Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand have partnered for the 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist famil – the biggest trade familiarisation to New Zealand in 2019.
Travel agents from across Australia are invited to apply for the exclusive famil which will see 100 agents experience one of 10 itineraries across 25 regions in New Zealand from 22-28 March 2019.
The selected agents will travel across the Tasman with Air New Zealand before they immerse themselves in a hands-on itinerary, aimed to bolster their knowledge of New Zealand as a holiday destination.
Each seven-day itinerary has been designed to give agents an experience that mirrors an Australian holidaymaker, enabling them to build specialist knowledge and share it with their customers.
From immersing themselves in Maori culture in Northland, to exploring one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, or getting up close and personal with kiwis on Stewart Island, each of the itineraries is designed to showcase the diverse experiences travellers can have in Aotearoa (New Zealand).
The final day of the famil will see all 100 participants regroup in one city, to meet destination representatives from across the country and learn about the unique highlights of each of New Zealand’s distinct regions, finishing with a celebration of the newly-certified 100% Pure New Zealand Gold Specialists.
Tourism New Zealand General Manager Australia, Andrew Waddel said famils are an integral part Tourism New Zealand’s trade activity.
“We know from research that 49% of Australians book their New Zealand holidays through travel agents, so arming agents with practical knowledge and experiences so they can best sell our destination is paramount. There’s no better way for agents to do this than to experience the genuine kiwi connection and hospitality for themselves.
“In the past year, we’ve sent almost 14,000 customer referrals to our network of New Zealand Specialists through our consumer website – a number that’s growing year on year – so we’re looking forward to welcoming another 100 quality agents to the program to enjoy these benefits.”
Air New Zealand Regional General Manager Australia Kathryn Robertson says trade plays a key role in raising awareness of the airline’s enhanced trans-Tasman schedule and the warm and personalised service offered on board.
“With a 15 percent increase in Air New Zealand’s trans-Tasman services from December, including new direct flights from Brisbane to Queenstown and Wellington, there’s never been a better time to travel to New Zealand. We look forward to welcoming the new stable of agents and working together to sell New Zealand as a destination.”
Applications to join the famil are now open at www.traveltrade.newzealand.com. To be eligible, agents must complete 10 online modules of the 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme, and book a trans-Tasman Air New Zealand flight before the 20th January 2019.
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