minutes of tourism committee meeting held … · 2013-12-10 · 10/1 3 tourism committee meeting...

10/1 1 Tourism Committee meeting Doc No.: RDC-337936 13 February 2013

File No: 01-15-225 ROTORUA DISTRICT COUNCIL

MINUTES OF TOURISM COMMITTEE MEETING

HELD WEDNESDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2013 AT 1:00PM IN COMMITTEE ROOM 1, ROTORUA DISTRICT COUNCIL

PRESENT: Mr T Marks (Chairperson)

Mr B Thomasen (Deputy Chairperson), Cr M Waaka, Ms K Atkinson-Crean, Mr B Marvelly, F Suurenbroek, T Cossar

APOLOGIES: None.

IN ATTENDANCE:

Cr Maxwell (part) Potaua Biasiny-Tule, Te Arawa Standing Committee George White, Polynesian Spa

OFFICERS PRESENT: O Nathan, General Manager Destination Rotorua Marketing; G Brownrigg, Manager Visitor Centre and I-Site (part); G George, DRM Insights Analyst (part); M Croft, Events Manager Events & Venues; and C Peden, Committee Administrator.

The chairperson declared the meeting open and welcomed everyone present. 1. APOLOGIES

There were no apologies received from members.

The committee resolved: Cr Waaka Mr Marks

) )

That the apology from Group Manager Economic & Regulatory Services, Mark Rawson (for absence) be received.

T13/02/001 CARRIED

2. NOTIFICATION OF URGENT BUSINESS FOR CONSIDERATION None. 3. PRESENTATIONS 3.1 Tim Myhre, General Manager Amora Hotel

Mr Myhre spoke to a Powerpoint presentation titled ‘Overview and Going forward 2013’ (Attachment 1). He commented that he endorsed the ‘Famously Rotorua’ campaign. Committee members commented that they supported his ideas for holding events and would put him in touch someone at Destination Rotorua Marketing to assist.


3.2 Gina George, DRM Tourism Insights Analyst – Rotorua Market Performance Ms George spoke to a Powerpoint presentation titled ‘Rotorua Visitor Activity Statistics and Research’

(Attachment 2). The first slide gave an overview of the core tourism dataset as administered by the Tourism Strategy Group

of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The MBIE is the portal of all national and regional tourism statistics and research.

The second slide gave an overview of privately commissioned tourism statistics and research of relevance to

the Rotorua tourism industry. The third slide gave an overview of key findings from the Rotorua Visitor Insights Programme. This report

provided market intelligence on the profile of the domestic and international overnight visitors and their needs, attitudes and behaviour in the context of their visit to the Rotorua region. Additionally, the report also provided a ‘non-visitor’ perspective of regional brand awareness and brand positioning by interviewing visitors outside the Rotorua region.

Attendance: Cr Maxwell joined the meeting at 1:30pm.

The remaining slides gave an overview of Rotorua visitor activity statistics for the year ending December 2012. Key points to note were:

• The attraction sector had good growth in both domestic and international visitor activity, while the activities and accommodation sectors had good growth in the domestic market but were struggling in the international market.

• The attraction sector was possibly benefitting from strong growth of tour groups particularly from the Chinese market and cruise markets.

• By contrast, the accommodation sector was possibly continuing to struggle with some displacement of overnight international visitors for day visits,

• The activities sector has been possibly negatively impacted by continuing declines in UK arrivals to New Zealand.

Of particular interest was the newly-released MBIE Regional Tourism Indicators, which monitored electronic card transactions of visitors while in destination. Analysis of the data by transaction count and revenue allowed for regions to identify their most valuable source markets and to benchmark their performance against the national average and other regions.

Ms George was thanked for her presentation. 4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The chair advised that as no response had been received to his initial letter to the Prime Minister requesting additional policing in Rotorua, a second letter had now been sent. He was now waiting for a response. The committee resolved:

Mr Marks Mr Thomasen

) )

That the minutes of the meeting held 21 November 2012 be accepted as a true and correct record.

