A look at the work in progress

at THL’s newest attraction

One of the most challenging

constructions ever to take place in

New Zealand is moving full steam

ahead at Tourism Holdings Limited’s

Ruakuri project at Waitomo.

Work on establishing a new spiral

entranceway to the legendary cave

system and new walkways began

during the winter months this year

and the ‘spiritual journey’ that will be

the Ruakuri experience is scheduled to

be opened in the first half of 2005.

The massive underground

construction project is being overseen

by THL’s Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Operations Manager Robert Tahi and

consultant John Ash, who is also

directing the ‘spiritual journey’ theme

that will be created in the cave. John

has a comprehensive knowledge of

the cave systems at Waitomo and was

one of the owners of The Legendary

Blackwater Rafting Co., which THL

acquired last year at the same time

it purchased the licence to re-open

Ruakuri from the landowners, the

Holden family.

Local Iwi are heavily involved in

assisting THL to craft the Ruakuri

experience. As Pinnacle was going

to press, John was able to share

the schematic (pictured right)w as

an indication of the theme being

developed.

He explains: “The centre image is an

architectural concept sketch of the

entrance shaft, which will be the scene-

setter for the spiritual journey that

will be the Ruakuri expereince. The

left hand graphic is a representation

of the scientific karst-cave process

showing the inter-relationship between

water, forest and limestone. The right

hand column contains the three Maori

elements from myth and legend that

can be married to this karst-cave

process, Rangi the Sky Father, Tane

God of the Forest and Papatuanuku the

Earth Mother”.

Some parts of the development have

gone faster than expected while

other facets have seen nature at its

unpredictable best and, all the way

through the project, work must

observe the understandably rigid

requirements of the Department

of Conservation concessions and

Environment Waikato resource

consents (the most complex the

organisation has ever issued).

Work at Ruakuri is being carried out

by a number of national and local

contractors, with input from half a

dozen or more of THL’s operations

and guiding staff, including personnel

from The Legendary Black Water

Rafting Co.

Ruakuri – the crafting of a ‘spiritual journey’

Richard Wilson, General Manager of THL’s multi-faceted Experiences division, was bid a fond farewell at a function attended by many

staff at the end of November. Richard, who commuted from his home in Christchurch to Auckland during his time as GM, has made

the decision to take up a position in the Garden City, which will allow him to spend more time there with his young family. He spent

a total of 13 years with Mount Cook Line and THL and was highly valued for his energy, diligence and thought provoking approach.

THL wishes him well in his new job with Gough, Gough & Hammer in Christchurch.

Avalon Industrial Services workers installing suspended walkways in the cave.

A bird’s eye view of construction in the entrance way to Ruakuri.

Adrenalin could well be retiring

Tourism Holdings Limited Director

Don Spary’s middle name.

A Founding Director of The Helicopter

Line – one of the three companies that

became THL – Don has a life-long

reputation for seeking adventure.

Soon after he arrived in New Zealand

in the 1970s from his native England,

Don was at the controls of helicopters

carrying out deer recovery work on

the rugged Fiordland and West Coast

areas of the South Island. This led to

him being one of the first to develop

scenic helicopter operations and

heli-skiing in the region. In THL’s

early years, as the local Director, he

was involved in the Treble Cone Ski

Area, jet boating and rafting and the

adventure tourism combinations that

thrill seeking visitors relish today. He

also instigated the production of the

perennially popular Kiwi Magic movie

and the construction of the Showscan

Theatre complex.

As a fan of historic aircraft, Don

is Chairman of Trustees for the

celebrated New Zealand Fighter Pilots

Museum Charitable Foundation at

Wanaka and an avid supporter of the

biennial Warbirds Over Wanaka. The

air show is, among other enterprises,

operated by the Alpine Deer Group, a

company that he Chairs and is owned

by Sir Tim Wallis, his long-time friend

and business associate from The

Helicopter Line days.

Over the years Mr Spary’s extensive

knowledge of aviation and tourism has

contributed significantly to the growth

and success of THL. The Board and

Management wish him and his wife

Jan the very best for the future.

