Hospitality industry should ‘lead buy example’

8 August 2007

Hospitality industry should ‘lead buy example’ and support Buy Kiwi Made

The chairman of New Zealand’s largest independently owned and operated hotel group says the hospitality industry has a significant opportunity, and a responsibility, to make a commitment to the Buy Kiwi Made campaign.

Scenic Circle Hotels’ Earl Hagaman says with over 2.4 million visitors to our shores each year, and Kiwis making 15 million overnight trips domestically*, the hospitality industry at all levels should be seeking to expose visitors to more New Zealand made products. “We’ve got every reason to pick up the flag and run with it, so to speak.

Guests come here for a New Zealand experience, and that’s not limited to seeing the sights and observing the culture. Hotels, for example, can enhance guests’ experiences by providing quality New Zealand made beds and bedding for guests to sleep in, natural New Zealand made bathroom supplies to use during their stay, quality New Zealand wool carpets to walk on, and a wide selection of New Zealand food and beverages that showcases what is produced here.

“We aren’t really interested in hosting international guests and showing them what they already may see, use, eat or drink in their home country. Even for Kiwis travelling domestically, hotel restaurants have an opportunity to focus on regional produce and wines, and we can promote other products that guests can buy themselves at home.”

Earl Hagaman says the government’s Buy Kiwi Made campaign has a two-fold application for the hospitality industry. “Not only does it promote the stance that businesses in our sector should be buying Kiwi made themselves and supporting the domestic economy, but they also can consider their role in the wider context by sharing that message and philosophy with their millions of customers.”

Mr Hagaman says he wants his company to “lead buy example”, and Scenic Circle Hotels has made several moves to deliberately increase its focus on highlighting Kiwi made products throughout its operations.

Scenic Circle Hotels’ procurement policy contains a key principal that a full and fair opportunity be provided for New Zealand producers and vendors to establish supplier relationships with the company. “We take an interest in where our spending dollars end up – are they staying in New Zealand, or taking off overseas?” says Mr Hagaman.

The company’s procurement manager Donna Harvey says, “We are not advocating that every item stocked in every hotel or company must be New Zealand made, but having an increased consciousness of New Zealand industry when making purchasing decisions is in everyone’s interest, and we believe it is especially relevant to the tourism and hospitality sector.”

A few of Scenic Circle Hotels’ purchasing decisions may come with a slightly higher price tag than sourcing cheaper imported products, but that is certainly not a universal condition nor is it an insurmountable barrier. “Not all New Zealand products come at a premium price, and price is not the only factor to consider in the hotel trade. We are offering quality; we are offering an experience; and we are representing New Zealand to thousands of visitors, from around the world and from within New Zealand itself – and that also has a value to consider,” says Donna Harvey. She says the timing of the government’s Buy Kiwi Made campaign is a happy coincidence that gives the company extra motivation to implement a New Zealand-friendly approach to procurement.
‘LEADING BUY EXAMPLE’ – SCENIC CIRCLE HOTELS

WINE
Scenic Circle Hotels has recently signed a large deal with Villa Maria to supply New Zealand wines into all 16 of its hotels for the next two years. All wines available in Scenic Circle hotels are now New Zealand wines (with the natural exception of champagne).

Villa Maria Estate is a NZ family owned winery and has a history of producing consistently high quality wine, reflected in its strong track record of achievements in wine competitions. Villa Maria wines form the mainstay of Scenic Circle Hotels’ wine lists. Standard lists have been devised for the North Island and the South Island; and each individual hotel will supplement the Villa Maria listing with selected wines from their local region. For example Chard Farm features at Scenic Circle hotels around Otago, Southland and the West Coast; the Scenic Circle Te Pania Hotel in Napier offers Matariki and Mission Estate wines; and the company’s two Paihia hotels serve wine from Northland’s Omata Estate winery.

FOOD
Scenic Circle Hotels is increasing its emphasis on showcasing regional produce, and using New Zealand made products over imported alternatives - such as New Zealand olive oil. The company’s main supplier of fresh and prepared produce is a New Zealand owned and operated company Fresh Connection Limited.
Restaurant menus are being revised to promote the use of locally sourced ingredients.

SKINCARE PRODUCTS

By the end of the year, guests at most Scenic Circle hotels will be using New Zealand made ‘Earths Organics’ skincare products, from Kiwi company Les Floralies. Les Floralies has grown from a home-based business, established 1988, to become New Zealand's premier producer of innovative bath and body ranges. It will provide New Zealand made shampoo, conditioner, soap, bath and shower crème, and hand and body lotion (in recyclable packaging)

BEDDING

- SCH has worked with Christchurch company Fibretech to develop a custom-made feather/wool bed top in its flagship hotel, the Scenic Circle Southern Cross Hotel in Dunedin, and duvets to others. Fibretech’s Nimbus range of pillows features on the ‘pillow menu’ at the Southern Cross and other four-star and higher hotels.

- SCH purchases New Zealand made beds from Sleepyhead and Sleepmaker.
- Auckland company Uren Barsal supplies bedding items such as Continental blankets, bed covers and valances, which are manufactured in Auckland.
Some of the special bedding products have proved so popular that hotel guests have contacted the supplier companies directly to purchase them for their own use.

ENDS

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