Christchurch is still an excellent venue for a corporate event, as the Canterbury exhibitors at the upcoming exhibition Convene South will attest.

On September 3, the Air Force Museum in Wigram, Christchurch will open its doors to conference organisers from all over New Zealand to show them just what the Canterbury region has to offer.

‘It’s a great opportunity to showcase what’s available in Christchurch and around the region, as well as a broader look at the South Island,’ event manager Ally Eastaugh says.

The Hermitage Hotel in Aoraki Mt Cook Mackenzie region, where Convene South buyers will visit during one of three familiarisation tours

Convene South is a business-to-business exhibition aimed at professionals who organise events in the South Island.

The event runs from 9am to 4pm and entry is free.

Eastaugh says Convene South offers buyers the opportunity to arrange face-to-face appointments with exhibitors, including regional tourism bureaux representing local tour operators that may be less well known.

Buyers are able to schedule private appointments with exhibitors in advance if they wish.

While the majority of buyers will be from the Canterbury region, Convene South runs a ‘hosted buyer’ programme, to enable buyers from other parts of New Zealand to attend as ‘hosted’ guests.

Eastaugh says hosted buyers represent a good cross-section of different business sectors as well as professional conference organisers.

There will also be two educational seminars to discuss fresh opportunities in Christchurch and ways in which the city is moving forward.

As the first event of its kind for buyers in the South Island, Eastaugh says it is timely.

‘Interest has been overwhelming,’ she says. ‘Buyers and exhibitors have the same view: to get in and amongst what’s happening in the South Island.’

For more information or to register your interest, see convenesouth.co.nz or contact events manager Ally Eastaugh on +64 9 818 7807 or allyssa@promag.co.nz.

Singapore has retained its position as the leading meeting city and country in the world, according to the Union of International Associations (UIA) 2012 Global Rankings.

Singapore was named Top International Meeting Country for the second year running and Top International Meeting City for the sixth consecutive year, reinforcing its value proposition as a top choice international meeting destination.

The UIA ranking is the latest in a list of accolades that include being named Asia’s Top Convention City for the 11th consecutive year, by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Having hosted a record of 150 ICCA1 events in 2012, Singapore emerged as the only Asian city in the Top Ten Convention Cities in the world alongside other cities including Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona and London.

Mouth-watering dining options, world-class retail offerings, non-stop entertainment and unique experiences can all be enjoyed once the official business side is done,' says Kenneth Lim, Regional Director Oceania of the Singapore Tourism Board.

In addition to the 18 World Congresses held in Singapore in 2012, some events were held for the first time in Asia such as the 4^th International Congress of Zookeepers 2012, the International Conference on Next Generation Technologies for Bioenergy and Biomass Utilisation 2012, 33^rd Annual International Association of Technological University Libraries 2012 and the World Congress on Controversies in Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Infertility 2012.

In 2012, 952 of the meetings hosted in Singapore – almost ten per cent of UIA’s database – met the stipulated qualifying criteria.  This includes meetings that are organised or sponsored by international organisations or of significant international character.

Shed 10, on Auckland's Queens Wharf is now available as a cruise terminal and an events space. Auckland's mayor Len Brown and ATEED CEO, Brett O'Riley were on hand to showcase the $14.5 million refurbishment to around 100 leading cruise and tourism representatives yesterday and the final space impressed.

Len Brown spoke about the economic development of Auckland and the flow on effect from the number of cruise ship arrivals expected to berth over the coming season. 'The number of cruise ships arrivals has gone from 60 to 105. We want this number to reach 160 and it is possible. Cruise ship passengers spend around $116 million within the local economy, so economic flow on is huge.'

Brown reiterated that Shed 10 is a terminal to be proud of and all is needed is a seamless transition from when the cruise ships dock to to the passengers disembarking.

'Auckland has already won several international awards for its handling of cruise ships and as a destination for passengers. We are confident that this new terminal will help us to improve on that performance and encourage more ships to come to Auckland,' says Brown.

The first floor of Shed 10 will operate as a passenger lounge, while the ground floor will provide space for passenger luggae and security and border processing.

Shed 10 will operate as Auckland's primary cruise terminal from the start of the 2013/14 cruise season on October 11 with the arrival of Carnival Cruise's Sea Princess.

