Auckland Airport hosting intensive China-ready workshops

Media Release | 20 May 2013

Auckland Airport hosting intensive China-ready workshops

Auckland Airport has announced it is hosting a week of workshops for airport staff to learn more about our Chinese visitors

Part of Auckland Airport’s broader Ambition 2020 programme to grow New Zealand’s share from high growth markets, the workshops are designed to help staff at Auckland Airport deliver better airport experiences for Chinese tourists – currently the fastest growing tourism market for New Zealand.

Glenn Wedlock, Auckland Airport’s General Manager Aeronautical Commercial, says the workshops are another initiative from the airport to foster and build enduring relationships with China.

“China is one of the world’s leading economies and a huge growth opportunity for New Zealand. We have experienced impressive growth in Chinese arrivals during the Chinese New Year period with 30% year on year growth in the combined two month January and February period.” says Mr Wedlock.

“New Zealand is fast becoming a very popular Chinese holiday destination and it is important that we prepare as an industry to cater for demand and maximise the benefits this market can bring to New Zealand. Chinese visitors spent $673 million in the year to March 2013, a massive increase of 42 per cent on the previous 12 months,” continues Mr Wedlock.

“These workshops will provide staff across the board at Auckland Airport with increased knowledge of how best to interact with our Chinese visitors, ensuring that we in turn provide the best possible travelling experience for them.”

The workshops, which begin today and run for the rest of the week, will see employees from Auckland Airport’s Aeronautical Operations and Retail and Commercial teams, as well as staff from Customs, Ministry of Primary Industries and the Police, receive intensive training in Chinese behaviour and communication styles from TravConsult, specialists in international customer service and tourism development.

Trevor Lee, Managing Director of TravConsult, says he is impressed with how the airport has approached these China-ready workshops as it is the first time he has seen this many different stakeholders involved in the training.

“The airport has identified key touch points when the Chinese tourists are travelling through the airport and has ensured that staff from all of these areas are involved in the workshops,” says Mr Lee.

“These workshops will make the interactions at these touch points more seamless and more enjoyable for the Chinese traveller and they highlight the airports dedication to catering for the Chinese tourism market. This is a win-win for everyone involved.”

The workshops will see participants learn about the behaviour and communication styles of Chinese people, covering different generations and different traveller markets.

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