Trusted industry voices from US and Canada will bolster peer-to-peer advocacy amongst their combined network of travel advisors throughout North America.
Auckland, New Zealand – Tourism New Zealand announced the appointment of Joni Wu from The Signature Travel Network in California and McKenzie McMillan from Ensemble Travel Group in Vancouver to serve as the 2022-23 New Zealand Trade Ambassadors. Their combined network of contacts and industry knowledge will be an invaluable driver for shifting New Zealand’s position in the North American marketplace from a bucket-list destination to a booked holiday.
The partnership will kick off with an 11-day familiarization tour in October, for the ambassadors to explore various parts of the country, engage with locals, and fully immerse themselves in the stories of New Zealand’s people, land, and Māori culture. The campaign will combine Tourism New Zealand’s paid and owned channels with a focus on the ambassadors sharing their own unique perspective via social networks and consortia channels. In addition to the October famil, the ambassadors will attend destination-specific training events and be featured in three new training videos, set to premiere in February 2023.
“As consumers look to navigate a more complex post-covid travel landscape, it’s more important than ever that we continue to provide our advisors with innovative and engaging ways to inspire, and ultimately, guide their clients to book their next holiday in New Zealand,” says Michelle Rosenberg, Regional Trade Manager for the Americas. “2022 is the year for a bucket-list trip, and we look forward to welcoming back North American travelers and offering them a once-in-a-lifetime journey.”
Air travel to New Zealand (US + Canada): Air New Zealand will have six routes restarted by October and is set to launch its longest route in September, connecting New York to Auckland. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver routes have already recommenced. Honolulu and Houston routes restart in July and Chicago will restart in October. American Airlines and United Airlines will also restart their respective routes from Dallas and San Francisco in October, followed by Air Canada restoring its route from Vancouver, British Columbia, in November.
