REDBALLOON EXPANDS ITS PRESENCE IN NEW ZEALAND
Announcement posted by Porter Novelli 21 Jan 2016
New Zealand travel, tourism and experience providers set to benefit from big player ramping up efforts locally in 2016
Recognising the potential of New Zealand’s ever-growing tourism market and reputation for incredible experiences, online experience retailer RedBalloon is kicking off 2016 by ramping up its New Zealand operations.
RedBalloon has had a presence in New Zealand for 12 years, launching the redballoon.co.nz business in December 2003, only two years after Founding Directors Naomi Simson and Peter Simson established the Australian business.
Whilst being Australia’s leading online experience retailer, up until now, the business has really only dipped their toes in the kiwi market but that’s all about to change in 2016 according to RedBalloon CEO Nick Baker.
Baker was appointed in March last year, and hasn’t wasted any time setting some major changes in motion: Launching a new website, undertaking a full re-brand, and signing major corporate partners including Velocity and Accor Hotels.
According to Baker, with the foundations for RedBalloon in great shape, now is the right time to really embrace the New Zealand market and drive incremental value for local operators.
“We’re now in a position where RedBalloon is moving towards live availability, so we want to appeal to the 1.3 million Aussies who arrive in New Zealand every year,” Baker said.
“This time we have a clear strategy and we’ve employed a local professional with a great depth of experience with New Zealand trade and tourism. Having looked at the market from a fresh perspective and scoped out the opportunity, we’re much better positioned to have a go at bringing New Zealand to life.”
Former Tourism New Zealand employee Adam Hughes has been appointed Regional Product and Partnerships Manager and will be based in Rotorua for the first six months while he grows the local experience portfolio.
“I’m thrilled to join the RedBalloon team and to be working with great kiwi businesses - big and small - to increase the profile of this established brand locally," Mr Hughes said.
"The New Zealand travel, tourism and experiences market is incredibly diverse and offers a range of options which many tourists to the north and south islands are probably unaware.
“We want to open their eyes to the possibilities available as part of an New Zealand holiday, as well as experiences locals can enjoy in their own hometowns. The opportunities are seemingly endless."
Well-known tourism industry leader and Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) Chairman Denis Pierce has been assisting RedBalloon with their New Zealand efforts and future strategy.
A New Zealander by birth, Mr Pierce has a wealth of hands-on tourism experience, which he put to work touring Mr Baker through the Queenstown/Wanaka area recently.
“I have spent my whole career selling the excitement of visitor experiences to both the New Zealand and Australian markets,” Mr Pierce said.
“This is an overdue and exciting progression for RedBalloon that will bring exciting and valuable new business to New Zealand shores. RedBalloon will quite quickly have an unparalleled range of compelling and unique experiences based on what we’ve seen.
“I couldn’t be happier to be working alongside a great brand as they take their next step into a great country.”
The RedBalloon New Zealand site currently features 207 local products, with the aim of doubling this in the next six months.
“We’re looking for great New Zealand suppliers to come on board. RedBalloon take a great deal of effort choosing, curating and on-boarding new suppliers to ensure they become part of the RedBalloon family,” Mr Baker said.
“From gourmet food and wine to health and wellbeing opportunities, as well as some of the world’s most exhilarating experiences New Zealand has an exceptional offering for visitors, and locals to enjoy.
“It’s important to note that we’re not just after the big operators. We also want to talk to the smaller organisations who cater for specialist experiences or passion areas. We have the ability to raise the profiles of smaller organisations to an audience that wouldn’t have otherwise seen them.”
The current redballoon.co.nz website will also be relaunched in 2016 offering a state-of-the-art user experience and showcase for the experience providers.
ENDS
For further Information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Andrew Kingsford-Smith, Porter Novelli
akingsford-smith@porternovelli.com.au / 02 8987 2138 / 0411 424 186
ABOUT RED BALLOON
RedBalloon.com.au is Australia’s most awarded online experience retailer. RedBalloon has almost 3 million experiences since it was established in 2001 with the vision of delivering experience activities as gifts. Today it offers more than 3000 unique experiences from more than 1000 providers across Australia and New Zealand. RedBalloon also distributes gift cards through selected major retailers nationally, including Coles, Woolworths, Big W, Australia Post, Target, Kmart and Officeworks. Visit redballoon.com.au.
