Snippets in this issue:
DMCM UPDATES
TRENZ Conference
Phil Brownie recently attended the TRENZ Conference in Rotorua, supported by Catherine Richards. This is an annual tourism trade show, and is the largest in NZ. The show was attended by over 350 buyers and 370 exhibitors. Our region was represented by 10 operators; The Helicopter Line, Mount Cook Collection of Hotels, Alpine Springs/Spa and Winter Park, Mount Cook Ski Planes Ltd, Glacier Explorers, The Hermitage, Aoraki Mount Cook, The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, Aoraki Mount Cook Trekking, Earth and Sky and Destination Mount Cook Mackenzie.
The Mackenzie Region region received favourable attendance from buyers and with follow up work now in progress, we anticipate continued increase in Guest Nights through the 2008/2009 season. It was a good opportunity for the region to unite together and clearly stamp the Mackenzie brand into the marketplace. If any operators are considering attending TRENZ in Auckland in 2009 and would like more information, please contact Phil on manager@mtcooknz.com .
DMCM Staff Update
Just to keep you up to date with who is who on the Destination Mount Cook Mackenzie Staff:
- Phil Brownie, General Manager - He can be contacted on manager@mtcooknz.com or on his cell phone 027 274 1650, alternatively you can ring on the land line phone and leave a message, 03 685 6194
- Alex Froude, Marketing Executive - Alex manages the website, databases, newsletters and general marketing
- Prue Blake, Project Management - Pru is very involved in the Lake Tekapo area, and is managing specific marketing projects
- Rebecca Biggs, Finance - Rebecca starts with us on 01 July and will look after financial administration
Destination Mount Cook Mackenzie also works closely with Southern Public Relations who manage many of our media releases.
Inbound Operators Day
During May DMCM attended a one day trade day in Auckland hosted by Tourism Auckland where we met 26 New Zealand wholesalers and inbound operators. The day gave us the opportunity to update ITOC member companies with our new product. As part of the follow-up all operators will be contacted and will receive ongoing collateral from DMCM. The day also gave us an opportunity to "test drive" our presentations for TRENZ. Over all it was very worthwhile as during the day there was a session for front line staff to attend and learn more about the various regions.
LOCAL NEWS
AA 101 Must Do Weekends
The AA 101 Must Do Weekends have recently been updated for our region, featuring Earth & Sky, Alpine Springs/Spa &Winter Park, Mount Cook Ski Planes and the new Sir Edmund Hillary Centre. Check them out on www.aatravel.co.nz
Art in the Mackenzie
Winter is upon us and along with the ski season in the Mackenzie, this time of year brings us the annual Lake Tekapo High Country Art Exhibition. Now in it's sixth year, the exhibition has made a name for itself with a wide variety of art forms, including painting, photography, woodwork, sculpture, etchings and iron work. All participating artists are invited to exhibit, and while many are not widely known in the art world, there are those that exhibit widely both in New Zealand and internationally. The exhibition promises to be an eclectic mix of artists and art forms, and well worth a visit! Lake Tekapo Community Centre, Aorangi Cres. July 6 to July 20. For more information email Prue Blake at prue.blake@xtra.co.nz
Alpine Springs/Spa & Winter Park Opens 
7th June was the official opening of the Alpine Springs/Spa & Winter Park, and the weather certainly reminded all that Winter is here. The stunning new $7 million attraction in the heart of the South Island's majestic Mackenzie Country is set to become an essential stop on NZ's tourism map.
Alpine Springs has three hot pools shaped in the configuration of the local glacier lakes Pukaki, Ohau and Tekapo and fed by underground spring water. Each pool is nestled among New Zealand native plants typical of the local alpine area and terraced to provide amazing views.
The boutique Day Spa encompasses four treatment rooms, and available treatments include massage, hot rock massage, reflexology, facials, body wraps, manicures, pedicures and more. There is also a large sauna, steam room and plunge pool.
Best of all, says owner operator Karl Burtscher, the Park has been developed with a strong focus on sustainability. "We have created a wonderful place where visitors can be part of our unique alpine and lake environment while ensuring the best possible use of available energy to provide a sustainable tourism operation that is energy efficient and environmentally aware. We're really excited to be able to offer such a diverse range of activities to appeal to people of all ages . . .in one of New Zealand's most beautiful settings."
For more information see www.alpinesprings.co.nz or www.winterpark.co.nz
Famils 
For those of you unfamiliar with the term, here is the basic outline. DMCM works with Tourism NZ, Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism, major operators and a number of other agencies to assist in hosting, in our region, media, trade and others to ensure that our region is well profiled both nationally and internationally as a tourist destination. Famils also give the opportunity for wholesalers and other trade bodies to get a close understanding of the unique selling points of our region, and also meet and learn about a number of our operators. This, in turn, leads to greater awareness and more tourism business for our area.
