Lunch & Learn sessions
The Lunch ‘n Learn workshop series is a joint initiative by six Regional Tourism Organisations from the central South Island: Development West Coast, Destination Kaikōura, ChristchurchNZ, Venture Timaru, Mackenzie Tourism, and Tourism Waitaki.
Designed to support tourism operators, these free capability-building workshops offer practical skills and insights to help you succeed in today’s competitive tourism environment. Don’t miss out—there’s no cost to attend!
Get a practical introduction to paid media, with a clear overview of the various campaign types available on Google and Meta. Learn how to choose the right approach to align with your marketing objectives, explore different bid strategies and targeting methods, and take advantage of a live Q&A session with an industry expert.
Explore the changing role of organic social media in tourism, with insights into the latest content trends and how travelers use social platforms to discover, plan, and share their experiences. Learn what makes content truly engaging, how to create it yourself, and how to involve your team and customers in bringing your social media to life.
This essential session lays the groundwork for the following two workshops. You'll gain a solid understanding of:
- New Zealand’s key visitor markets and their characteristics
- The value of partnering with the travel trade
- How the travel trade ecosystem works, including ITOs, wholesalers, and OTAs—who they are and what they do
- The advantages and challenges of each distribution channel
Your pricing structure plays a vital role in the success of your business and your ability to work effectively with the travel trade. In this session, you'll gain a deeper understanding of:
- The purpose and value of offering commission
- The importance of rate parity
- How to set your retail rate, factoring in operating costs, commission, and margins
- The basics of establishing a trade contract
Perfect for operators looking to build sustainable and profitable trade relationships.
With the fundamentals in place, it's time to take your product to market and actively engage with the travel trade. This session will help you confidently take the next step by covering:
- Essential trade collateral – manuals, fact sheets, image libraries, and more
- How to make the most of trade events, shows, and sales calls
- Tips for delivering compelling presentations
- Website best practices for trade readiness
- Understanding direct connectivity
- The role of local agents, i-SITEs, and visitor centres
- How to collaborate with Tourism New Zealand and your RTO to maximise famil opportunities
Ideal for operators ready to grow their trade presence.