Don Spary retires

Milford Sound Red Boat Cruises has

given a $1 million facelift to one of its

vessels in time for the peak summer

season visitors to Milford Sound. The

26 metre steel catamaran, Lady Stirling

has been significantly modernised and

is now known as the Spirit of Milford.

Operations Manager John Robson said

every aspect of the refurbishment had

the customer top of mind.

“We are dedicated to providing

customers with the best experience

every time and this refit, which

incorporates recommendations made

by our staff who work on the boat,

is very much part of delivering that

promise,” he said.

The refurbishment includes larger

windows to capitalise on the unique

features of the spectacular natural

scenery of Milford Sound. Passenger

cabins now feature a modern décor, and

all service areas have been upgraded.

$1M facelift brings new Spirit to Milford Sound Red Boats

www.discovernewzealand.com offers company-wide product range

Tourism Holdings Limited (THL) has

established a website that brings the

company’s full New Zealand travel

product range under a single URL

– www.discovernewzealand.com

The website is part of THL’s company-

wide commitment to providing a

better experience every time for

industry clients and for the consumers

who prefer direct contact.

Previously the travel industry

and consumers wanting to access

information online about THL’s

products had to visit a variety of

individual websites for each brand.

The new URL makes it a lot easier to

find information about what there is

to see and do in New Zealand and to

more efficiently plan an itinerary.

The existing brand websites continue

and, as they do, the new URL also

permits visitors to the site to make

bookings via an email based system

that is handled by THL’s Contact

Centre reservations staff.

Kelly Tarlton’s stars in hit OceanZoo TV series

Five Tourism Holdings Limited

employees more accustomed to

swimming with sharks, feeding

stingrays and caring for penguins

are television stars in the new reality

series that screens on TV 2 (Sundays

at 7pm) in New Zealand and will

shortly screen in Australia.

The series is OceanZoo and the

“stars” are the marine biologists,

animal husbandry experts and

marine educators at Kelly Tarlton’s

Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World.

Kelly Tarlton’s shares the limelight on the show

with Melbourne Aquarium and Underwater World

in Mooloolaba, Queensland.

Picture: Kelly Tarlton’s OceanZoo stars (from left)

Vicki Lorenzen, James Thomas, Rochelle Deane,

Andrew Christie and

Dan Godoy.

Fond farewell to Richard Wilson

The adventure travel network,

Kiwi Experience, is the latest in the

Tourism Holdings Limited stable of

companies to be given the thumbs

up by the Qualmark™ quality

assurance programme that identifies

New Zealand’s professional and

trustworthy tourism operations.

The company’s Group General

Manager, Michael Whybro, said Kiwi

Experience was delighted to get the

Qualmark say-so.

“This endorsement is a rave review

for all the

people here

who go the

extra mile to

ensure our

passengers have

a memorable

visit for all the right reasons. In

particular, it’s a great accolade

our driver/guides who are real

characters and go through a

rigorous training programme.”

Kiwi Experience is celebrating

its 15th birthday this year.

Kiwi Experience Gets Thumbs Up

Tourism Holdings Limited (THL)

has re-branded its group travel

operation as Discover New Zealand

Groups, specialising in group travel

arrangements for corporates seeking

THE place to reward personnel,

stage special meetings, attend fun

events or simply get out of town for

a round of golf or a spot of fishing.

As part of THL, Discover New

Zealand has unsurpassed buying

power nationwide and strong

alliances with other tourism

operators around the country.

It is a ‘one stop shop’ for an

enormous range of travel options,

and can tailor just about any

travel programme, ensuring a great

experience every time, no matter the

group’s interests or budget.

THL re-brands Groups Division

Celebrate! A successful market

brand for THL in overseas markets

is Newmans and to celebrate its

125th anniversary a dinner was

held in London in association

with APT. Pictured are (from left)

Leanne Lengton, Regional Manager

UK, with APT’s Regional Director

Gary Bartelings, plus Rachel Wood

and Frances Blair, of Travel 2.