Crystal Morgan, Princess Cruises and Auckland Mayor Len Brown	Caroline Blanchfield, Christchurch & Canterbury Convention Bureau; Katerina Tiscenko, Aoraki Development and Geraldine Hutchison, Air NZ	Dominik Strobel, Corporate Explore; Debbie Summers, IDNZ and Jeroen Jongejans, Dive Tutukaka
Martin Snedden, Tourism Industry Association and Jeremy Palmer, IDNZ	Debbie Summers, IDNZ; Brett Jardine, Cruise Lines International Association and Roy Clare, Auckland War Memorial	Debbie Summers, IDNZ; Crystal Morgan, Princess Cruises and Geraldine Hutchison, Air NZ
	Left - Irwin Wilson, Far North Holdings; Mark Kinchley, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Gerard Murphy, Bon Voyage Cruises and Travel   Right - Finn Harris; Craig Harris, order of merit, who stepped down as chairman from the Cruise NZ Management Committee after 19 years; Geraldine Hutchison, Air NZ and Caroline Blanchfield, Christchurch & Canterbury Convention Bureau
	left - Flashback to Shed 10 before the work began...   right - And today
	Left - Pam Ford and Andy Higgs, ATEED   Right - Olivia Austin, ATEED and Renee Raimona, Whakarewarewa Thermal Village Tours

Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) and Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining how the two companies will work together in the promotion of international business events to New Zealand.

Tourism New Zealand’s general manager marketing communications Justin Watson says the organisation will invest $200,000 in CINZ’s existing marketing activities to enable greater reach and effectiveness of the work, and ensure all potential opportunities are developed.

'TNZ and CINZ have a longstanding relationship however with the increased focus from Tourism New Zealand on international business events as a way to attract higher value visitors it was timely to put some formal context around it.

'Previously, the targeting of resources has meant certain opportunities could not be leveraged and not all areas of the business events sector could be targeted.

'With this new MOU we can close those gaps and ensure all opportunities are captured.'

Chief executive of CINZ Alan Trotter says the increased coordination will significantly benefit New Zealand's economy as a whole.

'CINZ’s existing programme of work will be greatly enhanced by this agreement – we can draw on the strength of Tourism New Zealand’s destination marketing and they can leverage the knowledge and experience we have, having been active in the business events sector for 20 years.'

As part of the arrangement, the 100% Pure New Zealand – Beyond Convention campaign will be used in all marketing activities as the overarching destination message.

The two parties will work together to develop the annual trade show MEETINGS into a larger scale, international event, with a particular focus on attracting buyers from long-haul markets. They will also work more closely on the New Zealand presence at the AIME Melbourne tradeshow.

Additional business-to-business marketing activities will be rolled-out in offshore markets which will include activity such as international media hosting, trade familiarisations and special events.

In addition to the joint activity, Tourism New Zealand aims to significantly increase its efforts in the Australian market, with plans to recruit new staff to develop that market.

The MOU will be reviewed in one year with a view to continuing the collaboration for a further two years.

Two days of presentations and workshops, plus a small trade show and networking opportunities have made up the Eventing the Future 2013 conference held at Pullman Auckland on August 14 and 15.

Michele Mitchell, Ticket Direct; Haylee Mutch and Emma Guerin, both Venues Palmerston North;Janeen Still, Ticket Direct	Josh Dry, Showgizmo; Christina Dimock, JLT; Adam Leslie, Grafitti Events	Penny Newton, University of Auckland; David McIntosh, Auckland Council; Angie Kim, Universty of Auckland

Christchurch's new Transitional ‘cardboard’ Cathedral will make an attractive new venue for conference and event organisers, say the region's tourism leaders.

Transitional Cathedral

Tourism New Zealand is showcasing New Zealand to India this week, hosting key Indian travel industry leaders, with the aim to significantly grow visitor numbers in line with its emerging growth markets strategy.

Highlighting New Zealand’s high-end accommodation, restaurants and attractions, the week-long tour will explore both islands, visiting Parliament Buildings and Weta Workshop in Wellington, before heading to Christchurch, Queenstown, Milford Sound and Waiheke Island in Auckland.

India has been identified by Tourism New Zealand as an emerging market providing enormous opportunity for New Zealand, with its strong economy leading to a growth in personal spending and outbound travel.

Tourism New Zealand’s regional manager of South and South East Asia, Mischa Mannix-Opie, says the visit is part of Tourism New Zealand’s work to build both awareness and travel connections to New Zealand, to accelerate the growth of quality visitor arrivals.

'We see this famil as an opportunity to showcase New Zealand in a modern and refreshed way, to help ignite these industry leaders interest in developing new itineraries to sell destination New Zealand to their customers,' she says.

