IN THIS ISSUE

▼ Airport aims for tourism growth

▼ A new type of Chinese traveller

▼ Airport lounge named the best

▼ Stair climb raises $380,000

▼ Turning on the lights

Keeping you informed | ISSN 1176-9432 Airport aims for tourism growth Attracting a new type of Chinese traveller also needs to reinforce its position as a luxury destination in order to capture a new generation of affluent Chinese tourists.

Speaking at TRENZ as part of the Auckland Airport International Speaker Series, Pierre Gervois (pictured below), a leading expert in As buyers and exhibitors for TRENZ – New tourism markets by 2020 and experts say Chinese outbound tourism, said the Zealand’s biggest annual international New Zealand needs to get ready. Chinese love to travel and they have tourism event – gathered in Queenstown, Trevor Lee of TravConsult, specialists in unlimited holiday options to choose Auckland Airport outlined ambitions to help international customer service and tourism from. grow visitor numbers to New Zealand to development, told TRENZ delegates at the more than 3.5 million and their visitor spend Auckland Airport International Speaker to $8.5 billion by 2020. Series that ’s outbound traveller is Under the title “Ambition 2020”, airport CEO sophisticated and experienced. Simon Moutter says the airport is working “My advice would be for New Zealand to get with its airline customers to attract more much savvier about emerging markets in flights on more routes from key source travel ASEAN and to better understand what markets, as well as working with the industry makes them tick and their many cultural to attract a more valuable mix of visitors. differences.” “This accelerated growth in value is not only In recognition of this the airport has launched good for our business, it is crucial to the a new luxury website and social media entire tourism and trade sector and the New activity targeting Indonesians interested in “To compete, New Zealand needs Zealand economy.” travelling to premium destinations. to be less shy about marketing its Glenn Wedlock, Auckland Airport general premium offer and dare to sell to this manager aeronautical commercial, points to affluent audience. The super wealthy Asia as the market with the largest growth in China would only consider a potential, both in visitor arrivals and the minimum US$50,000 a week holiday amount they will spend when they’re here. package or it’s not of the right value for them.” He points out that while China is a vital growth market, the rapidly growing ASEAN Auckland Airport and Pierre’s markets such as Indonesia, , company China Elite Focus have and are also important, www.luxurynz.co.id, www.facebook.com/ developed Luxury New Zealand, and traditional markets such as Japan and luxurynz.indonesia and @LuxuryNZ_ID have a highly targeted initiative designed Korea are rebounding well. been created to engage and influence to reach Chinese travellers affluent Indonesians by showcasing the very interested in New Zealand and The main contributing markets to the best New Zealand has to offer. luxury travel. “Ambition 2020” $8.5 billion target are; Asia (potentially worth $2.9b), Australia ($2.35b), Complementing this, Indonesian celebrity It relies heavily on social media, North America ($800m), the UK ($690m) and chef Farah Quinn (pictured) toured New and feedback since the launch in Germany ($290m). Zealand during TRENZ in a bid to use her May 2011 has been positive. massive popularity and social media Indonesia: a rapidly emerging market following at home to spread the message Head to www.aucklandairport.co.nz Auckland Airport analysis forecasts that that New Zealand is a must-see luxury to read the full press release for this Indonesia will be one of the fastest-growing destination. and other initiatives. Airport Times | June 2012 2 Airport lounge named the best Turning on the lights A new kind of light is landing at Auckland Airport’s departures area, saving energy at the same time as creating a much-improved environment for staff and customers.

