21/10/2009
Tourism Exchange is providing one of New Zealand’s Living Legends, All Black Neven MacEwan (1956-1962), and his wife Jeannette, with an online marketplace for their uniquely hosted AB Studio and AB Cottage self-contained bed and breakfast accommodation in Palmerston North.
“Tourism Exchange’s online booking system really appealed to us,” says MacEwan, who will be marketing towards the World Cup in 2011. “To get a facility for people to book online without ongoing set fees is a real plus for a smaller operator.”
Originally a ballet studio, AB Studio has been converted into a comfortable, self-contained unit where guests have the unique opportunity to be hosted by a prominent former All Black. AB Cottage has recently been completed to facilitate longer staying guests.
“To have your accommodation listed online usually has an ongoing fee attached, regardless of any booking or traffic generated. With Tourism Exchange, we have no ongoing fees and just pay when a booking comes through,” says MacEwan.
“As a small and specialised little operation, we host people as an interest in our retirement because we enjoy it! We don’t want to be bombarded with bookings or admin, we’re very happy for Tourism Exchange to be our partner in getting our message across to a new market with the bonus of costs only deducted when a booking is secured.”
“We’re excited to be able to provide tourism support for operators who may not have a lot of tourism industry training. It gets their product out to a new market and gives them the technology for online bookings – and the low merchant fee of 1.8% is a real bonus,” says Tourism Exchange’s lower North Island regional development manager, Richard Marshall.
Using industry-wide technology, the Tourism Exchange provides a neutral ‘business to business’ marketplace, allowing tourism operators to contract and transact in real time. With Tourism Exchange as a partner, MacEwan’s AB Studio and AB Cottage will be ready for World Cup 2011 kick off!
Media Contact:
Tracey Mehrtens
4pr
Phone: (09) 489 2229
Email: tracey@4pr.co.nz