T13/02/002 CARRIED


5. REPORTS OF OFFICERS (INCLUDING CORRESPONDENCE)

5.1 CORRESPONDENCE 5.1.1 Letter from JD Keay, Programme Director, B&B Association NZ Conference 2013 Mr Marks reported that he had replied to Mr Keay’s letter, advising that he would be in the UK at the time of

the Bed & Breakfast Association NZ’s Annual Conference in May, but that a speaker would be provided from the Rotorua Tourism Committee.

Tim Cossar commented that he had also been invited to speak.

The committee resolved:

Ms Atkinson-Crean Ms Suurenbroek

) )

That the letter from Mr JD Keay be received and the contents noted.

T13/02/003 CARRIED

5.2 GROUP MANAGER ECONOMIC & REGULATORY SERVICES 5.2.1 RECOMMENDATION 1: TOURISM COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ PECUNIARY INTEREST REGISTER

01-15-225 The committee resolved:

Mr Marks Mr Cossar

) )

That the report titled ‘Tourism Committee Members’ Pecuniary Interest Register’ be received and the contents noted, with the following amendments: Tony Marks

• Add ‘Strategic consultancy work for Village PR’; and • Delete ‘Ltd’ from Director of Redwood Cider Co.

Cr Waaka

• Delete ‘Board Member, NZ Medical Radiation Technologists Board’ Tim Cossar

• Delete ‘Board member – ATTTO’ and • Delete ‘On the ADS Review Committee’.

T13/02/004 CARRIED

5.2.2 RECOMMENDATION 2: ROTORUA VISITOR CENTRE AND I-SITE REPORT (DECEMBER 2012) 01-15-225 Mr Brownrigg overviewed the report. He reported that the ‘Hot Deals’ brochures had all now been removed

which created more of a ‘level playing field’ for all Rotorua tourism operators.

Ticket sales were 30-40% sales down for the Oct – Dec period however this month they were only 18% down which is in line with the other major i-Sites.


A change in ‘visitor mix’ had been noticed in recent months – Australian tourist numbers had dropped off over last 3 months but had started to pick up again in January. The number of tourists from Germany and England were increasing. China/USA visitor numbers had remained static over the last few months. A Marketing Coordinator was in the process of being appointed and one of their key roles would be to focus on encouraging locals to bring their visitors to the i-Site. The Marketing Coordinator would be involved with the i-Site and Rotorua Education Network (REN). The i-Site would continue to support tourism operators by allowing them to display advertising material in the i-Site for free, although brochures would be paid for. Discounts would be limited to those offering a new product. There had been a 9% growth in schools visiting the i-Site. A mobile Information Unit promoting attractions and activities will attend some events, for example, the Rotorua Bike Festival. A redesign of the i-Site would be undertaken in stages over the next year or so. As part of the redesign project the brochure stand would be shifted to directly in front of people as they entered the i-Site. Tourism NZ’s Chief Executive Kevin Bowler had sent an email giving positive feedback on his family’s recent visit to the i-Site.


Mr Marks Mr Marvelly

) )

That the report titled “Rotorua Visitor Centre & i-Site Report (December 2012)” be received and the contents noted.

T13/02/005 CARRIED

5.2.3 RECOMMENDATION 3: MAJOR EVENTS REPORT (DECEMBER 2012) 01-15-225

Martin Croft overviewed this report and gave further updates, as follows:

• The annual Half Iron Man event had been combined with the TriNZ Contact series in December 2012. The Half Iron Man organisers had confirmed their date for 2013 but Tri NZ organisers had yet to decide.

• ‘GLO Festival’ -events happening between the end of the show (9pm) and midnight would be

reviewed for 2013.

• Organisers of the Spartan Race event hoped to launch a similar event in Rotorua, possibly in October or November. However, this was still in the investigation stages. It was quite different to the annual Tough Guy Challenge as participants had to train for it, as it was physically very challenging.

• Raggamuffin had been very successful. As Waitangi Day would fall on a Monday in 2015,

organisers may shift the event to a Saturday/Sunday that year.

• Rotorua had won the right to host the National Seven’s tournament.

• He tabled a flyer on the Rotorua Bike Festival which was currently underway and going very well (Attachment 3). Graham Simpson was acknowledged for his work on communications/promotion of this event. Rotorua Trust was also acknowledged for their financial support ($75k) which had made the event possible. Obtaining ongoing financial support was paramount to ensure its continuation. Following the 2013 Bike Festival a trust would be formed with people who could take this festival forward. RDC had contributed $20k ‘in kind and in cash’. A report/business case would be prepared and provided to the Tourism Committee well before June. It was hoped that a big sponsor would like ‘adopt’ the festival.


