05/10/2009
New Zealand’s tourism and technology innovators took to the stage at the recent inaugural e-Tourism conference in Wellington.
The two-day conference offered delegates the opportunity to hear about the latest marketing trends and business practices in the digital tourism realm with Chris Hunter, Tourism Exchange CEO featuring as a key note speaker.
Mr Hunter took the opportunity to highlight the value of multiple distribution channels for tourism operators and the importance of an on-line presence for boosting sales – exactly what Tourism Exchange provides.
“The tourism sector and digital age is an ever evolving medium that is vital for tourism operators to keep abreast of ensuring they are making the most of their marketing dollar and utilising all the distribution channels available to them in the best possible way.”
With the recession biting and the tourism industry one of the worst hit sectors Tourism Exchange offers a cost effective portal to the global booking market for New Zealand tourism operators.
“Tourism Exchange offers a timely solution to help operators take their businesses to another level. For those with no web presence or prior online booking facilities, the service offers real value with transactions fees only on actual bookings,” Mr Hunter says.
“For those new to the industry, smaller businesses with a need for less admin for their bookings, and all businesses looking to open up to a new sector of the marketplace without major capital outlay Tourism Exchange is the solution.”
Venture Taranaki’s Paul Stancliffe says “We’re advising our members that it has great potential. Our smaller operators will really benefit from getting into international markets. At the moment they have to go through RTO’s and they often can’t afford to advertise or attend industry conferences like TRENZ, so an online marketplace will assist them greatly.”
Dunedin’s Hilltop on High St B&B owner Rodney McDonald says Tourism Exchange has completely changed their business. “All our bookings used to be from a phone-call or walk-in, but now we have Tourism Exchange’s Eviivo Frontdesk booking system our income stream is spread out more. Dunedin is quite seasonal and we never knew how busy the season was going to be; now, with forward bookings all pre-paid and in the system, we know what to expect.”
New Zealand’s boutique B&B and high-end lodge accommodation is often run by semi-retired owners happy to host and share their wonderful homes. Often new to the industry, they don’t expect the large amount of admin associated with each booking. Tourism Exchange helps reduce this by having the booking come to them already paid for.
“We sold up our business in Dunedin three years ago and built Wharetutu on Kina Ridge in Nelson,” say owners Jenny and Stan Whitty. “We wanted to be close to our daughter and to retire where the sun was. We’re fairly new to the industry and we don’t want to spend our semi-retirement bogged down in admin! The convenience of the online booking system through Tourism Exchange will save us hour’s every week.”
Mr Hunter adds that “Tourism Exchange has become the biggest single source of live inventory for New Zealand tourism products, and it’s just the beginning. With most businesses poised to go live in the next few weeks, the forecast for our industry will be looking up.”
Tim Kershaw, owner of Remarkable Golf Tours in Queenstown says “To be honest, with their attractive prices, I didn’t have to consider too hard whether or not to join Tourism Exchange. I was keen on the concept right from the start!”
