When the idea of the new New Zealand Luxury Travel Show came up, we were invited to participate but declined based on a number of structural issues which we took up with TIANZ. After ignoring our points for a number of weeks we were then asked to provide our global contacts so they could be invited to this event. Naturally we declined and then had some debate.
Rather than bore everyone with the issues which most people in the industry are aware of (apart from the fact that there are many many more than 40 luxury operators in this country and that we use perhaps double that number in any one itinerary), we would like to focus on one point which we believe needs addressing throughout the country. This is a generic misunderstanding of the structure of the industry.
Having made our position clear about not being able to particpate within the existing structure, we were told we could not particpate anyway as we were not "operators".
I have an issue with this.
We spend 90% of our time during the summer and shoulder seasons on the road with client, working from 7am to midnight - but we are not operators?
When I was chopping garlic with a billionaire client in the kitchen of Huka Lodge's Owner's Cottage - I was not an operator?
When driving our licensed vehicles (licensed by the NZ government as a transport operator) - we were not operating?
When putting together a custom event for between 10 and 300 people many times in the last few years - we were not operating?
When coaching activity providers on exactly what to do for our clients, we are not operating?
When hiring and overseeing top-grade security for the All Blacks, we were not operating?
I think you understand my point. Some people still work in a world which is long since gone - a world where honest people with half a kayak or a good old lodge sweat for their clients while wicked greedy "agents" sit at their desks and take a cut of everything. It may be news to those people that "that world" does not exist anymore. We are all working for a living. All "operating". With the client as the winner.
When portraying luxury New Zealand to the world, we should all work together, as we do in servicing clients. Why should marketing be any different to operations? Not that I know anything about operations...
ps. the photo above was taken by a recent client when I was out having fun and collecting commissions.
<< News index < Luxury is more than an expensive property! | Auckland Rugby Expertise >
Send this article to a friend
Download this page in PDF format
