Southern PR Savvy: Issue 18—July 2011

PR is about the big picture. This time we’re talking big picture planning, stepping outside the box, looking to the future and putting yourself on the map. At Southern PR we work to deliver strategic business and communications plans that support this. With that in mind we welcome the season that puts Queenstown on the map and celebrate clients who are making tracks towards becoming an integral part of our world-class tourism Mecca…

From grass roots …
The opening of Kawarau Village, Hilton Queenstown and Kawarau Hotel managed by Hilton has been talk of the town. SPR was delighted to help officially launch the properties with a show-stopping event that reinforced its five-star key messages and a strategic plan that embraces local people as well as the international tourism industry.

Weeks of advance preparation had our team flat-out liaising with the Prime Minister’s office and co-ordinating a formal Māori welcome with Sir Tipene O’Regan’s events team for a champagne reception for the Rt Hon John Key, Hilton VIPs and all guests.

160 people attended the event and its story made front pages, social pages and tourism publications internationally.

...to moving mountains
Striding towards a position as the region’s top sightseeing cruise operator is Southern Discoveries which recently invested in a 50% share of Kawarau Jet and introduced the beautiful Princess to Queenstown Bay.

The company has also announced a new kayaking venture at Milford Sound and has taken over Go Milford, which is based in Te Anau. Southern Discoveries worked with SPR to ensure its planning included spreading the word nationally and internationally through our extensive channels.

Aim high
While the rest of the SPR girls’ were across town at the Hilton Queenstown, our office young gun Fay Whittaker was flying the flag for the team working as Media Coordinator at the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival.

Never one to turn down an opportunity, Fay shot up her hand to add working for the Southern Hemipshere’s biggest winter party to her CV. Armed with well-honed SPR skills (and under the watchful eye of Festival veteran Alexa) Fay temporarily set up desk at Festival HQ to help line up in-house, local, national and international media opportunities.

And what a blast Winter Festival was this year! Once again the event achieved its mission of declaring Queenstown open for winter with a massive party – by and for the community but enjoyed by anyone from anywhere.

A National Treasure
Millbrook Resort has emerged as somewhat of a shining beacon amid today’s shaky economic climate and has done so by standing tall and offering a varied menu of property buying options to local, domestic and overseas buyers.

Following the announcement that its combined property sales totalled more than $21 million so far this financial year it recently celebrated a near record sales month for June 2011.

Southern PR was happy to help publicise their big news in the prestigious National Business Review (NBR) magazine. Property and Development Manager Ben O’Malley was 100% right when he said Millbrook’s maturity, along with its reputation for quality, had resulted in an ‘on-going flight to quality’ by discerning buyers.

ENDS

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