• Western Heights High School (WHHS) would try to find financial support for the annual multisport

festival which they had run for the past 20 years. They needed $30k to help fund the event next year and onwards. The chairperson asked for a 1-page description of the event detailing what was required which he could provide to potential commercial sponsors. 61 North Island schools were involved in this event in 2013. It was suggested that some funding which had been set aside for Famously Rotorua campaign could perhaps be used to support this event. It was suggested that other sporting facilities/organisations might also be interested in getting involved (e.g. Velodrome, Sport Bay of Plenty). Mr Croft was requested to convey the support of the Tourism Committee to WHHS in helping them continue running this event from 2014 onwards. Staff were asked to investigate whether Rotorua Education Network would be interested in being involved.


Ms Atkinson-Crean Mr Thomasen

) )

That the report titled “Major Events Report (December 2012)” be received and the contents noted.

T13/02/006 CARRIED

5.2.4 RECOMMENDATION 4: ROTORUA ANNUAL ECONOMIC PROFILE 01-15-225 Oscar Nathan commented that DRM would be meeting with Infometrics the following day and would clarify

any statistical interpretation issues.


Mr Marks Cr Waaka

) )

That the report “Rotorua Annual Economic Profile” be received and contents noted.

T13/02/007 CARRIED

5.3 GENERAL MANAGER DESTINATION ROTORUA MARKETING 5.3.1 RECOMMENDATION 5: DESTINATION ROTORUA MARKETING REPORT (DECEMBER 2012) 01-15-225

Oscar Nathan overviewed this report. The ‘Famously Rotorua’ campaign was going well although this was currently being reviewed. The ‘Finding the Face’ competition winner had been chosen and would be launched later this year. A ‘Consumer Marketing’ role had been advertised. This person would manage consumer campaigns such as ‘Famously Rotorua’ in the future. Interviews would be conducted next week.

Mr Nathan clarified that the weekly local edition of the ‘Visitor’s Guide’ was not part of the ‘Famously Rotorua‘ campaign. Patrick Dault was doing well in his new role as DRM Trade Manager. ‘Preferred kiwi partner’ inbound relations were being followed up, following on from their visit to Guangzhou, China last year. Guangzhou officials had also requested that DRM investigate PR opportunities to improve their profile here in NZ. Councillors had requested that Maori music be played in Rotorua airport to lift Rotorua’s cultural profile. Council was looking at replacing the existing carvings at the airport with other cultural theming.



Ms Suurenbroek Ms Atkinson-Crean

) )

That the report titled “Destination Rotorua Marketing Report (December 2012)” be received and the contents noted.

T13/02/00 CARRIED

5.3.2 RECOMMENDATION 6: ROTORUA TOURISM COMMITTEE (NEWSLETTER) 01-15-225 Jacky James had worked directly with Tourism Committee members on the compilation of the newsletter.

Statistics on the success of the newsletter had to be tracked. It was requested that recipients be made aware that it was from the Rotorua Tourism Committee, not Destination Rotorua Marketing. With this in mind it was requested that the Destination Rotorua Marketing name be removed off the header.


Mr Marks Cr Waaka

) )

That the newsletter titled “Rotorua Tourism Committee Newsletter” be received and the contents noted.

T13/02/00 CARRIED

5.4 CHIEF EXECUTIVE 5.4.1 RECOMMENDATION 7: 2013 TOURISM COMMITTEE MEETING DATES 01-15-225

Mr Marks advised that he would be away on 10 June. The committee resolved:

Mr Marks Mr Thomasen

) )

That the report titled “2013 Tourism Committee Meeting Dates” be received and the contents noted.

T13/02/01 CARRIED

6. CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS None. In closing the Chair congratulated George White on his new role as CEO of Polynesian Spa.

______________________

Meeting closed at 3:29pm. ______________________

10/1 7 Tourism Committee meeting Doc No.: RDC-337936 ATTACHMENT 1 13 February 2013

minutes of tourism committee meeting held … · 2013-12-10 · 10/1 3 tourism committee meeting...

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