New organisation results in stronger visitor sector representation
- Details
- Published Date
- Written by By TIA Chairman Norm Thompson & NZHC Independent Chair Jennie Langley
The industry response to our decision to integrate has been positive, with widespread support for our vision of a single strong, high profile, well resourced association.
We are confident this move will take us a long way towards achieving greater government recognition of tourism as a high value sector to New Zealand's economy. It will create unified, highly focused leadership for the visitor industry, maximising our voice and influence over central and local government, and other decision makers.
The tourism industry is diverse but needs to speak with one voice to government. We can make positive changes for the tourism industry but only by working together can we shape our future. A collective approach is much stronger and more effective.
Recent government announcements have confirmed the need to strengthen tourism's voice at the national level. We have already lost the Ministry of Tourism and there is a real threat that the visibility of our industry inside government will be further diminished when the Ministry of Economic Development is merged into a super ministry along with the Department of Labour, the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Department of Building and Housing.
Local government reforms are likely to pave the way for more council mergers, creating larger local authorities. There is also concern that government moves to rein in council spending will impact on their investment in tourism infrastructure, events and marketing. We will need to work hard to ensure these larger councils recognise the value tourism can add to their communities and a united voice will definitely help.
The need to ensure we have a well-connected industry association to deal with decision makers and to shape the success of the industry has never been greater.
TIA and NZHC have a history of working well together on issues of mutual interest. The hotel sector is already well represented on TIA's Board.
The hotel sector is a significant contributor to tourism in New Zealand, with NZHC representing the interests of over 130 members throughout New Zealand, including international chain, large independent and privately owned hotels. NZHC members employ 11,000 staff nationally, with annual revenues of more than $866 million.
Current members of NZHC have been integrated into TIA under the Hospitality Division, with NZHC Executive Officer Rachael Shadbolt joining the TIA team to provide a new dedicated hotel sector resource. The NZHC Regional Chairs will remain in place and continue to represent the interests of the hotel members in their regions. The regional chairs will have ready access to the Manager – Hotels and will also meet on a regular basis with the TIA Chief Executive to discuss hotel specific issues.
Both TIA and NZHC members retain all the benefits and services they previously received, and enhancements to these are being developed over the next few months.
The new integrated organisation is committed to continuing strong representation for the non-hotel sectors of the tourism industry. In fact we expect this move will be of significant benefit to all TIA members through the stronger, well resourced association we are creating.
We are continuing discussions with other sectors of the industry, with a view to finding further opportunities for closer collaboration or integration.
