The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) conducted an eventful roadshow in Auckland, New Zealand recently.
Radio Vanuatu reports the roadshow was held in the city center’s Pullman Hotel, which highlighted a strong support by the retail agents totaling to 140 agents, attending the event from Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch.
The General Manager of the Vanuatu Tourism Office Mrs Linda Kalpoi announced in her welcome speech, “"It's a great support for Vanuatu to see such a large number of agents, including our 15 key retail agents, attend the roadshow, which is giving us the confidence that we are on the road to recovering our numbers from New Zealand come 2017".
The event format was enjoyed by all, inspiring retail agents with engaging content from the extremely popular videos recently launched to the New Zealand consumer through the VTO’s recent digital campaign.
Megan Singleton, the video presenter and blogger at large, also spoke to the agents during the opening session on Wednesday.
On arrival, the retail agents were greeted and given a show bag and a postcard each. The postcards had 12 missing words on them which needed to be figured out by the agents, at each of the industry partners table.
Industry partners or operators were given their “secret word” which they could choose to include as many times as they like during conversations with agents at their booth.
While the opening’s mix and mingling continued, beverages and canapés were served and guests were entertained to the sounds of the Vanuatu local string band.
Later in the evening, agents then engaged with property and tour representatives in an expo style environment.
Prize draws during the event included spot accommodations, as well as three major prizes with Air Vanuatu flights bundled with industry partner’s accommodation, including one trip for two to Tanna, one trip for two to Santo, and one trip for two to Efate.
Ms Jacquie Carson VTO New Zealand on Thursday remarked, “I have already received emails from our hosted Retail Agents expressing their appreciation and already planning to up load our videos to promote.”
Ms Carson continued, “Many have completed our “Vanuatu Specialist Modules” straight after the event, and I love their enthusiasm and believe that bringing them to Auckland was a great investment that is going to pay off in bookings going forward”.
The VTO would like to thank the following industry partners for their participation at the Auckland roadshow, and for collectively promoting Vanuatu as a top holiday destination for New Zealand consumers:
Nasama Resort, Bokissa Island Resort, Holiday Inn, Vanuatu Coconuts Travel Marketing, Destination Pacific Marketing, Destination Asia Pacific Marketing, Iririki Island Resort & Spa, Atmosphere Tours, Espiritu Santo Tourism Association, Vanuatu Escapes, Poppys on the Lagoon, and Air Vanuatu.