Helicopters transforming Waiheke corporate hospitality

Helicopters transforming the corporate hospitality market on Waiheke

Waiheke has come of age as an international-standard destination for corporate hospitality, with the transformation partly due to a little heralded transport option: helicopters.

Heletranz founded Heli Dining and Lodging at Waiheke, and has provided flights for corporate hosting, conferences, private lodges and Christmas parties for more than 28 years. But in the last few months the service has taken off dramatically, with a substantial increase in bookings from the business sector compared with the same time last year.

"Stonyridge was our first heli dining experience at a vineyard in the 1980s,” says John Ambler, CEO of Heletranz. “It’s always been a popular destination for our clients, and is handily located right next to an airfield and close to the ferry. A number of other Waiheke restaurants have only been allowed a very limited number of helicopter landings, which has restricted access and options."

This has all changed in time for the 2013 Christmas season.

Mudbrick, Heletranz’s second heli dining vineyard, was established in the early ‘90s but until recently only permitted 10 helicopter landings a month. This has now increased significantly, along with helicopter landings at Poderi Crisci and Te Whau. Cable Bay and Man O’War also enjoy a good number of consented helicopter landings.

With the likes of Poderi Crisci a 45-minute drive from the ferry, and comparatively few taxis available on the island, these changes are already having a noticeable impact.

"Our restaurant is an exclusive destination, remote and untouched, and helicopter access is an important part of that offering,” says Antonio Crisci of Poderi Crisci. “Waiheke is a quintessential part of the Auckland experience. The improved helicopter landings mean that people who have only a short time in the area can visit the island, and the overall number of visitors is sure to increase.”

Ambler predicts that all the top restaurants and vineyards on Waiheke will see a significant boost in guests this summer, particularly with companies hosting VIPs and staff pre-Christmas.

"Flying by helicopter is such a special and memorable experience, as well as being a practical, versatile transport option. Lots of companies fly their guests over to Waiheke with us, then they catch the ferry back. Because Heletranz helicopters are some of the few that are equipped to fly at night, clients often book us for the return journey too. They get home quickly, and have the bonus of a spectacular aerial view of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf during the flight back."

heletranz.co.nz

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