NZONE triumphs at tourism awards

Media statement for immediate release                                        31 August 2007

From NZONE ‘The Ultimate Jump

 
NZONE triumphs at tourism awards
 

Queenstown and Rotorua tandem skydive operator NZONE (n-zone) is skyhigh with delight after winning the country’s top tourism award last night (30 August).

NZONE won New Zealand Tourism Industry Association’s 2007 Supreme Award as well as taking out the Adventure subcategory and the overall category of Visitor Activities and Attractions

Robynne Williams, NZONE’s general manager, literally flew onto the stage at last night’s gala dinner in Auckland to receive the award.

“Competition for these awards and the standard of entry gets higher and higher every year, so we’re absolutely thrilled to be singled out this time for our consistent performance and contribution to adventure tourism,” said Ms Williams.

NZONE was the first tandem skydive operation in New Zealand and the first to be awarded Qualmark endorsement at both its Queenstown and Rotorua locations. While NZONE was a tourism award winner in 2002 and has been a finalist in 2004, 2005 and 2006, this is the first time the company has won the supreme award.

NZONE has experienced a year of strong growth, which the company attributes to capitalising on changing trends, and recognising continued growth in the independent travel sector.

Ms Williams said the independent travel sector had embraced the internet as a research and booking channel and, as a result, had moved towards direct pre-booking of holiday activities.

“There’s a definite trend for more pre-planning by adventure travellers. In the past, this breed of visitors would arrive at a destination with nothing booked, but it’s not uncommon now for us to have some bookings made as far as 10 months in advance,” she said.

“At NZONE our team continually strives to anticipate and respond to market trends, and at the same time enhance both our tandem skydive product and the way we deliver it.

“Undoubtedly skydiving will always be an edgy, adrenalin fuelled and personally challenging adventure. This industry is our passion, and that’s true for every single one of our team; how we hope we differ is by making sure that passion consumes our customers too.”

NZONE was one of six Queenstown finalists in this year’s Tourism Industry Awards. The company beat stiff competition from former Tourism Award winner Dive! Tutukaka and Shotover Canyon Swing to take home the Adventure Award.

BACKGROUNDER

NZONE directors have grown their business from a modest staff of three in 1990, to a team of 40 full-time, dedicated skydiving enthusiasts spanning their Queenstown and Rotorua operations.

As Queenstown’s only tandem skydive company, NZONE operates from its private airstrip on farm land just twenty minutes from the town centre. In Rotorua, the company operates from the airport.

As New Zealand industry leaders, NZONE’s business philosophy focuses on value coupled with exceptional quality. To date more than 110,000 customers have tandem skydived from NZONE’s attention grabbing aircraft. 

The company challenges customers to experience the adrenalin-fuelled freefall of the ‘Exosfear’ 15,000ft jump, ‘Stratosfear’ 12,000ft jump or ‘Troposfear’ 9,000ft jump.

Tandem skydiving is rated amongst the top three adventure activities undertaken by international visitors to New Zealand.

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