operator Update      

• Saxton Lodge, a new motel complex, opened in December and offers 48 rooms adjacent to the Saxton Field Sports Complex and Park
• Welcome on board to Jeff & Helena Barrow, new owners of Maruia River Lodge who are passionate about fly fishing, hunting and the outdoors.  Maruia River Lodge is now open all year round and will be offering fly fishing, hunting and wilderness pursuits 
• Abel Tasman Cruises offers cruises from Nelson across Tasman Bay to Abel Tasman National Park in 45 -50 mins - for more cruise options check out www.abeltasmancruises.co.nz
• Bay Tours have bought JJ's Quality Tours - both companies are trading as normal with all tours continuing.  Roy can be contacted on 03 548 6486
• Eco Paddling Ltd are a family owned company in Nelson City offering unique day trips to 'Rotokura' (Cable Bay), around Pepin Island and Delaware Inlet - check out www.ecopaddling.com for more information

Snippets      

• A reminder that opening hours for Nelson i-SITE have been extended to 8.30am - 6pm Mon - Fri and 9am - 6pm Sat, Sun and public holidays until mid March  
• And operators, remember you can contact the Nelson i-SITE quickly on our emergency operator hotline: 03 539 0822.
• Like to update Latitude Nelson staff on your product?  We are more than happy to come and see you  - just call or email us for an appointment
• Until 10 February, you can help decide what the newest MONOPOLY game,  MONOPOLY Here & Now Edition, hitting the shelves everywhere in June 07 will look like - check out www.nzmonopoly.co.nz for more information and to vote (your chance to make sure Nelson Tasman has high profile!)
• Tourism Business Magazine is full of useful advice for tourism businesses; their chosen feature this month is 'How to Get your Business into an International Guidebook'".  Check out  http://www.tourismbusinessmag.co.nz/news/tools/2006/12/how-to-get-your-business-into-an-international-guide-book/