There have been many Famils in the past several months. Visitors of note include UK Training Managers (see photo), National Geographic and Australian Press, and agents from Taiwan, India, Korea and Australia.
Sir Edmund Hillary Centre Opens 
The new Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at Aoraki Mount Cook was officially opened on Thursday 29 May by Sir Edmund's widow, Lady June Hillary Q.S.M. (pictured here admiring the statue of her late husband). The date held particular significance as it also commemorates the 55th anniversary of Sir Edmund's first ascent of Mount Everest with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, as well as the 50th anniversary of the third Hermitage Hotel official opening.
Approximately 180 people attended the official opening, many of whom had personal ties with Sir Ed. The audience enjoyed performances from Becky Murray, a young opera singer from Tekapo who sang a poem written especially for the occasion, Mount Cook School children who performed the action song Aoraki E., a fly past by Mount Cook Ski Planes and a team of huskies displayed their skills towing a vehicle. Graeme Ayres, son of Sir Ed's great friend Harry, spoke on behalf of Lady Hillary, congratulating all those involved in creating a facility where the stories of the mountains could be told and celebrated. "Aoraki Mount Cook is connected to the great and sacred mountains of the world through the high jet stream winds that circulate our planet, but even more so, Aoraki is connected to the mountains and people of the Himalaya and Antarctica through the spirit and achievements of one man - our own Sir Edmund Hillary."
Welcome Dean Gorddard 
Christchurch & Canterbury has a new General Manager of Marketing, Dean Gorddard. Dean (shown here beside the Moa 2 telescope at Mt John) hails from the UK and has most recently been working with New South Wales Tourism in Australia. Dean and his family have settled well into Christchurch, and within weeks of his arrival, he had found his way into the Mackenzie Country for a quick Famil prior to TRENZ.
TRADE NEWS
Visitor Statistics
The highlights from March show visitor arrivals to New Zealand from China up 20%, Canada up 15%, and from Australia, the UK and USA up 6-9%. The highest number of visitors come from Australia, followed by the UK, USA and China.
The number of visitors staying our region has increased from this time last year. Guest nights for March 08 were 50,161, up 14 % from last March.
Web site statistics show an increase of unique visits to our website www.mtcooknz.com from 20,189 last April to 45,977 in April this year. Much of this is due to the search engine optimization project that we have just completed with Cabbage Tree.
Official Visitor Guide
Preliminary contact has been made with all the region's operators advising them that the official visitor guide proposal will be forwarded to them late June. The publication will be a DLE similar to previous editions. However it will be different in that it will provide a single line listing for all the region's operators as well as paid advertising. It is expected that it will be a min 48 page publication and it is aimed to have it out by the end of August, ready for the spring/summer season. The guide will have two editions - a summer and a winter edition with the difference being that the winter edition will incorporate winter activities. It is anticipated that we will print 80,000, up from the 55,000 of last year. The project will be completed with the assistance of Beck and Caul who have assisted in the past. We will be working closely with the Mackenzie Winter Marketing Group on the project.
Tourism Businesses Go Green
The new Qualmark enviro-ratings for tourism businesses will help NZ deliver on its 100% Pure New Zealand promise, Tourism NZ Chief Executive George Hickton says. Minimum environmental standards will apply to all Qualmark licence holders as part of the their accreditation assessments from 1 August 2008.
"The natural environment is the main reason people come to NZ and we need to protect it and deliver on the ... promise we make to our overseas visitors," Mr Hickton says. "We would encourage every tourism operator to get Qualmarked and to aspire to getting the Enviro-Gold standard, it will be good for the environment and local communities, good for their business and good for the industry." Find out more at: www.responsibletourism.co.nz
Taking New Zealand to the World
The new 100% Pure New Zealand - Youngest Country on Earth campaign launches just eight months ago has been shown around the world in Australia, the USA, UK, Japan, China, Canada, Germany, India and South Korea.
According to historians, NZ was the last habitable landmass on earth to be settled by humankind. Tourism NZ linked up with the creative talent at Weta Digital to create a stunning animation to illustrate the tale of Maui hauling the North Island from the sea. To view the video and other video releases, visit: www.youtube.com/user/PureNewZealand
In Brief
Kevin Roberts, CEO worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi, a New York based advertising agency is passionate about New Zealand and what we can offer the world. Constantly asked for NZ travel advice, a sampler of his recommendations in Tourism Business magazine included Aoraki Mt Cook/Lindis Pass as his best drive in New Zealand.
If you know of any other organizations, clubs, businesses or individuals that would enjoy reading this newsletter, please forward their details to us, and we will ensure they receive them regularly.
As always, we are looking for any news or information about your business so we can promote the area to its fullest potential.
The Destination Mt Cook Mackenzie Team
Philip Brownie & Alex Froude