Over the next six weeks every light fitting in the area – from the baggage conveyor to the check-in desks, queuing area and concourse – will be replaced with energy efficient LED. Auckland Airport’s new luxury lounge was specially developed to suit both halal and named “Best 3rd Party Lounge” at the non-halal dietary requirements, and is just Malaysian Airlines Customers Experience part of the overall premium offer which Awards, held in Kuala Lumpur. includes complimentary beverages, free Wi-Fi access, shower packs and relaxing The Emperor Lounge was awarded the title surroundings close to the airport’s award based on an international survey conducted winning retail space. by Malaysian Airlines, customer feedback and independent assessments of all their The Emperor Lounge complements a third party lounges around the world. number of existing airline-operated lounges located at Auckland, providing greater In October 2011, the Emperor Lounge choice for partner airlines and passengers. initially opened to host Malaysia Airlines’ premium customers; supporting Malaysia Glenn Wedlock, general manager Airlines’ brand aspiration of “Malaysian aeronautical commercial says meeting the The new fittings will reduce glare Hospitality” by delivering a high quality high standards required of a five-star airline and create an “always open for lounge experience on the airline’s behalf. is a significant achievement. business” look and feel for departing The Emperor Lounge then launched publicly “Our objective is to ensure the guests of our passengers. in January 2012, becoming New Zealand’s airline customers are getting a great 0800 Save Energy, who are offering first premium lounge facility catering for all service.” the turn-key installation, are also international passengers regardless of the For more information on the Emperor providing an intelligent computer airline they are flying with. Lounge or to pre-book from only $49 per controlled system that will allow The fully inclusive lounge menu has been person, go to www.aucklandairport.co.nz. remote light level changes on individual fittings. The system also logs on when any of the light fittings Stair climb raises $380,000 fail so maintenance can respond Racing up 1103 steps is never an easy task, quickly and energy savings will be but every year hundreds of hardy souls tracked for the next three years. do just that – most of them wearing a full Martin Fryer, Sustainability Advisor, firefighting kit weighing up to 25kg – to raise is excited about the project. “In this money for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer one project we will improve the (LBC). working environment, reduce energy Several staff members from Auckland consumption, improve the passenger Airport competed on the day, and the airport experience and visibly demonstrate is also a major sponsor. The 126 teams of our commitment to sustainability.” firefighters collectively raised over $320,000 this year, and the 17 airport firefighters who competed received a special prize for raising $41,000 of it. The corporate teams Hancock, Jan Frazer and Simon O’Leary – raised another $60,000 on the Friday night made fourth place overall in their race. before the challenge. % A big thank you goes out to everyone 61.8 Auckland Airport’s Mary-Anne Powell who competed as well as anyone who (pictured) was one of the brave non- contributed to the funds raised by the firefighters who donned the full firefighting airport’s corporate team and those collected The increase in the gear to compete in the Squad Seven race. by the firefighters while training on Auckland number of Japanese She managed to get to the top in under Airport escalators. 27 minutes, proving the worth of months visitor arrivals at The money raised helps LBC continue to of pre-challenge training on the stairs and support patients and their families after Auckland in April 2012 escalators. receiving a diagnosis of blood cancer or when compared with The firefighters’ team came second in the related condition. The firefighter’s event challenge and the airport’s corporate team alone has now raised more than $1.1 million April 2011. – Wayne Nichol, Fiona Wright, Michelle over the past eight years. Airport Times | June 2012 3 Charity auctions raise over $57,900 Silver for sustainability Auckland Airport has once again confirmed its status as a leader in the sustainability field after retaining its Silver certification under the EarthCheck global sustainable tourism scheme. EarthCheck is the key benchmarking, certification and environmental management programme used by the global travel and tourism industry, and the airport has been joined by the architecturally award-winning Novotel Auckland Airport, which achieved Silver status earlier this year.

Graeme Dingle (left) with Charles Spillane (right).

The Foundation for Youth Development the money over to FYD founder Graeme (FYD) received a substantial contribution Dingle in early May. Charles says he’s from Auckland Airport thanks to huge public delighted with the result. interest in buying pieces of the airport’s “We knew that the pieces of the solari history. board would be in high demand, but this Units from the international terminal’s solari result has certainly exceeded our departures board – decommissioned after expectations. This has been a win-win 30 years of non-stop service – were put up situation for everyone – the public having for 100 separate auctions on Trade Me in their chance to secure a piece of aviation April and bids from members of the public history, FYD receiving this substantial took the total raised to $57,913. donation and Auckland Airport supporting a charity that directly benefits youth within our The entire amount was given to FYD to help local community.” Airport sustainability adviser Martin them with their goal of inspiring school age Fryer says the fact two companies New Zealand children to reach their full The solari board was believed to be the last at the key gateway to New Zealand potential through programmes such as Kiwi of its kind in New Zealand and so rare that have achieved certification is a real Can, Project K and Stars. parts for it ceased being made more than result for the country’s tourism. five years ago. Charles Spillane, Auckland Airport general “International visitors can arrive manager corporate affairs, officially handed www.fyd.org.nz at an airport that is committed to sustainable business practice and walk into the foyer of a 4.5 star Something smells fantastic airport hotel adopting the same principles.