THL’s fun alternative backpacker

transport operation, Kiwi Experience,

has launched its own campervan

brand – My Pod, short for ‘my

platform of discovery’!

There are three types of fully equipped

campervans available, priced from $95

per day in the peak season and $39 in

winter. They come with a God Pod

travel guide written by driver/guides

Andy Parker and Jim the Eagle to

ensure customers the best possible

travel experience during their precious

time in Godszone. Accompanying

the God Pod is the Pod Discount

Card travellers use to earn Pod Points

to obtain discounts and Pod Prizes.

www.mypod.co.nz

Kiwi Experience launches MyPod campervans

Boy racers step aside, there’s a new and

seriously modified vehicle claiming

attention on Auckland’s streets. It’s a

Ford Transit van that is literally shrink

wrapped to depict a swirling undersea

scene and topped off with life-like

penguins and a bronze whaler shark

with a mouthful of sharp teeth.

The van is the free shuttle bus

that transfers visitors from the

central business district out along

Tamaki Drive to the popular Kelly

Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and

Underwater World.

Kelly Tarlton’s takes to the streets

Forget the two front teeth wished

for in the childhood Christmas

chant. All Andrew Baker wants for

Christmas is Stingray Bay!

Andrew is Operations Manager at

Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter

and Underwater World, and, as

Pinnacle was going to press, his wish

– and that of Kelly Tarlton’s dedicated

staff – was about to be granted.

Stingray Bay, which shows off Kelly

Tarlton’s stingrays to best advantage

in a giant 350,000 litre open topped

acrylic tank, will open two days

before Christmas and in plenty

of time for the iconic Auckland

attraction’s 20th anniversary in

January 2005.

As well as allowing visitors to view

these remarkable winged marine

creatures at close quarters, there will

be opportunities to learn more about

the stingrays from Kelly Tarlton’s

personnel as they hand feed them.

The Stingray Bay development also

includes an interactive area for

children, plus seating in front of large

picture windows offering views over

Okahu Bay. Added to this, there

is a coffee kiosk and new restroom

facilities.

Stingray Bay is stage two of the

$12 million redevelopment at Kelly

Tarlton’s which earlier this year saw

the commissioning of a state-of-the-

art filtration system. The next two

stages will feature further interaction

opportunities for visitors, including a

new shark tank which will show off

these denizens of the deep to greater

effect and allow for better viewing of

their feeding time. A reconfiguration

of the Antarctic Encounter will also

allow better viewing of the King and

Gentoo penguins and their chicks.

Added to this, the smaller aquarium

displays will be converted into full

height tanks and there will be zones

where functions, such as cocktail

receptions and seminars can be held.

Andrew outlines some of the facts of

the redevelopment thus far…

• 800 cubic meters of material has

been taken out – old sewage tank

walls, silt and sand, etc – and 350

cubic meters of concrete put back

in to reshape the attraction

• All work to date has been carried

out while Tamaki Drive traffic

passes overhead, with no closures

of the busy road required

• The superior filtration provided by

the new plant has generated such

a change to water quality that the

aquarium’s water is now a blue

shade, making it look more like

tropical water

• At high tide the bottom of the sea

windows in the Stingray Bay area

will be awash with sea water; the

acrylic used for the windows is left

over from Kelly Tarlton’s original

build in 1985 .

Stingray Bay – a Christmas gift for Auckland city!

Of course Auckland’s weather was wild the day the Stingray Bay tank was trial filled with sea water from Okahu Bay! Our picture shows Myles Farmer (left) and Andrew (AJ) Christie man-handling the suction pump at the foot of the sea wall running along the perimeter of Kelly Tarlton’s. Following the trial fill, the water was drained out and the tank refilled prior to filtration starting and the stingrays being introduced.

Times – and experiences

– they are a-changing for

independent travellers/

backpackers and doesn’t

Tourism Holdings

Limited’s Oz Experience

operation know it!

These days backpackers

want a challenging

experience they can brag

about. They want to push

the boundaries and get

up close with the REAL

Australia.

