2024 Tourism Central Otago Highlights

A few work highlights from the Tourism Central Otago team’s perspective to close out on 2024.

January

• The completion of the isite external re-brand in both of our Central Otago isite’s. This project was funded 100% by isite NZ as part of the new membership requirements. 

February

• The Ranfurly isite selected to host Otago University Master Students undertaking a tourism research paper. Students were tasked to create a destination management plan for the township of Ranfurly. This coincided with the Maniototo Business Group looking at ideas for enhancing visitor perception of the area. The papers received were passed along to this group.

March

Morgan, CAPE Japan Study Tour

• Central Otago Business Events and Tourism Central Otago attracted and supported the Sustainable Trails Conference in Cromwell, which successfully hosted 78 delegates from New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands over 3 days.
• Andrea attended the annual RTNZ Inbound Trade event, holding over 80 appointments across two days – losing her voice in the process!
• Morgan selected as 1 of 6 Young Tourism Professionals (out of approx 250 across NZ) to attend the CAPE (Centre of Asia Pacifi Excellence) Japan Tourism Study tour, visiting a range of tourism and trade representatives and businesses in Tokyo and Kyoto.
• Andrea hosted Rob Stewart-McDonald, Managing Director of HQNZ, for a full-day famil of Business Events members, culminating in a guest speech to COBE members.

• Antz presented on a panel at the Otago University Tourism Policy School in Queenstown alongside Kiri Goulter from Regional Tourism New Zealand, and Glenys Coughlan, industry strategist (and former TCO General Manager) around supporting cohesive destination stewardship: connecting national and regional approaches.

May

• TRENZ in Wellington: Andrea and Ali held 50 appointments with global buyers over two days at the annual TRENZ event in Wellington, then a post TRENZ famil saw 15 buyers in conjunction with our IMA partners (Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism).
• The first Otago Trails Forum held in Cromwell with representatives of businesses, trail trusts, NZ Cycle Trail Inc, Angus & Associates and NZ Mountain Bike Magazine/NZ Cycling Journal.

June

• Central Otago Business Events secured a 9-page feature in Meeting Newz on Business Events in Central Otago by hosting a 3-day itinerary for the Owner-Editor.
• Finding Balance – A Community Connected by Trails shot, captured and edited by Will Nelson, is selected and screened as part of the Big Bike Film Festival throughout 2024 which included 135 screenings to 16,477 people across NZ, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and Guernsey.

July

• The Otago Trails Marketing group partnered with the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour to feature the Otago Trails Network at their event which screened in 34 cities across Australia and New Zealand to an audience of 11,200 well qualified outdoorsy people!

August

• A number of Central Otago-based events were successful recipients of additional funding from the MBIE Regional Events Promotion Fund.
• The Southern Way RTOs and Southern Airports Alliance partnered with Air New Zealand on an open-jaw campaign promoting long stay, multi region itineraries across the south.
• Central Otago and neighbours featured in Conde Nast Magazine in the USA. In New Zealand's Otago Region, Dynamic Wineries and a Uniquely Kiwi Culinary Scene Await | Condé Nast Traveler

September

COBE Members at TMS Workshop at Domaine Thomson

• Full day Tourism Marketing Solutions (TMS) Business Events Workshop with 10 Central Otago Business Events members, followed a half-day whirlwind Famil for the TMS directors who celebrated 20 years in business whilst in Central Otago.
• The isite NZ conference in Queenstown was attended by Shirley. The annual conference is a chance to network with other isites and hear presentations from Tourism New Zealand, regional and national operators such as Great Journeys, Southern Discoveries and Real New Zealand.

October

• The TCO team launched a new ‘Escape’ Digital Campaign with a focus on attracting Central Otago’s 5 Visitor Personas through themed itineraries. All content and delivery was designed and built in-house leveraging the full range of the team's expertise.
• Numerous local businesses and places from all corners of the district represented in the new partnership with the Neat Places guide, with coverage also secured in the NZ Herald.

November

Andrea representing Central Otago Business Events (COBE) at BE Expo

• Andrea represented Central Otago Business Events at the BE Expo in Auckland, engaging with 20 qualified MICE buyers. Swiftly followed by attending the Business Events Industry Association annual conference.
• TCO welcomed 50 operators at Highlands to listen to 4 keynote speakers discussing the connection between tourism, community and visitors under a range of sustainability pillars.
• The Central Otago Events Development framework was endorsed by Council  defining the role TCO and Council play in supporting events across the district and outlining a five-year action plan to work on with the events sector and wider industry.
• Nevis Valley is formally recognised as a Heartland Ride, connecting two of NZ’s Great Rides the Lake Dunstan Trail with the Around the Mountains Trail in Southland.

December 

Geoff Marks out on trail producing content.

• Otago Trail Hub continues to build awareness of the regional trail network and Geoff is quietly chuffed to have produced 47 new pieces of content across the year; 19 long-form inspiration stories, 20 news stories and 8 itineraries.
• Two-page feature in December Kia Ora inflight Magazine on Central Otago written by Alexia Santa Maria.
• Antz was invited to speak at the Destination Digital tourism conference on Central Otago's approach to promoting the region as a premier cycling Destination.