Paparazzo
ATG gets together for seasonal celebration
The annual Aspire Travel Group lunch again attracted a mix of brokers and ATG team members, suppliers and other friends of the business. It was held at Park Hyatt Auckland, with cocktails at Captain’s Bar followed by three courses at Onemata restaurant.
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GTN eyes another good year
Global Travel Network (GTN) has had another ‘great year’ that represented a further period of growth, attendees at the group’s Christmas function on Tuesday heard.
Xmas catch-up with LATAM
LATAM connected with the trade (and reiterated increased direct capacity to Chile from Australasia) with a Christmas function at Maritime Room in Auckland on Tuesday.
Paula Macedo, Tai Scott, both CJ and Travel Brokers; Daniela Yepez; Jana Cunha, CJ & Travel Brokers; Alberto Chico Garcia, LATAM
Caroline King, Wendy Wu Tours; Nikki Rhodes, Travel Professionals; Sandy McLay, Manuka SA
Tara Sutherland, Viva Expeditions; Monica Sawant, Vanessa Parker, both House of Travel
Aurelie Schmidt, Brooker Travel Albany; Flavio Stadnik, GO Holidays; Mandy Herd, YOU Travel Orewa
Grant Bevin, ATPI ; Sebastian Vago, LATAM; Vanessa Traille, Auckland Airport
NZ-CA joint venture’s decade
Air New Zealand and Air China marked 10 years of their joint-venture (JV) and successfully flying between Beijing and Auckland at a function in The Cordis on Wednesday night.
Speakers were also keen to remind trade at the event that China’s visa-free policy has been extended for New Zealand travellers until the end of 2026.
Bowen Lin, Air China; Tony Zhang, Flight Centre; Sonia Francis, GTN; Rafa Sandoval, Flight Centre; Patricia Xu, Air New Zealand
Jenny Yan, Air China; Man Nghi Luong, Chong Zhang, both Aspire Travel Group
Grace Yang, Air New Zealand; Rochelle Meharry, Sonia Francis, Rebecca McHolm, GTN
Lisa Li, China Travel Services; Qiang Zhang, Air China; Jianwen Wang, China Culture Centre; Stu Jones, Air New Zealand
HoT CHC celebrates with suppliers
The 11 Christchurch-based House of Travel outlets got together last week to treat their local suppliers to a Christmas lunch at Hotel Montreal, in recognition of the collective hard work that went into creating a successful 2025.
The event was a chance to relax, connect and celebrate working together. Owner-operators from the 11 Christchurch stores were in attendance, as well as representatives from 12 suppliers, including Stuba, On the Go, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Air New Zealand, The Travel Corporation and Christchurch International Airport (CIAL).
The 28-degree day at the locally owned and operated Hotel Montreal was perfect for a three-course lunch, complete with Christmas truffles.
A special acknowledgement was made to Prue Dunbar, House of Travel regional marketing manager for the Christchurch region, for her passion and energy in delivering results for both suppliers and HoT.
‘We also wanted to recognise how special it is to operate collaboratively as a group of 11 outlets spread across the city. We don’t often get the chance to all come together and reflect on the wins, so it was a great opportunity to toast to the year that was, as well as the year ahead,’ says Dalwyn Sinclair, owner HoT Upper Riccarton.
Elaine Casey, Air New Zealand; Briar Nash, Christchurch International Airport; Jan Cox, Qantas
Megan McCall, HoT Christchurch City; Mel Hubber, HoT Ferrymead; Sarah Bright, HoT Northlink; Prue Dunbar, HoT Marketing; Jo Lill, On the Go
Sarah Crowe, HoT High St Lanes; Charlotte Page, Emirates; Harriett Kesterton, Allianz; Ian Duggan, Emirates
Jonathan Prager, HoT Rangiora; Ian Collier, Discover Travel; Dalwyn Sinclair, HoT Upper Riccarton
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World Travellers recognises partners, outlines future plans
World Travellers hosted a Supplier Appreciation Luncheon at the JW Marriott’s latest dining option, KURETA, last week to recognise preferred partners who have invested in the TVNZ Breakfast, Coast FM, ZB and The Breeze partnership for 2025.
The gathering underscored a shared commitment to growth and collaboration among both owners of the World Travellers stores and its supply partners.
Gordy Bayne, general manager of marketing at World Travellers, says store owners are focused on the brand’s collaborations. ‘It makes sense to celebrate not just our thriving relationships but also our ambitious strategy to become a trusted travel brand in New Zealand,’ he says.
He says last week’s event served as a platform to reflect on the achievements of the past two years, marked by an evolution in marketing strategies across television, radio, digital platforms, and a rapidly growing customer database through World Travellers’ e-newsletter.
World Travellers confirmed its commitment to continue the partnership with TVNZ Breakfast into 2026. Additionally, the WISH LIST campaign will return, launching in the first week of February 2026.