Oz Experience is in the

process of ‘re-birth’ so that

it offers challenging and

inspiring experiences,

as the Kiwi and Feejee

Experience operations do.

From April, Oz

Experience will offer

independent travellers:

• More high impact,

uniquely Australian

experiences

• Increased number of overnight

stops between Melbourne, Sydney

and Cairns so that driving time

is reduced and there are more

opportunities to hop off the bus

and experience the real Australia

• Minimum day itineraries so

they can make their trip more

of a tour experience should they

prefer this.

The adventures that passengers can

now expect from Oz Experience

range from the adrenalin pumped

and demanding through to unique

cultural activities. Possibilities

include sand-boarding down giant

dunes, surf lessons, mountain

biking, trekking up Mt Warning,

making digeridoos and even

jumping on some scooters to

search for kangaroos in the Outback.

And that’s just to name a few!

To give passengers and the industry

a taste of what’s to come, Oz

Experience will launch its new

flagship Blue Mountains day trip just

before Christmas. Quite simply, it will

be unmatched by competitors!

Also in the New Year the Oz, Kiwi

and Feejee Experiences operations

will have a new branding look and

feel designed to appeal to savvy

independent travellers.

It’s a whole new experience for Oz

Get off the Oz Experience bus and into the real Australia – passengers take a close up look at Katoomba Falls in the Blue Mountains.

D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 4 E D I T I O N

Multi award winning tourism operation joins THL group

Warm Welcome for Fullers Bay of Islands

Tourism Holdings Limited

(THL) has acquired the highly

successful tourism business

of Fullers Bay of Islands from

Marine Tourism Holdings

group, which is owned by three

entrepreneurs who have been

a major force in shaping the

tourism sector in the Northland

region of New Zealand – Chris

Jacobs, Roger Dold and Peter

Murphy.

Fullers, based in Paihia, is one of

New Zealand’s foremost tourism

companies and shares the same

superior levels of service THL prides

itself in offering international visitors

and domestic travellers.

Fullers operates two top-flight brands

– Fullers Bay of Islands and Awesome

Adventures – and won the Supreme

and Distinction awards in the New

Zealand Tourism Awards 2000/2001

and the ITOC Operator of the Year

2003.

In announcing the Fullers acquisition

at the THL annual meeting, Managing

Director Dennis Pickup said that

Fullers was a great fit with THL’s

existing brands and operations.

“THL and Fullers have the benefit

of a long standing and rewarding

business association through the

Leading Attractions alliance and the

close partnership that has seen THL

operations of Johnston’s Coachlines,

Great Sights coach touring, Kiwi

Experience, Maui motorhome

and Britz campervan and rental

car operations feed into Fullers’

products.”

The acquisition sees all existing

Fullers staff (above right) retained

under the current Chief Executive

Kit Nixon. Kit will report directly to

Dennis Pickup.

Chris, Roger and Peter will continue

to operate the Marine Tourism

Holdings Fiji and Whitsundays cruise

businesses.

About Fullers Bay of Islands

Fullers began welcoming visitors to

the Bay of Islands and Northland

regions of New Zealand way back

in 1886 and today continues the

tradition of fine service aboard a

modern fleet of vessels and coaches.

Fullers Cruises at a glance • The Cape Brett-Hole in the

Rock Cruise

• The Cream Trip Supercruise

• Dolphin Adventures

• Nautlis Subsea Adventure

• The Excitor Hole in the Rock Adventure.

Fullers Tours at a glance• Cape Reinga Wanderer via 90

Mile Beach

• Russell Mini Tour

• Kerikeri & Craft Tour

• Bay Belle passenger ferry linking Paihia with Russell and the vehicle ferry services between Opua and Okiato Point.

As we step forward into a year

that looks wonderfully positive,

all of us at Tourism Holdings

Limited can look back on

12 months of high achievement and

excellent growth for tourism in the

South Pacific region.

