INNOVATION

The 2011 Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism awards are now open for entries and are being run by the Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council, which represents the majority of tourism interests in the Cook Islands. Sponsors attended a function on 28 February 2011 at the Air New Zealand Koru lounge to mark the opening of the 2011 awards process.

“The objectives of the bi annual Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards are to stimulate a process of continual business improvement and to recognise excellence and innovation within our industry” said Chris McGeown, Chairman of the Tourism Awards Committee.

McGeown says that international recognition of the awards is a key to their value in a very competitive market place. The international reach is gained through the valuable partnerships with our sponsors who all have very strong international presence, either in their own right or through their supply chains.

The awards premier sponsor is Air New Zealand in association with ANZ, Telecom and The Bond Store and supported by Cook Islands Tourism, Westpac, Air Rarotonga and the Cook Islands Sun.

Finalists and winners of the 2011 awards will have two years to leverage their connection with the awards and use this status in their marketing campaigns.

Many of the 2009 entrants have said that significant benefits are gained in a short period of time by merely going through the entry process. A major constraint to the growth of their business is that they “don’t know what they don’t know”. Working through the entry process made them think carefully about their business, learn new ways of doing things and generally upskill themselves.

McGeown goes on say that the Cook Islands is very fortunate to have the support and endorsement of these high profile and successful sponsor companies. Without which the Tourism Industry Council would not be able to run such an ambitious project.

Debbie Moore, a winner from 2009 and an awards committee member says  “As a result of feedback from the 2009 awards the  entry forms and processes have been considerably simplified this time around  and we are compiling a list of trained volunteer advisors  who will be available , free of charge , to meet with budding award winners  to explain the process and to ensure that entry forms are clearly understood.”

A number of highly regarded consultants are also being identified should applicants prefer in-depth professional help with their entries.

The Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council and the awards major sponsors are arranging a series of free workshops focussing on success and innovation for this year and into the future.

The first workshop will be held in March on Rarotonga and Aitutaki and open to all in the tourism industry. The workshop is being hosted by Telecom Cook Islands. The workshop will focus on the latest in internet marketing technology and how to set-up and use these tools effectively.

Those workshops will also include helpful advice on the awards entry process.
The awards entries must be received by the New Zealand based and completely independent assessors by the end of July.  With the announcements of winners not due until November, this will allow the assessors ample time to expertly grade and where necessary, visit the applicants’ business premises.

To allay any confidentiality fears, all entries are sent directly by the entrant to the New Zealand assessors. They will have sole access and have undertaken to destroy all applications once judged.

The announcement of finalists and winners in all categories will be made at the gala dinner night planned for Friday 11th November 2011 and entry forms will be available and promoted in early March.

Members of the 2011 organising committee are Alister Stevic, Chris McGeown, Debbie Moore, Matthew Beasley, Peter Heays and Thomas Koteka.

The organisers would like to thank Raro Tours for providing the VIP transport for sponsors.

For further questions

contact Chris McGeown:
email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  
or phone 55461

or contact Peter Heays:
email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or phone 55289.