Malaysia Airlines have provided return business class seats for participants.

A bold plan to ignite growth and increase the economic returns from New Zealand’s $23.4 billion tourism industry will be launched at the 2013 TIA Summit, taking place at Te Papa, Wellington on October 1. Registrations for the Summit opened today at www.tianz.org.nz/main/2013_TIA_Summit

The one-day event will focus firmly on the future, following up on the challenge set by the Tourism Industry Association (TIA) at last year's summit, to take a 'Think Different' approach to industry issues and opportunities.

'As a direct result [of the challenge], we will be ready to launch Tourism 2025, a framework created by the industry, for the industry, providing tourism in New Zealand with a sense of how a cohesive industry can consistently operate successfully within a fast-changing and increasingly competitive global tourism market,' says TIA chief executive Martin Snedden.

TIA is working with both the private sector and public sector to develop this aspirational plan that aims to unite and inspire the industry to adapt and succeed. It has a firm focus on growth – yield, profitability and return on investment ­– and improved sector productivity, all underpinning a quality visitor experience.

A special TIA Dinner as part of the Summit will celebrate the launch of Tourism 2025, 60 years of TIA, and the PATA Young Tourism Leader and Sir Jack Newman Awards for 2013.

More than 100 conference and event businesses from the greater Wellington region are under the spotlights of the TSB Bank Arena today at the Show Me Wellington Expo. The event expects to attract around 600 event planners, including a group of 20 professional conference organisers that were part of a Wellington Rover tour, an interactive blood-making experience at the new Window into Workshop tour at Weta Cave, and lunch at Prefab, one of 110 eateries involved in Wellington on a Plate.

On top of the world, well on top of Mount Victoria lookout, are: Scott Courtney, Flat Earth New Zealand Experiences/Wellington Rover Tours with Rod Hearps, ICEF (QLD); Linda Mackay, No 9 Productions and Fiona Driver, Driven Events	Weta Workshop weapons technician, Kimmie Sowter, (front) picked the winning batch of fake blood created by the winning team of Julie Abbott, Groundwork; Stephen Noble, The Conference Company; Mike Connolly, Fire Protection Association of NZ Inc; Luana Walker, Core Education and Mark Ferguson, cievents	A giant troll at Weta Cave is no match for Adam Leslie, Grafitti Events
Weta Workshop painters Mark Dews and Matt Hopkins were hands-on guides in the interactive Window into Workshop tour	Luana Walker, Core Education; James Chatterley, Event Dinamics and Jan Tonkin, The Conference Company at Prefab	Highly Flammable's 'Mirrorman' and Logan Elliot catch up with local Wellington visitor Adam Slobbe of Creative Hospitality
Nina Symons-Rusbatch of Aviation Travel and Training Group is given the third degree by Ralph McCubbin-Howell and Pete Doile of The Improvisors, who are promoting their improv comedy and game shows plus murder mysteries characters	Lizzy Campbell and Martin Boland of Wellington Convention Bureau invite guests to pinpoint their favourite thing about Wellington - literally - with 'sunny day hangouts' proving the most popular	Phil Hildred of the Palmerston North Convention Bureau is the face (literally) of the city's affordability as a conference destination, on these cleverly created $1 notes. With his impressive origami skiils, Hildred can fold the notes into rugby shirts, a pointer to the New Zealand Rugby Museum situated in Palmerston North
David Marment and Alicia Rangi show off the cookies freshly baked at Terrace Conference Centre, a popular venue for government meetings of up to 90 people	Louise Allan, Marlborough Convention Centre and Mel Galt, Scenic Hotels are handing out some tasty Marlborough wines	Fuse Circus & The Golden Carnies are entertaining Show Me Wellington visitors, every half hour in fact

Convene South is on at the Air Force Museum, Wigram in Christchurch on Tuesday September 3. Local Cantabrian event organisers and 47 hosted buyers from around New Zealand will be meeting face to face with around 80 South Island exhibitors.

Nearly 30 of the hosted buyers experienced two and three day familiarisation experiences, taking in Hanmer Springs, Mid Canterbury and Aoraki Mount Cook Mackenzie. At the conclusion of the famils, they were able to network with fellow buyers and exhibitors at the welcome reception, hosted by Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square. See more photos of the famil activities here.

