Tourism Business Makes Significant Investment

Media Release from Milford Sound Red Boat Cruises
March 23 2009

Tourism Business Makes Significant Investment In Queenstown Retail Market

Mitre Peak

Premier New Zealand tourism company Milford Sound Red Boats Ltd will make a ‘significant’ investment into the Queenstown retail market when it opens its first ever retail store in early May.

The long-running company offers the most modern cruising experience in Milford Sound with a fleet of three spacious catamarans and the Encounter Cruise. It also operates Milford Deep, New Zealand’s only floating underwater observatory, and the Blue Duck Café and Bar in Milford Sound.

The 80sq m store will be in the revamped Plaza Arcade with prime footage facing onto Queenstown’s busy Shotover Street.

The light and airy space will receive an interior fitout designed by Mike McCaw of Designability, a multi-award-winning company known for its quality craftsmanship and winning concepts.

Milford Sound Red Boats General Manager John Robson said the new store would be operated in partnership with InterCity Group, which incorporates Intercity Coach lines, Awesome, and premium tourism coach service Great Sights.

“We are moving our reservations office staff into these premises so it will cater for up to seven full-time staff and will be open seven days a week, managed by retail manager Anna Bartlett.

“This is a high visibility site with high foot traffic, so it’s the perfect opportunity for us to launch ourselves into the retail market as a primarily Milford-focused outlet.

“However we will of course also offer a full information and booking service for all activities in this region.”

Milford Sound Red Boats Ltd is owned by the Dunedin-based Skeggs Group, and Managing Director David Skeggs said the company had a positive outlook in relation to the tourism sector.

“We took over the company six months ago and said then that we saw good growth potential.

“We have an on-going programme of investment to raise awareness of our products and the services we offer, of which our new retail store is a very important element.”

ENDS

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