Whilst our businesses in New

Zealand, Australia and Fiji confront

unique challenges, generally, for

the past two years the tourism

environment has been relatively free

of the negative impacts of world

events. The reality is that terrorism,

Middle-East wars and SARS have

made “Down Under” even more

appealing. We are a long way from

most of the world’s trouble spots and

our isolation is, in fact, a positive for

most of our international visitors.

Increasingly, the world is appreciating

what our region has to offer and

the social qualities that make our

countries a great place to live and

work in and to visit

In New Zealand, Australia and Fiji

tourism is #1 in economic growth,

employment and export earnings.

THL is capitalising on this positive

growth in acquiring three new

businesses in the past four months.

The acquisitions of Hertz Australia

(September), Cruise New Zealand

(October) motorhome rental fleets

has been followed by the acquisition

on December 1, 2004 of Fullers Bay

of Islands. A special welcome to Kit

Nixon, CEO, and the staff of Fullers.

Fullers Bay of Islands, incorporating

Awesome Adventures, has grown

in recent years to become one

of New Zealand’s outstanding

tourism successes. The businesses,

management and staff are well known

to us, particularly through our

Sales & Marketing teams with New

Zealand Leading Attractions and our

Coaching operations of Johnston’s,

Great Sights and Kiwi Experience.

THL will continue to grow, both by

increasing investment in our existing

businesses, as well as by acquisition.

This will enable our people greater

employment and career opportunities.

Whilst we will always seek to

recruit and employ the best people,

I firmly believe that just as Our Best

Customer is Our Existing Customer,

The Best Employees are Our Existing

Employees.

At this hectic time of the year, as we

enjoy the high summer season and

associated increased patronage, whilst

balancing our family and social lives,

I am reminded of Confucius (or was

it Tiger Woods) when he said “Life is

like a game of golf. Play one hole at

a time”.

Whilst ensuring our customers have a

Great Experience Every Time, please

also ensure that you take time out to

enjoy the company of your family,

friends and R&R pursuits over the

summer months.

Best Wishes and Cheers

for a BONANZA 2005.

Dennis Pickup

Message from the MD

Picture courtesy of The Independent

THL Rentals is proud to launch its very own e-newsletter – aptly called

MotorMouth. The bi-monthly emailed newsletter reaches out to our key

business partners and tells motorhome, campervan and car rentals news.

Each issue will feature branches of the month and staff spotlights so that our

business partners get to know the faces and the personalities behind our highly

successful Maui, Britz and Backpacker brands in New Zealand and Australia.

The spacious Pioneer is the most

recent vehicle to join the Britz

Australia family and is

expected to bring the

campervan experience to

a whole new audience.

Pioneers are being

marketed to smaller

family groups of up

to five. In the driving

configuration, the vehicles can comfortably seat five passengers. In the sleeping

configuration, they sleep two adults plus one child with tents available at a small

extra hire fee to accommodate the additional passengers.

The campervan is child friendly with seating for little ones up in the front area

near mum and dad that includes two anchor points for baby seats.

Chief Operating Officer of THL Rentals, Chris Rusden, says the Pioneer is a

welcome addition to the Britz fleet that will fill a niche for those who may

previously have been unable to enjoy the experiences of a campervan holiday.

We expect that the Pioneer will become one of our most popular vehicles in

Australia,” he said.

One of the most popular and colourful

personalities at this year’s Writers’ Festival in

Melbourne “cooked for y’all each and every

lunchtime” in a Britz campervan.

American culinary legend, cult figure and

international drag queen, the larger than life

Ruby Ann Boxcar, attracted huge crowds with

her off-the-wall “cooking demonstrations”

utilising a Britz campervan parked in the

courtyard of

Melbourne’s

Malthouse Theatre

during the week

long festival.

Additional

exposure for the

Britz brand was

generated through

TV coverage of the

festival event.

Britz campervans are proving to be the ideal answer for

fans of the highly successful A Day on the Green series of

outdoor concerts staged in wineries around Australia.

Known as ‘the big day out for adults” A Day on the Green

events combine great music with fine wine and food

– all in a picturesque outdoor setting. The events are

increasingly popular but most often held in areas where

accommodation might be difficult to obtain, especially for

those leaving bookings to the last minute.

