Latest news with #DGLT
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Taupō Tourism Set To Soar With New International Flights From Hamilton Airport
Press Release – Destination Great Lake Taupo As Taup prepares to welcome more international guests, the community looks forward to sharing its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes with a broader audience. The return of international flights to Hamilton Airport after a 13-year hiatus signals a new era of opportunity for the Taupō tourism sector. Starting June 16, Jetstar will operate direct flights between Hamilton and Sydney, followed by services to the Gold Coast commencing June 18. Hamilton Airport is only a 90-minute drive from Taupō—which makes it a convenient gateway for international visitors keen to explore the region. Taupō, most recently crowned one of the earth's most welcoming destinations is now more accessible to Australian tourists seeking everything from rest and relaxation to adventure and adrenaline. Patrick Dault, General Manager of Destination Great Lake Taupō (DGLT) highlighted the ease in accessibility to Taupō: 'How we bring more visitors to the region has always been a critical conversation. With this kind of access, everyone over the ditch can spend less time travelling and more time enjoying everything Taupō has to offer. Another international gateway is definitely a plus. This one, on the very steps of Taupō ensures visitors can land in the mighty Waikato and make the most of their experience in Taupō and other regions within the central north island' Nicola Greenwell, Chief Executive at Hamilton & Waikato Tourism, exclaimed 'we are thrilled to be welcoming the new Jetstar flights directly into to Hamilton. The mighty Waikato has many great visitor experiences on offer and our tourism operators, hospitality and retail businesses are ready to welcome manuhiri from Australia. These flights mean our Aussie mates have easier access to visit the central north island, after exploring the mighty Waikato of course!' The refurbished terminal now includes full border control, a new duty-free store, and a café, enhancing the travel experience for incoming tourists. Mark Morgan, Chief Executive of Waikato Regional Airport Ltd, emphasised the broader regional benefits: 'This is the beginning of a huge opportunity. The benefits for the entire region—not just passengers—are significant.' As Taupō prepares to welcome more international guests, the community looks forward to sharing its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes with a broader audience. About Destination Great Lake Taupō: Destination Great Lake Taupō is the Regional Tourism Organisation responsible for promoting the Taupō region as a visitor destination. The organisation works to increase visitation, length of stay, and visitor spending in the region.
Scoop
16-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Destination Great Lake Taupō And Destinatenz Partner To Promote Business Events In Taupō
The partnership, spearheaded by Michelle Caldwell at DestinateNZ, aims to position Taup as a premier destination for business events while leveraging its already strong reputation among domestic and Australian leisure travellers. Taupō, 16 May 2025 – Destination Great Lake Taupō (DGLT) has announced a strategic partnership with DestinateNZ to showcase the region's extensive business events and incentive offerings. This collaboration comes at a time when Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) are navigating increasingly challenging fiscal and regulatory environments, highlighting how industry partnerships can drive innovation and success. The partnership, spearheaded by Michelle Caldwell at DestinateNZ, aims to position Taupō as a premier destination for business events while leveraging its already strong reputation among domestic and Australian leisure travellers. 'This project represents a true collaboration between RTO and industry,' said Patrick Dault, General Manager, Destination Great Lake Taupō. 'While Taupō is already beloved by domestic and Australian visitors, many are unaware of our region's exceptional capacity to host world-class business events and incentives. Our partnership with Michelle and DestinateNZ will help us showcase this lesser-known side of our destination.' The collaboration will focus on promoting authentic itineraries and presenting a unified, engaging voice to attract business events to the region, which was recently voted one of the most welcoming places on Earth by in 2025 and named among the top 50 places to visit in 2025 by CNN. 'Taupō offers an extraordinary blend of natural beauty, adventure activities, and sophisticated venues that create unforgettable business events,' said Michelle Caldwell, Director of DestinateNZ. 'We're excited to partner with DGLT to bring these exceptional offerings to the forefront of the business events sector. Our combined expertise will showcase Taupō's unique appeal as a destination where productivity meets inspiration.' The decision to attend MEETINGS 2025 in partnership was influenced by feedback from Lisa Hopkins, CEO of Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), who shared that 70% of pre-registered attendees had expressed interest in hosting events in regional New Zealand, including Taupō. 'Lisa has been an integral part in developing this partnership and is a strong advocate for both business events and the Taupō region,' added Dault. 'Her insights have been invaluable in guiding our strategic approach to this market.' MEETINGS is New Zealand's largest national trade show for the business events industry, organised by Business Events Industry Aotearoa. Since 1997, this premier trade show has connected buyers and sellers from the conference, meetings, exhibition, and incentive travel sectors over two days of networking and business development. 'As RTOs face more challenging environments, creative partnerships like this one between DGLT and DestinateNZ are ways to explore collaborations that benefit local communities and strengthen destination marketing,' said Hopkins. 'Taupō has enormous potential in the business events space, and I'm thrilled to see this collaborative approach to showcasing the region's offerings.'
