Bay of Plenty Business News October/November 2016

More documents

Recommendations

Info

4 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS October/November 2016 Visitors flock for summer cruise migration Eighty-three cruise ships are expected to arrive in Tauranga this cruise season. Tauranga businesses are readying for an annual migration of visitors who, like godwits, head south to escape the northern winter every year. By RICHARD RENNIE But unlike the diminutive godwits, Tauranga’s visitors will be disembarking from the dozens of cruise ships berthing between now and autumn. The arrival of the Sun Princess in October marked an early start to the cruise season which continues to play such a big part in boosting the regional economy, dispersing tourists as far west as Matamata and south as Rotorua during the ships’ short visits. Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Kristin Dunne is only six months into her role, but is well familiar with the statistics and percentages of local business the industry makes up. This season promises to be no exception. “Overall we are expecting 83 cruise vessels this year, up from 78 last year, adding about $39 million of expenditure into the local economy. “We are looking to be down in visitor numbers due to one company not coming this year, but still expect to have 153,000 visitors coming through the port.” Kristin said this year marked the first for ships arriving and staying overnight. Typically they will berth early in the morning before casting off later the same evening. Five ships will be overnighting with the largest the 121,000t “Celebrity Solstice” accounting for three of those visits, and by far the largest vessel carrying 2850 passengers and 1250 crew. “The overnight visits are a big thing for Tauranga and the Mount because they will offer a significant opportunity for the local hospitality industry, and we are all working to make the town vibrant and an exciting place to be over that time,” Kristin says. Overall we are expecting 83 cruise vessels this year, up from 78 last year, adding about $39 million of expenditure into the local economy. Regulations require the ship’s on board casinos and retail outlets to close, further expanding the opportunity for locals to capture some of the cruisers’ passenger spend. Mount Mainstreet manager Ingrid Fleming said the retail organisation is working closely with the likes of Tourism Bay of Plenty to make the most of the opportunities the overnight stays offer this year. Representing 220 businesses in the Mount area she is intending to make a “big deal” out of the overnight stay of the Celebrity Solstice over December 10-11. “We are intending to create an atmosphere down here that will encourage visitors to want to stay and enjoy themselves rather than head back to their ship.” She is encouraged by the huge response enjoyed to the Mount Busking Festival which attracted 5000 people to downtown. “We have to be realistic, we are competing with what is often a high standard of entertainment on board the ships, but we are very reliant upon our ‘greeters’ who welcome the passengers ashore, to point out the options for entertainment and dining on land.” The shores around the Mount are also likely to be packed with ship spotters when the enormous “Ovation of the Seas” rounds the channel buoys on December 26. This 168,000t ship is the largest ever to visit New Zealand and will disgorge up to 4180 passengers and 1300 crew.Measuring 348m in length, it matches the Aotea Maersk that visited in early October on its inaugural visit to mark the start of the first big container ships’ arrival. “It is largely thanks to the deepening of the port channel we are able to see a ship this big, one that cannot yet tie up in the Ports of Auckland,” said Kristin. February 5 will be a red letter day for the region’s retailers and tour operators, with the arrival of three ships including the Ovation of the Seas and Emerald Princess delivering more than 9000 passengers and crew as visitors over a 12 hour period. Almost a third of passengers may sign up for a tour through to Rotorua attractions while still at sea, but of the 70 percent that don’t, about 15 percent of them will book and partake in locally arranged tours on arrival. “There is a misperception everyone goes to Rotorua, and while it is a vital attraction we work in with, there is still a great opportunity for local operators to capture business, either as local trips, Rotorua trips, or over to Hobbiton,” Kristin said. Destination Rotorua marketing manager Tom Worsp said the growth in cruise ship visits was welcome in his city, and operators were putting more focus on how best to draw visitors to its attractions. “We have not put a massive amount of focus on it in the past, as it is still a small proportion of visitors, but we have operators like Te Puia doing much to appeal to cruise visitors.” He said having a Te Puia director on the board of the lobby group Cruise New Zealand was a big asset in pitching the region to the giant tour operators. Having experienced 600 percent growth in the industry in 10 years there have understandably been growing pains. Tauranga is the second most visited port after Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Kristin Dunne. Auckland, accounting for 13 percent of port days, the same as Wellington. Funds have been found for a new temporary visitors’ arrival point on the port grounds. “Our hope is in the next few years we will have built a permanent visitor centre on Salisbury Ave.” Kristin says the port’s operational demands, alongside a city keen to see the cruise sector continue to grow, bring challenges. “This is why all stakeholders have been working together on the Cruise Maximisation Plan which will outline some recommendations early next year.”
BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS October/November 2016 5 Cruise ships part of a bigger tourism success story The value of the cruise ship sector to the Bay of Plenty region is impressive at $39 million of expenditure this year but remains a small part of the region’s larger and growing tourism success story. Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Kristin Dunne said the Bay has experienced 31 percent growth in tourism value since 2009, well ahead of the national average of 25 percent, and much of this has been in the past three years. “In fact the region went through a period where growth was negative, in domestic and international visitor terms, and we had quite a despondent industry at that time. “However we are now averaging 10 percent average growth a year for international and domestic visitor value combined.” In fact the greater Bay of Plenty region, when combining Western, Whakatane and Rotorua, now equals Queenstown for tourism value, equating to $1.6 billion of expenditure a year. Domestic visitors still account for the majority of the $873 million coming into the Western Bay of Plenty region, with 80 percent of those coming from Auckland and Waikato. Tourism Bay of Plenty is working on a 10-year plan that can integrate into the council’s 10 year plan, allowing for growth and infrastructure development to cope with Inspiring Kiwi businesses to turn Innovation into Gold Businesses wanting to protect their products and be inspired by Kiwi business success stories have the opportunity to learn from the best, through a series of new regional events. Turning Innovation into Gold is a nationwide seminar series organised by national intellectual property specialists James & Wells to champion Kiwi innovation. The series will see James & Wells teaming up with Innovation Council and a host of Kiwi innovators who will share their stories on how they’ve turned innovation into sustainable commercial success. James & Wells founding partner and seminar series panelist, Ceri Wells says New Zealand is an innovative country “but we have a dismal record by OECD standards for successfully commercialising our innovations. Although innovation is on the boardroom agenda like never before, there is little point if you can’t transform your inventions into sustained commercial success.” Ceri says New Zealand business has to “up its game” in this area. “We’re far from our markets so the ideal product for us is one that can be sold, licensed and delivered electronically. “The seminar series will be very relevant and hugely beneficial for Kiwi businesses, especially those with an eye on the future growth. “The big issue is around having an internationally recognised high quality hotel and conference facilities here in Tauranga, and it is something we hope will develop in the near future.” Another facility on the organisation’s wish list are new, visible and well positioned visitor centres. “We have live projects underway discussing this with the council, including one near the port at Salisbury Ave.” export market.” With support from regional hubs including Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, Export New Zealand Bay of Plenty and Waikato Innovation Park, the series has secured 12 speakers including ARANZ Medical CEO Dr Bruce Davey, New Zealand Mānuka Group CEO Karl Gradon, Gallagher Research and Development executive Rob Heebink and StretchSense CTO and co-founder, Todd Gisby. Top tips for capturing cruise tourist dollar Earlier this year Cruise New Zealand chairman Kevin O’Sullivan outlined to Tourism Bay of Plenty delegates some key hints to help local businesses attract the business of cruise tourists over the duration of their often short visits. • Put out a sign welcoming the specific ship that is in port that day. Cruise tourists comment that they enjoy the personal welcome here in the Bay of Plenty, one that makes it first equal for enjoyment, alongside Dunedin. • Keep flexible opening hours, recognising the variations in ship arrivals and departures will make visitors feel less stressed and time constrained. • Consider emphasising tax free and discount offers you can promote. • Make it as easy as possible to spend money, whether it is alternative currency, credit cards and other payment options. • Recommend things to do and see in the area that are easy to get to. • Know how to guide people back to their ship with easily understood instructions, helping take the stress out of worrying about missing the boat. THE SEMINAR SERIES Innovation is on the boardroom agenda like never before. Everyone is talking about it, but what is the point of innovation if you cannot transform it into sustainable commercial success? Join James & Wells, Innovation Council, ExportNZ Bay of Plenty and a host of Kiwi innovators as they travel the country sharing their stories on how they’ve turned their innovation into gold. With the spotlight on New Zealand’s changing innovation landscape, our panelists will share how to maximise innovation in today’s fragmented and challenging business world, successfully commercialise innovation and build channels to market. Tauranga Tuesday 15 November, 7.30am - 10.00am | ASB Baypark Stadium, 81 Truman Lane, Mount Maunganui
Page 1 and 2: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 VOLUME 1: ISS
Page 3: BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS October
Page 7 and 8: TAURANGA BUSINESS AWARDS BAY OF PLE
Page 9 and 10: TAURANGA BUSINESS AWARDS BAY OF PLE
Page 11 and 12: BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS October
Page 17 and 18: ROTORUA BUSINESS AWARDS BAY OF PLEN
Page 19 and 20: Coffee star back home making brilli
Page 21 and 22: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BAY OF PLENTY
Page 23 and 24: Bay of plenty First BAY OF PLENTY o

Bay of Plenty Business News October/November 2016

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?