RedBalloon has had a presence in New Zealand for 12 years, launching the redballoon.co.nz business in December 2003, only two years after Founding Directors Naomi Simson and Peter Simson established the Australian business.
Whilst being Australia’s leading online experience retailer, up until now, the business has really only dipped their toes in the kiwi market but that’s all about to change in 2016 according to RedBalloon CEO Nick Baker.
Baker was appointed in March last year, and hasn’t wasted any time setting some major changes in motion: Launching a new website, undertaking a full re-brand, and signing major corporate partners including Velocity and Accor Hotels.
According to Baker, with the foundations for RedBalloon in great shape, now is the right time to really embrace the New Zealand market and drive incremental value for local operators.
“We’re now in a position where RedBalloon is moving towards live availability, so we want to appeal to the 1.3 million Aussies who arrive in New Zealand every year,” Baker said.
“This time we have a clear strategy and we’ve employed a local professional with a great depth of experience with New Zealand trade and tourism. Having looked at the market from a fresh perspective and scoped out the opportunity, we’re much better positioned to have a go at bringing New Zealand to life.”
Former Tourism New Zealand employee Adam Hughes has been appointed Regional Product and Partnerships Manager and will be based in Rotorua for the first six months while he grows the local experience portfolio.
“I’m thrilled to join the RedBalloon team and to be working with great kiwi businesses - big and small - to increase the profile of this established brand locally," Mr Hughes said.
"The New Zealand travel, tourism and experiences market is incredibly diverse and offers a range of options which many tourists to the north and south islands are probably unaware.
“We want to open their eyes to the possibilities available as part of an New Zealand holiday, as well as experiences locals can enjoy in their own hometowns. The opportunities are seemingly endless."
Well-known tourism industry leader and Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) Chairman Denis Pierce has been assisting RedBalloon with their New Zealand efforts and future strategy.
A New Zealander by birth, Mr Pierce has a wealth of hands-on tourism experience, which he put to work touring Mr Baker through the Queenstown/Wanaka area recently.
“I have spent my whole career selling the excitement of visitor experiences to both the New Zealand and Australian markets,” Mr Pierce said.
“This is an overdue and exciting progression for RedBalloon that will bring exciting and valuable new business to New Zealand shores. RedBalloon will quite quickly have an unparalleled range of compelling and unique experiences based on what we’ve seen.
“I couldn’t be happier to be working alongside a great brand as they take their next step into a great country.”
The RedBalloon New Zealand site currently features 207 local products, with the aim of doubling this in the next six months.
“We’re looking for great New Zealand suppliers to come on board. RedBalloon take a great deal of effort choosing, curating and on-boarding new suppliers to ensure they become part of the RedBalloon family,” Mr Baker said.
“From gourmet food and wine to health and wellbeing opportunities, as well as some of the world’s most exhilarating experiences New Zealand has an exceptional offering for visitors, and locals to enjoy.
“It’s important to note that we’re not just after the big operators. We also want to talk to the smaller organisations who cater for specialist experiences or passion areas. We have the ability to raise the profiles of smaller organisations to an audience that wouldn’t have otherwise seen them.”
The current redballoon.co.nz website will also be relaunched in 2016 offering a state-of-the-art user experience and showcase for the experience providers.
ENDS
For further Information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Andrew Kingsford-Smith, Porter Novelli
akingsford-smith@porternovelli.com.au / 02 8987 2138 / 0411 424 186
ABOUT RED BALLOON
RedBalloon.com.au is Australia’s most awarded online experience retailer. RedBalloon has almost 3 million experiences since it was established in 2001 with the vision of delivering experience activities as gifts. Today it offers more than 3000 unique experiences from more than 1000 providers across Australia and New Zealand. RedBalloon also distributes gift cards through selected major retailers nationally, including Coles, Woolworths, Big W, Australia Post, Target, Kmart and Officeworks. Visit redballoon.com.au.