Epic Entertainment adds a bit of pizazz to the show	Christchurch & Canterbury Convention Bureau stand	Karen Hamilton and Vicky Hunwick of 360 Degree Events can offer event management services
Claire Webber informs buyer of Event Solutions' gadgets	Laura Blade, WAT Events and Catherine Lee, Vbase	Hosted buyer Vilma Austria of 2Degrees (AKL) was pictured in The Press enjoying a Bularangi Harley Davidson ride during a Mid Canterbury famil. She is pictured with Caroline Blanchfield of Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau (right)
Joy Mehlhopt and Kelly Taylor, Conference Innovators; Catherine Lee, VBase and Anna McWhirter, Conference Innovators	Morning tea is served - John Mackenzie, Enthuse Events & Entertainment serves Suz Baker and Alex Kerr, Eventionz	Meredith Drucker, The Events Group with Melissa Haberfield, Red Notebook Events & Marketing
	<<< Emily Bryrne, HRINZ, Jane Sproat, Auaha Event & Conference Management; Jaya Gibson, Outdoors New Zealand; Chris Foubister, Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square; Sarah Siebert, Massey University and Claire Webber, Event Solutions   >>>Sarah McDonald, Scenic Hotels Dunedin; Invercargill Convention Bureau; Brian Fairchild, NZ Sign & Display Assn and Sally Boult, Events 4 U
	<<< Laura Blade, WAT Events; Samantha Dick, cieevents and Sapphire Kelly, Summit Real Estate   >>> Jaya Gibson, Outdoors New Zealand; Courtney King, CCCB; Richard Mills, Showpro and Suzanne Carson, Events & Wedding Professionals

This way to Air Force Museum...	All signs point to Convene South...even the trees in Christchurch are getting in to the spirit of the event	Plenty more where that wine came from...Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square will be hosting tonight's welcome reception for Convene South buyers and exhibitors

Cubes and fighter jets - all part of the set up at Air Force Museum	Goodie bags for delegates	Tim Laing of Displayworks sets up the stands

The opening of four central city hotels in August and September will boost Christchurch's accommodation capacity by 25 per cent, with additional rooms bringing the city's 'room stock' up to approximately 68% of pre-quake levels.

Novotel Christchurch, Heritage Cathedral Square, Quest Apartments and Hotel 115 all opened in August, adding 300 new guest rooms to the central city’s inventory.

Latimer Hotel, a brand new build with 136 rooms and conference facilities and managed by Rydges group, will open in October boosting the city’s new room numbers to over 430. They join Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch, which opened in May with 171 rooms.

Closer to the airport, Copthorne Hotel Commodore has this year added 25 new guest rooms and suites and Airport Gateway Lodge has just opened 32 new boutique suites.

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism (CCT) chief executive Tim Hunter says the hotel openings signal progress for the region’s tourism sector.

'This month marks an exciting milestone in our goal to bring business, leisure and conference visitors back to Christchurch,' says Hunter.

'We now have the capacity to host many more international and domestic visitors and we’re rolling out the welcome mat.'

Mr Hunter says confirmation that the new Convention Centre will open in the first quarter of 2017 should give other hotel investors the confidence to proceed with their proposed developments.

'Now that we have certainty around the rebuild of the new convention centre, hotel investors will be able to move forward with much more confidence,' he says.

New hospitality venues are also on the rise. More than 794 cafes, restaurants and bars are now open in the city, with 12 high-profile openings in the last three months. University of Canterbury research shows hospitality outlets are now at more than 80% of pre-quake levels.

'Not only do we have more brand new accommodation, we also have many new restaurants and bars with some of the country’s best chefs.

'And wow factor venues like the Cardboard Cathedral are really exciting visitors, who want to see more of our progress first hand,' Mr Hunter says.

Christchurch’s iconic tourist attractions are also making a welcome comeback, with the Gondola recently reopening, and both the heritage Tramway and Arts Centre Market Square scheduled for an October return.

New hotel capacity will meet accommodation demand from visitors attracted to large events happening in Christchurch this spring, he says.

'New Zealand Cup and Show Week, the country's largest spring festival, is just around the corner with nine days of racing, rural fun and style in November. This year we are celebrating the 150th running of the New Zealand Cup at Riccarton, as well as featuring new fashion and entertainment events throughout the city.

'Before then we have a feast of creative events with the Christchurch Arts Festival and SCAPE Biennial public art installations, the Festival of Transitional Architecture (FESTA), which drew huge crowds last year, and the Body Festival, an annual festival of performance and dance'

SKYCITY Entertainment Group Limited has entered into a binding agreement to purchase 85 and 91 Hobson Street from TVNZ for NZ$10.6 million, in preparation for the construction of the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC).

