Backpacker conference 18 September 2009 Qualmark New Zealand Limited Backpacker conference 18 September 2009

Today 5 reasons ..why Qualmark Customer vrs expert rating systems Future trends

5 reasons 1) Affordability 1-49 beds $470 +GST (It is right…. Geoff) You should save this with enviro actions that reduce costs We offer monthly payment options Should you have to pay more …BBH? Is there value for money ?

Growth 2002- 2009

Coverage across all sectors Select All chain members as average Assessment score Nationwide Same Star Grade Individual Chain Members Grade Region Selection of Star Grades Section All Star Grades Subsection Assessment Date Range

2) Visibility Access to the brand of New Zealand Part of 100% Pure Assurance promotion Tourism NZ website www.NewZealand.com Qualmark travel Guide featuring 2,000 accommodation, activity and transport businesses Data feeds to travel sites/GPS providers Visibility in i-sites (all Qualmark rated by end of 2009) But do backpackers look for it……

100% Pure Assurance

Other initiatives

Around New Zealand

3) Credibility Independent- not for profit organisation – crown entity Manage 40 sets of criteria developed by industry Criteria has 500 quality aspects including 120 min req for backpackers – facilities/service/safety/business practices Membership requirement for ITOC full members/ DOC limited supply concessions/ TIA industry awards/ Ports of Tauranga in 2009/10 But do backpackers care…

Bay of Plenty Bay of Plenty Tourism and Ports of Tauranga from November 2009 will only sell Qualmark rated businesses to cruise ship customers

4) Usability Business report designed for a tourism business Backpacker standards not hotel standards Professional assessors visit 200 businesses every year Focus on “improvement” discussion/ templates available So will the backpacker notice…

Going Green August 2008 introduced Qualmark Green All assessments include environmental management criteria Acknowledgement for actions in energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, conservation and community

Green branding www.environewzealand.co.nz (Air New Zealand website)

5) Sustainability Responsible tourism … Environmental credentials Step by step approach…tools…templates...guide Checklist (Environmental impacts) – action plan – list of initiatives – monitor & measure improvements Delivers to the New Zealand image.. Backpackers will increasingly look for this… Challenging times ahead…Differentiation is key… Making Qualmarked businesses the first choice for travellers

Customer rating systems Valuable important tool Can be manipulated by competitors Customers are not fools Another piece of the puzzle (location/price/availability….quality…environmental) Qualmark – we rate it

Future trends Backpackers will travel and look for valuable experiences “She’ll be right” or lets get it right Telling the New Zealand story….telling it well Using responsible tourism to be responsible International profiling of Qualmark over the next month includes booths at international travel shows in Thailand and Singapore with poster display of the attached PDF file.  These include the NATAS Travel Fair in Singapore from 26 Febrary to 1 March and the Thai International Travel Show in Bangkok from 27 February to 1 March.    Further to that Qualmark, new '100% Pure Assurance' imagery (see image attached) will be displayed at the Tourism New Zealand booth at the Travel XPO in Sydney on 14 and 15 March and Melbourne on 21 and 22 March and Kiwilink North America (Vancouver, Los Angeles).  The new AA Qualmark Travel Guides will also be distributed. 

The future