Britz has designed attractive packages across its 2, 4 and

6 berth vehicles and teamed with BIG4 Holiday Parks,

which offer event goers a 10% discount off site fees.

Coming up, the A Day on the Green artists include Pete

Murray and the Waifs, Bryan Adams, Jamie Cullum and

Norah Jones. Participating wineries are located in New

South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania

where THL Rentals offers customers a range of branch

locations.

THL Rentals is leading the market as the first to offer a virtual tour guide option

in Maui motorhomes, Britz campervans and the rental car fleet in New Zealand.

The innovative virtual tour guide, called KRUSE® and developed by the

Auckland based Kruse-IT company, utilises GPS (global positioning system)

technology to recognise the vehicle’s location and play the relevant audio

commentary through its sound system.

“Some 1,500 points of interest throughout New Zealand are included in the

Kruse commentary. As well as being an interesting tour guide, Kruse also

provides practical information about how to get from one point to another”.

Lights, Camera, Action

Interactive travellers love the Kruse virtual tour guide

Sturdy but compact safes are now available in many of Maui motorhomes

and Britz campervans in Australia. The move will give our customers

peace of mind that their valuables are safe when they are out on the

road. This added service is free to customers hiring our premium Maui

motorhomes and is a $20 option for Britz customers.

Safe-ty on the road

Getting EdgyBritz has ‘A Day on the Green’ – lots of them actually!

Pioneer joins the Britz ranks

Freedom’s just another word for…

Maui Direct, the Tourism Holdings

Limited Rentals operation that sells ex-

rentals motorhomes and is a valuable

revenue stream for the company.

Increasingly, New Zealanders are

taking to the road in their own

motorhomes and, understandably,

many favour ex-Maui vehicles due to

their tip-top condition and the regular

maintenance they receive while in

active rental service.

www.mauidirect.co.nz

Maui is increasingly playing

an important role in New

Zealand and Australian

movie productions providing

movie crews and stars with

comfortable, well-equipped

motorhomes. The vehicles are

especially popular with crews

working in remote locations

where accommodation is often

difficult to find.

Recent New Zealand movies

Maui has “starred” in include

The Lion, The Witch and the

Wardrobe, Perfect Creature

and River Queen, The Lord of

the Rings trilogy, The Matrix,

The Last Samurai and Mission

Impossible 2.

Maui motorhomes are also

popular with documentary

makers and photographers

doing shorter shoots but

still looking for comfort,

convenience and flexibility.

As part of its support for

the movie industries in

New Zealand and Australia

Maui offers preferential

rates on motorhome and

rental car hire.

On yer bike!Coming up in the New Year

is the bonus of free rental

bicycles for Maui and Britz

hirers staying at any of the

50-plus Top Ten Holiday Parks

that are scattered around New

Zealand from Ninety Mile

Beach and Doubtless Bay in

the Far North to Invercargill in

the deep south.

Ex-Rentals motorhomes popular seller

Low cost campervans, priceless adventuresKeep it simple – and creative – was

the design brief for the fresh look for

Tourism Holdings Limited’s low-cost

campervan operation, Backpacker.

The result is a new logo featuring

green and blue Australia and New

Zealand map icons with the routes

a freedom loving, self-sufficient

traveller might take traced out.

“The clean and simple design and

inspirational imagery is very enticing

to the independent traveller,” says

Chris Rusden, THL Rentals’ Chief

Operating Officer.

Backpacker campervans are a popular

choice for cost-conscious travellers

touring Australia and New Zealand.

THL offers the largest range of quality

vehicles at the best prices. The New

Zealand fleet also includes a range of

rental cars.

www.backpackercampervans.com

Backpacker goes for a new look

www.britz.com

Making the moment!Tourism Holdings Limited’s

aspirational Vision and Values

programme is all about providing

‘power to its people’ so they can

confidently and proudly deliver

customers ‘the best experience

every time’.

