First Asian Service Centre Takes Off

Media Release

12 May 2008

Flight Centre’s First Asian Service Centre Takes Off

Flight Centre New Zealand is launching its first Asian language store today in the heart of Auckland’s central business district.

The Shortland St store has been designed to better cater for the increasing Asian population in Auckland, with experienced travel consultants who speak a range of Asian languages.

The shop, called the “Asian Service Centre”, will retain Flight Centre’s Unbeatable branding, including the iconic Flight Centre Captain, but all advertising specifically for the store will be communicated in Mandarin and Cantonese.

The Asian language store will be the first for a major travel retailer in New Zealand and Flight Centre Retail Manager Jared Baker says it is a very exciting project that will bring the Flight Centre brand to a new segment of the travel market.

“Flight Centre is such a well known name and our stores are now well spread throughout the country, so to continue Flight Centre’s growth, the logical progression is to tailor our products to specific demographics", he says.

“This store has come about as the direct result of suggestions from our consultants and we look forward to seeing how well it is received by the Asian community.”

The 2006 New Zealand Census revealed that almost one in five people living in Auckland City (18.4 percent) were born in Asia.

Asian language speaking customers living outside of Auckland will be able to book through the store through a dedicated 0800 number nationwide, and the Flight Centre website at www.flightcentre.co.nz.

If the Asian Service Centre is a success, Mr Baker says the company will look at opening up additional specialised stores in other New Zealand cities.

Flight Centre (NZ) is New Zealand’s largest travel agency, with 127 retail stores nationwide.

ENDS

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