Scoop
16-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Destination Great Lake Taupō And Destinatenz Partner To Promote Business Events In Taupō
Taupō, 16 May 2025 – Destination Great Lake Taupō (DGLT) has announced a strategic partnership with DestinateNZ to showcase the region's extensive business events and incentive offerings. This collaboration comes at a time when Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) are navigating increasingly challenging fiscal and regulatory environments, highlighting how industry partnerships can drive innovation and success. The partnership, spearheaded by Michelle Caldwell at DestinateNZ, aims to position Taupō as a premier destination for business events while leveraging its already strong reputation among domestic and Australian leisure travellers. "This project represents a true collaboration between RTO and industry," said Patrick Dault, General Manager, Destination Great Lake Taupō. "While Taupō is already beloved by domestic and Australian visitors, many are unaware of our region's exceptional capacity to host world-class business events and incentives. Our partnership with Michelle and DestinateNZ will help us showcase this lesser-known side of our destination." The collaboration will focus on promoting authentic itineraries and presenting a unified, engaging voice to attract business events to the region, which was recently voted one of the most welcoming places on Earth by in 2025 and named among the top 50 places to visit in 2025 by CNN. "Taupō offers an extraordinary blend of natural beauty, adventure activities, and sophisticated venues that create unforgettable business events," said Michelle Caldwell, Director of DestinateNZ. "We're excited to partner with DGLT to bring these exceptional offerings to the forefront of the business events sector. Our combined expertise will showcase Taupō's unique appeal as a destination where productivity meets inspiration." The decision to attend MEETINGS 2025 in partnership was influenced by feedback from Lisa Hopkins, CEO of Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), who shared that 70% of pre-registered attendees had expressed interest in hosting events in regional New Zealand, including Taupō. "Lisa has been an integral part in developing this partnership and is a strong advocate for both business events and the Taupō region," added Dault. "Her insights have been invaluable in guiding our strategic approach to this market." MEETINGS is New Zealand's largest national trade show for the business events industry, organised by Business Events Industry Aotearoa. Since 1997, this premier trade show has connected buyers and sellers from the conference, meetings, exhibition, and incentive travel sectors over two days of networking and business development. "As RTOs face more challenging environments, creative partnerships like this one between DGLT and DestinateNZ are ways to explore collaborations that benefit local communities and strengthen destination marketing," said Hopkins. "Taupō has enormous potential in the business events space, and I'm thrilled to see this collaborative approach to showcasing the region's offerings."
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Taupō Attends TRENZ 2025
Press Release – Destination Great Lake Taupo This year, DGLT engaged in 52 meetings with key international buyers from the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, India and Asia. The Taup region contributed to more than 650 meetings across the event. Held over two and a half days, TRENZ 2025 brought together more than 1,200 delegates, including over 340 travel buyers from 26 countries – offering a vital opportunity to drive visitation and economic growth in the Taupō region. This year, DGLT engaged in 52 meetings with key international buyers from the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, India and Asia. Taupō was well represented with support from local operators including Orakei Korako, Escape Aviation, Poronui Lodge, The Haka Shop, Chris Jolly Outdoors, and Destinate NZ. These regional experiences were showcased alongside major national brands such as AJ Hackett, Millennium, Hilton, Haka House, Ngāi Tahu, Rapids Jet, Te Pā Tū, Unique Stays and River Birches. In total, the Taupō region contributed to more than 650 meetings across the event. The projected economic benefit for Taupō from these trade relationships is estimated at $2 million. Taupō also hosted five familiarisation trips, welcoming 15 international agents to the region and showcasing over 35 operators. These immersive experiences provided a deeper understanding of Taupō's offerings – from luxury lodges and outdoor adventures to cultural and family-friendly experiences. 'It was amazing to discover a place I had not known about previously. What a delight to find a region that has so much to offer our high-net-worth clientele. Taupō packs a great offering for our Indian clients, granting access to the best of the Central North Island,' said Aneri Shah, Product Manager, A Travel Duet. 'I have been selling New Zealand for 26 years but this is the first time I've stayed in the region. I was amazed to learn that just down the road from the tourism hotspot of Rotorua, Taupō has so much to offer. I definitely need to change out some of my upcoming itineraries for my European visitors and add at least two, more like three nights in Taupō. Next year, I'll be sending my colleagues to explore,' said Damir Tomasevic, Product Manager, Pacific Travel House. 'TRENZ is a great opportunity to reconnect with agents and showcase what's new,' said Tim Barke from Poronui. 'While Poronui has been around for a while, what we offer today is essentially a new product — from luxury multigenerational lodging to experiences like horse trekking, e-biking, and guided walks across our 16,000-acre property. There's been strong interest in the lake house, our safari camp, and lodge dining. The feedback has been incredibly positive.' 'It's our first time at TRENZ, and it's been great to connect,' added Nikolos Gibson from Orakei Korako. 'We've had the chance to highlight what makes our attraction unique. Taupō remains a very underrated destination. I'd definitely attend again.' 'It's been exciting to share what we offer from a uniquely local perspective,' said Snow Rameka of The Haka Shop. 'We believe our point of difference really stands out. The chance to connect with potential clients has been valuable, especially as we look to grow. The event has been incredibly well organised — a real credit to the team.' TRENZ 2025 continues to be a powerful platform to showcase the diversity of experiences available in Taupō, strengthening its presence on the global stage and reinforcing its reputation as one of New Zealand's most welcoming and rewarding destinations.