These sites are adjacent to land already owned by SKYCITY in its central Auckland location and will enhance the design and operational flexibility of the $402 million NZICC, which will be designed, built, owned and operated by SKYCITY.

Alan Trotter's last report to a Conventions & Incentives New Zealand AGM, the election of two new board members and a keynote address by Student Volunteer Army founder Sam Johnson were among the highlights of the first day of business at the CINZ conference. Delegates then enjoyed a lunch at Rutherford Hotel, Nelson before heading in a variety of directions for networking activities that ranged from a kayak adventure, to a cooking class at Petite Fleur Vineyard and a brewery and art tour.

Who is on the art and wine tour? Meredith Drucker, The Events Group Ltd; Claudio Ruegger, attending the conference as a partner; Angela Hunter, Nelson Tasman Tourism; Nicola Harris, ASB Showgrounds	It's a hard job, but someone has to do it… Paul Hailes, CINZ; Eugene Fraser, Peek Exhibition at Stoke Brewery during the art and brewery tour	We're ready to go… adventurers Amanda Dowling, Venture Southland; Janet Matheson, Conferences & Events Ltd; Janine Daniel, Stamford Plaza Auckland; Nikki Buckley, Invercargill Licensing Trust, Shelley Tomkins, Auckland Museum, Tamaki Paenga Hira.
MC Greg Ward in full swing	Keynote speaker Sam Johnson, Student Volunteer Army	At morning tea - Lynda Keene, Nelson Tasman Tourism; Tony Howlett, Heritage Hotel Management; Shayne Forrest, and Henry Horne,  Hobbiton Movie Set;
The conference welcome function was held at The Boathouse, Nelson. Cheers… Dinna Sansalvador, Corporate Explore; and Kim Algie, Alexandra Park enjoy a welcome glass of bubbly	Michael Stokoe, Tourism New Zealand; Jim Little, Tourism West Coast; Paul Hailes, CINZ	David Doughty, Urban Gourmet; Tom Coleman, IML; Tom Foden, Vidcom NZ
Eugene Fraser, Peek Exhibition; Amanda Dowling, Venture Southland	Shelley Tomkins, Auckland Museum - Tamaki Paenga Hira; Anne Doughty, Urban Gourmet	Raewyn Tse, Positively Wellington Venues; Marie-Claire Andrews, ShowGizmo; Michelle Kirkpatrick, Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park Wairarapa

Dominique Dowding, of Alexandra Park Function Centre has been elected to the CINZ board to represent gold members. A second silver member has also been elected - Sarah Siebert, of Massey University. This followed a vote on whether CINZ should add a second silver board member - a resolution that was passed 92% to 2%.

The EEAA rose above the sultry Sydney spring weather and turned on a warm welcome for its EEAA 2013 conference welcome function to an unprecedented 154 strong delegates who were welcomed at the Darling Harbour's Dockside venue. The highlight was a cruise around the harbour to take in the array of waterfront venues on offer including the impressive Sydney Exhibition Centre due to host its first exhibition in February 2014 (Reed Gift Fair). Captain Cook Cruises won the tender to provide free, special event ferry services from Darling Harbour.

Gavin White, Northport Events, Eugene Fraser, Peek Displays, Claire Webber, Event Solutions, Donna White, Northport Events at the cocktail function

Gavin White, North Port Events, Claire Webber, Event Solutions, Donna White, North Port Events	Domenic Genua, EEAA President, Malu Barrios, Sydney Exhibition Centre@Glebe Island, Joyce DiMascio, EEAA chief executive	Joyce DiMascio delivering her welcome speech to the delegation in Sydney

It was a great night for New Zealand at the Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) Awards in Sydney last night. eventSuite V2 was named best new product or service and BuildNZ/Designex won the best trade show under 1000 square metres.

Claire Webber of Event Solutions NZ (which created the eventSuite V2 product) was presented the award by Neil Kafer, general manager of Diversified Exhibitions Australia	Brent Spillane (left) was presented the award during the ceremony in Sydney by Eden Fridman, chief executive officer of Expo Direct

New Zealand and Australia are in the right place at the right time as far as international conferences and tourism in general are concerned, Air New Zealand’s deputy chief executive officer Norm Thompson has told the Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) Association Conference in Melbourne.

‘Historically here down under we’ve seen our geographical location as a disadvantage. Nothing could now be further from the truth.’