Renowned Kiwi fragrance and bodycare “This is a fantastic way for visitors brand Ecoya has chosen Auckland Airport’s to be welcomed into New Zealand.” international terminal for their first ever retail space. Martin says that achieving the certification involves going through It will share the 23sqm space with sister an extremely rigorous process company Trilogy, giving passengers the that focuses on all areas of airport opportunity to take favourite scents such as operations – from carbon emissions lotus flower and French pear with them as to the use of biodegradable they take off for foreign ports. chemicals. The “fragrance lab” will stock products from “It’s fantastic to receive this ongoing small travel candles to life-sized human recognition,” Martin says. busts, as well as a multitude of fragrances – a fresh kind of gift for departing Kiwis the range of new retailers the airport has “Particularly as we are creating a and visitors who want a memento that is built up over the past few years. new, long-term, sustainable business different to the norm. Ecoya CEO Geoff Ross says the company strategy that includes targets of EarthCheck Gold and Platinum Auckland Airport general manager retail and will be closely assessing the Auckland certification over the coming five commercial, Adrian Littlewood, says he’s location with a view to opening a similar to 10 years.” excited to welcome Ecoya to the airport, store in Sydney this year. pointing out that it is a fantastic addition to www.ecoya.com www.earthcheck.org Airport Times | June 2012 4 Students off to a flying start A day in the life ... airfield officers Airfield officers at Auckland Airport are integral to the safe running of the airport – from making sure the runways and taxiways are free from debris to guiding unfamiliar pilots into the aerodrome, you never know what’s going to happen from one shift to the next. Simon Macpherson gives us an inside look:

The first shift of the day signs in at

Colleen Teaukura from Mangere College (left) and Tracy Nguyen from Papatoetoe High School (right). 6.45am and over the next 12 hours only a few things are certain: two As part of the Tertiary Education spent each Friday afternoon at the airport runway inspections, a few airfield Commission’s Gateway programme, with employees who taught them about their equipment checks, and instant coffee. students from Otahuhu College, Papatoetoe roles. The rest … you never really know. High School and Mangere College have Colleen Teaukura from Mangere College been spending their Fridays gaining was placed with the Auckland Airport Airfield workplace experience at Auckland Airport. Operations Team and spent her first day “on The Gateway programme allows senior the job” getting a tour of the airport airside students to gain work experience at environment. businesses throughout New Zealand so “The whole experience was awesome. On they can make an informed choice about my first day I was out on the runway doing where to pursue their career. At 9.30am it’s time to hit the runway inspections with the operations officers. for an inspection. We make sure it is Auckland Airport has been offering work It was unreal because I never thought I clear of any foreign objects that could experience to students from Otahuhu would ever be out on the runway,” says cause an unsafe landing or take-off College for four years, and it has recently Colleen. before doing a detailed inspection of expanded to include the other two South “We were also taken for an on-board tour of all taxiways while dodging taxiing Auckland secondary schools. an Emirates A380 which was unbelievable aircraft – it’s not for the weary. During April, students from the three schools because it was just so big.” The afternoon usually consists of checking the airport equipment before a second runway inspection. Sharp look for airport i-SITE To maintain our Civil Aviation A spruced up i-SITE Visitor Centre is turning Operating Certificate we must heads in the Arrival’s Hall of Auckland complete four runway inspections in International Airport. 24 hours – the other two are completed by the night shift. The information centre – located opposite McDonalds – has enjoyed several changes There is never a dull day at the and is now lighter, brighter and more airport. Sometimes we are called accessible to visitors. upon to provide a “follow me” service to pilots, which is as exciting as it is The i-SITE boasts better lighting, more scary – there’s nothing quite like the brochure racks and two new service desks, feeling of two to four roaring engines as well as space for customers to sit and tail-gating you. We also coordinate read brochures and maps. rescue teams during an emergency ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and and assist the police once they arrive. Economic Development) Visitor Services Airport staff are encouraged to drop into Manager Cecil Potatau says all the changes the i-SITE to get help with booking There are 25 staff qualified for this are designed to provide a warm welcome to domestic travel experiences – including position and in spite of the bad instant visitors. accommodation and activities – right across coffee, we love the job, the people, New Zealand. the aircraft, and the environment we “The centre is more open and welcoming for work in. visitors and locals alike to come in and talk to For more information or travel bookings our team about booking travel experiences in call 0800 AUCKLAND or email Read the full article at Auckland and across New Zealand,” he says. [email protected] www.aucklandairport.co.nz

Auckland International Airport Limited PO Box 73020, Auckland Airport, Manukau 2150, New Zealand Phone: +64 9 275 0789 or 0800 247 767 (calls within New Zealand only) [email protected] Top 10 Airport 2011 2010 2009 www.aucklandairport.co.nz