25 Years in Tourism Consulting - A Journey of Collaboration & Growth

1 August 2025

Today officially marks 25 years since I began my contracting and consulting journey in our tourism industry. What an incredible ride it's been, supporting remarkable projects and working alongside exceptional people who make our industry shine.

Some of the Highlights:
Working with New Zealand Tourism Award winners has been a true privilege, witnessing excellence across our industry.

Delivering the annual RTNZ/Inbound Trade Event in Auckland connected inbound agents with the regions around New Zealand.

My 22-year partnership with Edgewater - Lake Wanaka stands as a testament to building lasting relationships - from that initial contract in 2003 (thanks to a referral from Steve Lindsay). Along the way I’ve had worked with great General Managers; Leigh Stock, Mike Barton, Jonathan Brown, Cath Bone and Colin McClean. And like a boomerang, Leigh Stock again!

The NZ Ski Tourism Marketing Network campaign was particularly rewarding - combining Australian advertising with hosted media programme for Australian lifestyle writers.

Most recently, establishing the New Zealand Travel Collective has allowed me to represent a diverse portfolio of accommodations, activities, and transport operators to the international travel trade.

Many thanks to:
Special thanks to Steve Lindsay (then Shotover Jet Group) and Kevin Ford (then Rainbow Springs & Farm Show) for facilitating my smooth transition to consulting and for becoming my first clients.

To Jacqui Lloyd then at Tourism Auckland for entrusting me with the RTNZ-Inbound Trade events.

Special mention to the late Graham Budd (Destination Queenstown) and the awesome humans at the ski resorts and associated regional tourism organisations.

As I prepare to attend the TECNZ Conference in Paihia next week and look ahead to six busy months of marketing projects and New Zealand Travel Collective activations, I look forward to not only the rest of this year, but hopefully a few more good years to come in the industry.   Nga mihi.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari kē he toa takitini.
My success should not be bestowed onto me alone, it was not individual success but the success of a collective