COVID-19 Business Update – 30 April 2021

30/04/2021

Upcoming TRENZ Hui 2021 Conference for the Tourism Industry

TRENZ Hui 2021, a reshaped version of the country’s biggest annual tourism business event, will be held in Ōtautahi Christchurch on 5th and 6th May. It has reached its capacity with more than 700 tourism operators registered to attend.

This conference is set to prepare the tourism industry for the return of international visitors. It will focus on generating solutions for the challenges involved in reopening to the world.

Flights Between NZ and Western Australia Resumes

Flight, Nz New Zealand has reopened quarantine-free travel with Western Australia from midday Wednesday.

This comes after it was revealed a traveller from Perth was able to enter New Zealand despite the Australian city being locked down.

Travelers who have been identified as contacts to cases across the Tasman will have to test negative and self-isolate for 14 days before they depart for NZ.

Study: New Zealand and Australia Leads APAC in Entrepreneurial Spirit and Confidence

In a new study by Frost & Sullivan and Oracle NetSuite, it was revealed that Australian and New Zealand entrepreneurs are feeling confident about their businesses despite the threats imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 83% of Australian and 75% of New Zealand entrepreneurs emerged from the last year feeling confident about their businesses and next stage of growth.

Tourism Infrastructure Fund Applications to Close Soon

Applications for the Tourism Infrastructure Fund will close on 30 April 2021, 5:00 pm. This government support is available for areas under pressure due to the pandemic. Five South Island regions namely Kaikōura, MacKenzie District – Aoraki Mt Cook, Queenstown Lakes, Fiordland, and South Westland are given priority. You can read more about it here.

Here’s How Small Businesses Can Bring Shoppers Back Into Stores

With vaccination availability increasing in the country, small business owners can start to refocus their efforts on encouraging in-person visitors. This Forbes article shared some tips to effectively boost in-store traffic in the next months.

Focus on personalisation– It is about relationship-building and appealing to consumers’ desire to invest in a company’s products and its values. With consumers having unlimited choices at their fingertips, you can stand out by providing a personalised experience that strengthens brand loyalty.
Prioritise authenticity– Research shows 86% of shoppers value authenticity. Don’t just preach authenticity through customer emails and digital ads, you need to bring that same energy to in-person interactions.
Align innovation with intent– Pair in-person with digital approaches to improve interactions with customers and ease the transition back into stores.
Tap into senses and sensibilities– After a year of limited contact, customers are happy to get in front of people. Create in-person experiences that engage multiple senses and cultivate an immersive in-store vibe.
Add mobile to the in-store journey– Review your mobile engagement to make sure it reflects current products and services, while showing you’re ready to reconnect with consumers.

Need more focused business advice on how to attract in-person visitors? Book a one-on-one consultation with us today and let’s work out a plan!

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