Island Hotels Group has appointed Heather Gordon to the new position of director of sales and marketing for its Cook Island properties Edgewater Resort & Spa and Club Raro.

Based in Auckland, Gordon will oversee the resorts’ sales and marketing activities including conference and incentive, special interest groups, wholesale and leisure.

Cook Islands Tourism is highlighting one of Rarotonga’s newest resorts to the trade in New Zealand.

Ocean Escape Resort, an adults-only resort with 12 villas, opened in May when the ‘bubble’ between AKL and RAR began. However, feedback indicates that many agents are still not aware of the property.

A major feature of Ocean Escape is its lagoon fed pool, where guests can swim with tropical fish. It also has a poolside cabana and a social barbecue area, plus a beach front lounge from which people can whale watch in season.

Over the past 12 months an extensive refurbishment programme at Rarotonga’s Manuia Beach Resort has included new kikau style roofing, retiling of the infinity pool (which features as the last shot of the sunset on the currently running Cook Islands television commercials), and new Balinese style furniture in all rooms. New lighting and landscaping has been undertaken, the drainage has been upgraded and the rooms have been painted inside and out.

The resort also has a new general manager – Ross McLauchlan. McLauchlan was most recently manager of the Alcamo in Hamilton. He has been involved with Rarotonga for over a decade after being appointed head judge for the inaugural Air New Zealand Tourism Awards in 2009, and again in 2011 and 2013. He also recruited New Zealand staff for the Cook Island Accreditation programme from its inception, and later became an accreditor.

Cook Islands Tourism is hosting a Cook Islands Trade Expo featuring Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu and their sister islands, on Monday 5 July 2021 at the Hilton Auckland. Travel professionals will have the flexibility to attend the expo anytime that is convenient for them between 10am and 8pm. Destination presentations will take place at 11.30am, 2.00pm, 4.00pm and 6.00pm.

Turama Pacific Travel Group has launched a Premium Collection, highlighting high end product and new exclusive travel experiences.
Robert Skews, managing director, says the collection reintroduces The Coral Route Experience for modern day travellers, utilising Air Rarotonga’s Pacific private jet.

The Islander Hotel, Rarotonga, has added an extra weekly Island Night. From 6 October the Islander Hotel will feature two weekly Island Nights, Tuesday & Saturdays.

The opening of 16 new rooms in Rarotonga in August has met with favourable feedback from the Kiwi travel trade and will help ease some pressure on accommodation as late winter bookings come in for the island destination.