Newsletter : August 2007

NZTO Comment

by Garry Bond, General Manager, New Zealand Tourism Online

What a difference it makes when there is a bit of competition. With Pacific Blue announcing its entry into the main domestic routes (Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland), Air New Zealand responded with its 'grab a seat' campaign. The internal flight market has just got a bit hotter and for myself and several others in the office, it was just a case of deciding where we wanted to go.

Up until that moment in time, I had no plans whatsoever to fly anywhere, but with prices from NZ$79-return between Christchurch and Auckland, I couldn't resist. After deciding to go, I then had to find an excuse to go, so settled on a concert in Auckland. Accommodation will be next to sort out but my main point here is that while the margins are very skinny for the airlines, the quantity of people using their services will increase.

More importantly however, is that domestic tourism will receive a shot in the arm (the main centres mostly). More travellers means more tourism-related services will benefit from increased demand for bed nights, transport and general hospitality. Let's just hope very affordable flights are here to stay a bit longer than a simple PR campaign.

On a final note, the Tourism Industry Conference will be interesting this year with sustainability on the agenda. New Zealand Tourism Online is also a finalist in the Tourism Industry Awards, so fingers crossed.

New Booking Function

As a tourism operator (sorry only available to those with a gold listing or a gold listing with a Web page), have you applied to add our new booking function to your listing yet? This booking function is fully integrated into our site and provides the ability for travellers (domestic or international) to book something right now. Here's 10 points for you to consider.

1. Booking Button: You will have a "Make a Booking" button added to your listing
2. Compare and Book: You will be included as part of the "Compare Rates" function within your region and category
3. Cross Marketing: We can cross market your business, for example, someone who is interested in a rental car can also be offered accommodation options and visa versa
4. Packages: We have the ability to construct "packages", for example, you could be part of a "3 Day Escape to Nelson" package
5. Reduced Risk: Reduces the risk of losing a booking from customers ready to book now
6. Bookings: Generate confirmed sales from international and domestic travellers
7. Product: Additional exposure and details for your product offering, including availability and pricing
8. Profile: Be a profiled operator on our site with a booking capability
9. Save Time: Saves you time and effort by not having to deal with enquiries regarding availability
10. Timely Information: Provides immediate information to customers, anytime of the day or night

We have partnered with BookIt who will provide the booking system. We choose them because of the flexibility of the system and the excellent reporting functions, including the ability for you to gather travellers feedback.

Yes I'm Interested

It's free to setup but if you haven't already received information on this option, then please email us now.

If you already have the information, then simply apply online.

The sooner you apply, the sooner we can get you up and running.

PS: Thanks to all of you who have already applied. Many of you are now live here and the rest are being processed.

Audio Visual Clip Update

We now have over 300 tourism operators with a multimedia audio visual clip and a new directory was created to promote these within the https://www.tourism.net.nz/ Web site. Take a quick look at how you will gain extra exposure here.

We have also linked this directory to our home page side menu and to our Visitor Information section for additional coverage.

Note: As these have been so popular, Yellow Pages now also have a version of this that will be marketed to the 200,000 odd businesses across the country. The price will however be $495 + GST but as existing clients, we will continue to hold our price at $395 + GST for as long as we can.

This product is geared entirely towards helping you convert “lookers into bookers”.

This audio visual product is designed to be cost effective and compelling, with the images and sound combination really helping liven up your site visitors experience. The audio visual attaches to your listing on our site and includes button options and links so you can use it on your own Web site or in emails to your customers!

Key Features

• Low cost
• Fast loading
• Communicate key messages and images in a focused format
• Suitable for both small and larger tourism operators across all market sectors
• Very appealing to your potential customers with additional conversion opportunities
• Professionally recorded soundtrack of your key messages
• Excellent selection of background music
• Enhance your NZTO listing, see Air Fiordland listing example - Media Clip link
• Enhance your NZTO Web page if you have one, see Air Fiordland Web page example - Details Box
• Add to your own Web site after we supply you with button and text options
• Include it in your own emails to potential customers

This is a great time of the year to get your one up and running. Plan now for the season ahead and get your order in now! Contact your tourism consultant or one of our specialist product Managers (Mike O'Sullivan on 0800 14 65 52 or Mike Kaye on 0800 14 65 54 for more information—yes both are called Mike).

Inbox Zero - How To Effectively Manage Your Email

Productivity guru Merlin Mann gave a Google Tech Talk to Google employees about Inbox Zero.

A summary containing the gold nuggets follows:

• Your time and attention are finite, don't let your inbox slow you down.
• Inbox Zero is action-based email - process your email with five verbs.
1. Delete (or archive)
   
   • most email can be deleted
   • if it's important to keep, archive it
2. Delegate
• if someone else is better suited for the email, forward it on
3. Respond
• if you can reply immediately, do so
• if you need more information from someone, ask for it
4. Defer
• if the email is schedule related, add it to your diary or calendar
5. Do
• if the email is about something you can do right now, do it
• Is your inbox currently pretty full?
• get a head start and move all of your inbox to a demilitarized zone, a folder called DMZ.
• keep your inbox empty, and process the DMZ in batches until empty.
• Take control of your inbox, don't let your inbox control you, or waste your time.

How To Avoid Damaging Your Online Credibility

by Avatar Web Promotions

A key ingredient for any successful online business is credibility. Without credibility, you lose out on business — it's as simple as that. If your Web site looks even a little bit 'dodgy', you could be sending your potential customer straight out the door, before you even get started on your sales pitch.

10 Ways To Avoid Looking Like A 'Dodgy Dealer'

1. Ensure your use of punctuation, spelling and grammar is correct
2. Keep all Web site information up-to-date (especially on your forms)
3. Use quality images (in-focus, appealing, eye-catching and stylish)
4. Include a product or service guarantee
5. Publish (and abide) by a privacy policy
6. Clearly state the level of security for any monetary transactions / exchange of information
7. Use genuine testimonials from satisfied customers
8. Include information about your company and its history
9. Provide easy to find contact information (include your email, phone, fax and a physical address, not just a P.O. box number)
10. Include short biographies of key staff members, outlining personal and professional qualifications and experience.

Including all of these elements on your Web site will help to reassure people that you are a credible business and that you have spent time presenting your avatar (your virtual self) as professionally as possible. Don't underestimate the impact that poor design, badly presented text and out-dated information can have.