Holiday Parks

Geraldine TOP 10 Holiday Park has taken out the top honour at the TOP 10 Holiday Parks Awards.

Building on the wisdom of others, collaborative growth and alignment are principles the group aims to carry into its next four decades.

Operators’ better use of food resources and cutting waste have been recognised as holiday parks aim for greener outcomes.

The industry celebrates its best at the Holiday Parks New Zealand Awards.

Data, decarbonisation, and the work-life balance are some of the key elements that can help holiday parks succeed, according to an industry panel.

Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre will host the Holiday Parks New Zealand Conference in 2024.

Operators and industry are gathering in Rotorua for the annual Holiday Parks New Zealand conference.

A renewed sense of optimism is sweeping the industry with some operators investing more than $1m in upgrades.

Optimism in NZ’s holiday parks sector declined in June with almost 25% of businesses expressing pessimism – the largest dip recorded for the month in three years.

Industry leaders lay out their wish lists for today’s announcement.

Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust has collaborated with Tasman Holiday Parks to revive a former Top 10 Holiday Park in Rotorua.

Confidence in the sector is the highest it has been since the pandemic, says HPNZ.

Average weekly occupancy across Auckland has been climbing steadily since the start of the year with the impacts of the city’s destructive deluge three weeks ago on its hotel market seen as a shortlived dip.

It is the latest in a series of extreme weather events to impact tourism operators.

Holiday Parks New Zealand is encouraging people to make the most of the long weekends ahead to revitalise their summer breaks, as well as local parks and communities.

Some regions such as Coromandel saw visitor numbers rebound before holiday parks had even dried out.

No one can understate how tough it’s been on people, says the holiday park association’s chief executive.

In a series of profiles leading up to next Thursday’s event, the Ticker talks to Russell-Orongo Bay Holiday Park, a finalist in the Māori Tourism Award.

New Zealand holiday parks generate average annual income of $1.15m each with larger properties earning more than double that, according to a sample of the industry.

Summer bookings are coming in thick and fast at Tasman Holiday Park Te Anau – and visitors are already seeing first-hand how the operator is creating a sustainable future for guests – and the business.

The acquisitive operator plans to invest in the business, bringing jobs and visitors to the Bay of Plenty.

Wanaka TOP 10 Holiday Park has taken out the supreme prize – and three other wins – at this year’s TOP 10 Holiday Parks Annual Conference and Awards.

The positive sentiment comes as the domestic market wanes from its 2020/21 highs.

Athenree Hot Springs and Holiday Park has picked up the Tourism Business of the Year Award at the 2022 Katikati and Waihi Beach Community Business Awards.

Youth travellers spend more on average than Australian visitors and it is their lifetime value that is the real benefit.

Holiday parks have seen certification decline, prompting fears they may be missing out on valuable TNZ activities.

In his final address as president of HPNZ, David Aflallo says the holiday park industry’s ability to adapt, listen and rebuild will propel it through the recovery.

HPNZ’s Colleen Ives is presented the Outstanding Service to the Holiday Park Industry award.

TOP 10 Hanmer Springs owners Jacqui and Dean Anderson are riding the high from their recent People’s Choice win at the recent Hospitality New Zealand Award.

The tourism minister says the industry should apply for the new $54m innovation fund and suggests a project he would be happy to support.

Fable Dunedin won the best hotel with lodges and holiday parks also among the winners.

After snapping up NZ assets, the company turns to refurbishment and renovation to add value.

The relatively new Fable brand and Hotel Britomart, as well as vineyard accommodation and TOP 10 holiday parks, are among the finalists in the Lion Hospitality Awards for Excellence 2022.

The travel revival is bringing in some fresh challenges for holiday parks as Kiwis plan holidays overseas instead of New Zealand’s backyard, with few international visitors to fill in the gaps.

Hot pools and winter experiences are strong marketing opportunities for holiday parks.

Kiwi holidaymakers have helped keep guest nights up at pre-Covid levels for holiday parks’ busiest month, says Holiday Parks New Zealand.

Occupancy rates in December at accommodation types nationwide improved to 34.2% for the month continuing an uptrend that started last month, according to Accommodation Data Programme (ADP) results.

Gisborne City Vintage Railway has been named a Covid-19 location of interest after a Covid-19 case visited between 1.00pm-3.30pm on Sunday 30 January.

Five holiday parks have reported Covid cases so far this summer – much fewer than expected, say relieved industry leaders.

Holiday parks are raring to go, albeit with a couple of Covid-induced nerves.

Holiday Parks New Zealand chief executive Fergus Brown, recently diagnosed with inoperable cancer, has a message for all the men in tourism.

The National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa at Rotorua’s Rainbow Springs Nature Park has seen a substantial increase in brown kiwi chicks but a big fall in visitor numbers since the pandemic struck.

The acquisitive holiday park investor snaps up another property and readies a war chest for further purchases.

Hotels recorded occupancy for the month of just 38% – the best of all accommodation types.

But average occupancy in the year to July 2021 across all commercial accommodation types was only 42%.

Holiday park operator Tasman Tourism New Zealand is hoping to expand its portfolio of assets and create a database of potential employees to tap when the time is right.

Business confidence in NZ’s holiday park sector is running close to pre-Covid levels.

The two-day 2021 Holiday Parks New Zealand conference and trade exhibition kicks off this morning in Blenheim.

HPNZ president David Aflallo says the pandemic has taught tourism some valuable lessons.

Around 11% of core tourism accommodation properties were closed or had no guests during June due to a combination of seasonal closures and the effects of Covid-19 on guest numbers.