Many are clocking up long

service with the company (see

right). Added to this, THL

has a strong focus on career

development opportunities for

personnel. Recent promotions

from within the company include

the appointment of Charles

Parker, formerly Rentals’ New

Zealand Fleet Manager, to the

position of General Manager of

Feejee Experience, and that of

Todd Parkin, formerly Rentals’

Auckland Branch Manager, to the

role of New Zealand Operations

Manager.

In this issue of Pinnacle, we take

a look at some of the people

who make the moment at in the

Auckland Rentals operation.

Long Service Rentals personnel include:19 yearsJosie Kennedy, Detailer, Christchurch

18 yearsWarren Meredith, Mechanic, Christchurch

16 yearsRoss Telgenkamp Melbourne Factory

15 years Kevin Guptill, Paint and Panel Manager, Auckland

Shirley Maquigan, Christchurch Branch Operations Manager

Lise Richmond, Sales and Marketing Co-ordinator, Auckland

Philip Sharma, Stores Manager, Auckland

Issac Sharma (Philip’s brother), Paint and Panel, Auckland

Nathan Sivipragasam, Mechanic, Auckland

14 years Steve Fisher, Paint and Panel, Auckland

Lynne Garde Branch Manager, Sydney

13 years Sue Sullivan, General Manager New Zealand

The Detailing Crew – (standing, from left) Vito Fakavai, Abby Samuel, Allen Nand, James Whittaker, Gerard Henry, Aaron Mahina, Emily Dean, Norman Tongotea and Tina Taufahema; (front, from left) Joe Lao, Leslie Teinangaro and Valeti Akauola.

Tourism Holdings Limited has

refurbished and expanded its

Auckland Rentals branch to deliver

a more efficient service to customers

and, with an intrinsically New Zealand

décor, to give them a taste of the sights

they will see as they drive around New

Zealand.

General Manager of New Zealand

operations, Sue Sullivan, says the

half-million dollar refurbishment is

part of THL’s commitment to providing

customers with a memorable vacation

experience and superior service.

“Many of our customers are from

overseas and, as well as incorporating

practical service features that make for

greater efficiency, we were keen that

the facelift should create an inviting

environment and give customers a taste

of the New Zealand they encounter

when they get out on the road.”

New-look Auckland Rentals branch offers taste of what’s to come out on the road – and speedier service!

Responding to the call of the wild

Among the year’s highlights for Britz in Australia

was being the official motorhome sponsor of

the 2004 Australian Safari, an internationally

renowned cross-country event that is the country’s

toughest off road contest covering a distance of

over 5,000 kilometres.

With limited accommodation in the regional

overnight stop towns, Britz is becoming a clear

choice for the Australian Safari teams and

supporters who want the winning combination of

transport and accommodation all in one.

As part of the sponsor package, Britz provided six

Explorer vehicles that were put to a range of uses

by the organisers – as accommodation for rally

officials, office space for administrative personnel

and the results team, the official media centre and

the broadcast station for Channel 7 Sunrise.

Many competitors and supporters took advantage

of the 28% discount Britz offered over regular

market rates.

THL Rentals refurbishes Australian branches

Over the past 12 months, Tourism Holdings Limited Rentals has made

a significant investment in refurbishing each of its branch locations in

Australia.

Sales and Marketing Manager of THL Rentals in Australia, Simone

MacDonald, explains the purpose of the refurbishment was to provide

a welcoming environment for customers and to improve efficiencies in

the vehicle pick up and return process.

“We are leisure specialists and the holiday experience for customers

starts right here in the branches. The changes we have made make for

speedier service for our customers and the Australian themed décor

gives them a taste of what they will see as they drive their motorhome,

campervan or rental car around the country.”

Facilities in the refurbished branches include comfortable seating, TV

screens showing informational and entertaining DVDs, internet access,

refreshments and play areas for children.