Thompson says there is a ‘truly generational shift’ from the Atlantic to the Pacific. ‘We are in a great position and perfectly located to access the rising middle class across the Pacific Rim – be it the Americas, Asia or Australasia.’

Norm Thompson, Air New Zealand CEO, speaking at the 2013 PCO Conference November 28

The Asia Pacific meetings sector is heading for a year of consolidation, with organisations looking to decrease spend on their business events in 2014, the Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) Association has heard.

Belinda Doery, American Express Meetings & Events, says the approval process for meetings is gaining complexity, as organisations look at consolidating meetings and events for potential cost savings.

The American Express 2014 Global Meetings Forecast indicates that volumes (the number of meetings) in Asia Pacific will decrease by 1.2% and pax (delegate numbers) will show a 2.4% decline. Disturbingly, for an industry already on tight deadlines, the forecast predicts a 3.1% decrease in lead time. A spending decrease of 3.6% is expected.

‘It’s not all bad news. The decrease in pax, for example, could just be that people are getting a lot smarter at an organisational level. And the spend is going down, but in part this is due to a move away from luxury hotels to mid-tier properties. It is actually a re-allocation of spend.’

The PCO Association is at the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park, November 28 – 30.

Belinda Doery, American Express Meetings & Events,

Explore NZ has launched a new look under the inclusive brand Explore Group, bring all of the company's operations under the same brand family. With operations in both Sydney and Hamilton Island in Australia, in addition to Auckland and the Bay of Islands in New Zealand, the new group brand will spread the seasonality of the operations, according to Explore Group CEO Kit Nixon. 'With most of the products being seasonal activities, working with the group focus across the locations will prove a great means of cross utilising staff and knowledge at peak times,' explains Nixon. The brand development process also gave birth to a new logo and tagline - Unique Experiences in Amazing Places. Six sub-brands sit within the group - Explore Sailing, Explore Marine Wildlife, Explore Amazing Places, Explore Diving and Explore Cruising. The sixth, Explore Events, replaces the Corporate Explore brand for the exclusive charters and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events).

Explore's founder and managing director William Goodfellow is the driving force behind Explore NZ's evolution from a one boat operation in 2001 to a multi-million dollar Australasian organisation in 2013. He sees the move as a great platform for future development. 'It's an exciting move to the group approach as it strengthens the synergies between operations and allows us to sensibly grow the whole business.' With trade launch events to introduce the brand to New Zealand trade partners last week, new livery on all Explore vessels, new uniform for staff and new season brochures appeared on December 1. A new website is user friendly and functional and includes all group operations across the two countries. Launch dates will follow in Sydney and Hamilton Island in the coming months. << Team Explore at the Auckland brand reveal last week are, from left, Dominic Strobel, Perry Hobson, Lucy Wang, Raynor Haagh, Jessica Rice, Hiro Hoshina, Alyson Curran, Dinna Sansalvador, Tania Burt, Aimee Jones, Kit Nixon and William Goodfellow

MD William Goodfellow admits that this year has been a busy one, with the rebrand, and the focus on Australia. Complementing the Sydney Harbour experience, the Hamilton Island operation is a joint venture with local operator Cruise Indigo which will become part of the Explore Group. 'We're offering day sailing, diving, eco-trips to amazing places and dinner cruises,' explains Goodfellow. 'We chose Hamilton Island because of its strong brand. We see an opportunity to increase the overall group business as well as further developing the range of experiences.'

Sam Allen, Skydive Auckland; Alyson Curran, Explore; Amy Armstrong, Kelly Tarltons and Helen Silvey, Ezitravel	Dinna Sansalvador, Explore (centre) with Heritage Hotel Management's Sherylee Eyles and Shelley Eastwood	Ana Guerrero, Pacific Desintationz; Geraldine Hutchison, Air New Zealand and Gillian Officer, SKYCITY Convention Centre
Cyril Brace, Austin's Food Design Events; Maxine Wallis SKYCITY Convention Centre and Micheal Stokoe, Tourism New Zealand	John Gregory, Pan Pacific Travel; William Goodfellow, Explore and Suzanne Davie, Pan Pacific Travel	Steve Lafferty, Musto Clothing; Adam Taylor, Auckland Museum
Lisa Harris, AOT (NZ) Ltd; Chris Richard, General Travel NZ and Laskarina Chaldeakis, AOT (NZ) Ltd	Mike Tohill, Naked Bus; Dominic Strobel, Explore and Steve Lafferty, Musto Clothing	Explore's refreshed branding with tagline