Alicia Riddell, Showponi; Davina Bennetto, World Journeys; Steve Parker, Viking; Paula Kerr, Singapore Airlines
At the World Travellers’ event in Kureta last week… Clare Jackson, Travel Suites; Chris Lethbridge, Emirates; Andrew Parke, Fuzion Travel
Nicola McLaren, World Travellers New Plymouth; Tania Stranks, Showponi; Gordon Bayne, World Travellers marketing
Paula Kerr, Singapore Airlines; Stu Mckay, Fuzion Travel; Angela Webber, Globus family of brands
Industry gets bowling
The SKAL Auckland industry bowls tournament, under the guiding hand of club member Sarah Porter and sponsorship from Delta Air Lines, saw more than 70 of the industry gather together to enjoy some fun in the sun.
There were new faces on the ‘podium’ this year, with Fab Florida Flamingos (a group of suppliers skippered by James Leslie) taking out first spot. The TIME to Bowl (captain Patricia Xu), group of TIME mentees took out second and the 360edge team, 360 Clovers (captain Jemma Vinsen) was third. Top scoring SKAL team was Steel Balls (captain Tim Butcher) – sometimes referred to as the Old Boys. Best dressed team was Fluro Florida Fannies (captain Tracey Brennan).
James Leslie, Air Canada; Sam Martin, Wendy Wu Tours; Jonas George, SKAL committee; Caroline King, Wendy Wu Tours; front :Trudy Cathcart, ANZCRO
Claire Coates, Sally Brasell, Roshan Kencalo, Jemma Vinsen, Shelley Richdale, all 360edge with Alison Hopkirk, Delta Air Lines
Alison Hopkirk of main sponsor Delta Air Lines and bowls organiser Sarah Porter, Niue Tourism/Wild Earth Travel
Fond farewell to Our Pacific star
By Faye Spooner
After a career spanning several decades (including 14 years with Our Pacific and earlier roles with ASPAC Vacations), Shelley Gutry was recognised at a special function at JW Marriott Hotel last night, ahead of her official retirement on 8 December.
A respected figure in the industry, she has played a pivotal role in shaping Our Pacific product and strengthening key partnerships. Friends and colleagues gathered to celebrate her achievements and to wish her all the best as she embarks on her next chapter.
Brittany Homan, Fiji Airways; Shelley Gutry, Jo Taylor, Our Pacific; Felicia Verma, Fiji Airways
Lauren Walker, Our Pacific; Sonya Lawson Tourism Fiji; Grant Sinclair, Air Tahiti Nui
Shelley Gutry, Our Pacific; Faama Viliamu, PMN Niue; Rick Felderhof, Our Pacific
Alyssa Field, SSC/BLC; Lindy Christian, Our Pacific and Wayne Deed, Musket Cove
Sharon Taylor, Travelholic; Mel Dearing, Our Pacific; Sonya Lawson, Tourism Fiji
Tourism Australia hosts two-day event
By Faye Spooner
Tourism Australia and state tourism organisations reinforced their relationships with the New Zealand travel trade during a two-day event in Auckland this week.
Highlights included a Virtuoso luxury dinner, workshops with updates from TA’s state tourism partners, and social networking at The Hotel Britomart.
Daniel Wright, distribution and partnerships manager, was joined by Chris Allison, regional general manager Americas and New Zealand for Tourism Australia. Now on his second visit here, Allison noted continuing opportunities to grow market share.
‘New Zealand is number one in visitor arrivals, with a 98% recovery on 2019 numbers, and fourth for total spend behind USA, China and the UK. We want to ensure we support increased airline capacity and continue to bring new products and reasons to travel to Australia.’
Allison says key metrics show a 16% year-on-year increase in spending for the 12 months to June 2025, with holiday travel rising 24% over the same period.
The event featured updates from Destination New South Wales, South Australian Tourism Commission, Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Tasmania, Tourism Western Australia, and Visit Victoria, highlighting current trends, collaborative marketing efforts, and campaigns. Aussie Specialist programme trainer, Veronica King also participated.
Tourism Australia confirmed that applications for ATE26 in Adelaide will open on 1 November 2025.
Cath McLeod, Karen McMahon, Tania Chatsinchai, and Ashleigh Teixeira, all Wanderlust Travel Experts
Rowena McCarron, Flight Centre; Melissa Brooks, Destination NSW
Tanya Casey, Air New Zealand; Rachel Dickey, Tourism and Events Queensland; Stacey Kerr, South Australian Tourism Commission, Sam Cameron, Destination NSW
Chris Allison, regional general manager Americas and New Zealand for Tourism Australia; Dan Wright and Veronica King, both Tourism Australia
Kim Beere, First Travel Group; Fynnola Campbell, First Travel Group; Tara Baxter, Helloworld; Kylie Crouch, First Travel Group
Stacey Kerr, South Australian Tourism Commission; Kate Wright Tourism Western Australia, Hayley Fraser, House of Travel