Australia Sales and Marketing team

From left, front row: Damian Sever (Senior Account Manager),

William Lewis (Market Analyst), Scott Wallace (Account Manager),

Scott Fahey (Sales Planning

Manger), Andrew Wilson (Account

Manager) and Adam Wright

(Senior Account Manager);

back row: Jackie Costello (Sales &

Marketing Coordinator), Samantha

Catlow (Brand Manager), Simone

MacDonald (National Sales &

Marketing Manager) and Johanna

Penny (Brand Manager).

Big, bold & beautiful – the experience starts here!

The new-look Auckland Rentals branch was officially opened by the Mayor of Manukau City, Sir Barry Curtis, flanked by THL Managing Director Dennis Pickup, THL Rentals’ General Manager New Zealand Sue Sullivan and the division’s Chief Operating Officer Chris Rusden.

Len Hatton has been appointed

General Manager Human Resources for

Tourism Holdings Limited. Based at

the Auckland Rentals branch.

He is responsible for the New Zealand

Rentals operation, plus covers

C.I. Munro and corporate. He joined

THL from 14 years in Sydney where

he was with Procter & Gamble, most

recently as head of human resources

for the company’s Australia and New

Zealand business. Len has a generalist

HR background with strengths in

organisational design and development

and acquisitions. He holds a Masters

Degree in Social Sciences from the

University of Waikato.

New HR Manager

t

Direct Sales – (front left) Sebastien Bouvier; (from left) Grant Ward, Tueila Field, Sarah Webster, Mark Cordery. A further team member, Jocelyn Jacobs, was busy promoting THL at the Ellerslie Flower Show at the time this picture was taken.

The Customer Services Team (from left) Ken Murray, Zalina Kozlova, Diane Smith, Storm Howes, Estelle Stringer, Tammy Healey, Andrew Thompson, Waireka Morris, Todd Parkin, Berengere Courmont, Marc Herbulot, Ashlynne Prakash, Brent Mitchell and Casey Brown.

One of the French speaking Customer Services personnel, Phillipe Serre.

Accounts – (from left) Judith Bell, Sharie Kiripa, Michael Lim Chong, Karen Tran, Jennie Carter and Sharon Tangianau.

Steve Fisher applies the sign of quality assurance – the Qualmark logo.

Ashlynne Prakash and Casey Brown.

Reservations personnel (from left) Michael Smith, Aileen Toh, Elliot Butcher and Margaret Mati.

The Operations Team – (from left) Sridevi Vetcha, Olivia Kowol, Charles Parker, Rozeena Kumari and Raj Lalhall.

Sales and Marketing – (from left) Marina Wong, Lise Richmond, Kate Meldrum, Ryan Posa and Angela Taylor.

Panel and Paint Manager Kevin Guptill (left) with Steve Fisher, Issac Sharma and Ewen Mills.

Nathan Sivipragasam runs a diagnostic test on one of the new VW motorhomes

Maui Direct’s Vincci Chan (left) and Judith Greer, a Waitomo Glowworm Caves guide, in promotional mode at the recent Ellerslie Flower Show in Auckland where THL’s Rentals and Experiences divisions combined forces in a creative exhibit.

Leslie Teinangaro takes care of the details.

An impromptu haka from the Mechanics Team – (from left) Bryce Nicholson, Mark Patmore, Tom Tamasi and Simione Mamaloga, with help from Monty Pratt and Murray Wilkinson.

Philip Sharma and Bill Moore in Stores.

Todd Parkin (left) congratulates Simione Mamaloga, who has embarked on a mechanic apprenticeship with THL support.

Murray Wilkinson, Auckland Branch Operations Manager, with Monty Pratt, Customer Care.

Kirsty Higgins, Executive Assistant.

Richie and Lucas Koroheke in the THL pool at Ellerslie Flower Show

Making the moment!

The Detailing Crew – (standing, from left) Vito Fakavai, Abby Samuel, Allen Nand, James Whittaker, Gerard Henry, Aaron Mahina, Emily Dean, Norman Tongotea and Tina Taufahema; (front, from left) Joe Lao, Leslie Teinangaro and Valeti Akauola.

Big, bold & beautiful – the experience starts here!

Sue Sullivan, General Manager New Zealand,

THL Rentals.