Unshackled Aucklanders flock to Waiheke Dollar-for-dollar island promotion entices Kiwi holidaymakers to book
Aucklanders are set to stream across the Hauraki Gulf to Waiheke Island this month as the “no vacancy” sign goes up at the getaway destination for the first time in weeks.
More than 80 Waiheke rentals — from the $5700 architecturally designed Island Retreat to the $319 Tahamoana Cottage — sold out within days of a new On The House promotion being launched.
It promised guests booking stays over the June 19-21 weekend that they would get their money back in Waiheke dollars — credit that could be spent at local businesses. This could be used to pay for wine tasting, shopping or ziplining adventures.
Other possibilities included renting a car or e-bike, playing a round of golf, booking a scenic flight or dining at a host of Waiheke’s award-winning restaurants.
Guests paying $5700 for two nights at the Island Retreat would get $5100 back in Waiheke dollars to spend elsewhere on the island after booking and cleaning fees were deducted.
The idea was to get tourists back after the Covid-19 lockdown and international border closures — and it worked.
“We have been overwhelmed with an amazing response to our initiative, receiving literally thousands of emails and phone inquiries,” promotion organisers said.
“We want to thank all of you New Zealanders for your incredible support to the programme.”
It’s initial success provided hope the promotion could be a beacon for other Kiwi tourist hotspots to follow.
Across the country, tourist operators have been hit hard by New Zealand’s lockdown and the loss of international tourists.
Before the On The House Promotion, one Waiheke Island property management business reported June accommodation bookings were down 72 per cent compared to last year.
Another wine tour operator watched bookings drop from 490 people last May to only four people this May.
The owner of ziplining company Ecozip, Gavin Oliver, said his bookings for the rest of 2020 were “only sufficient to pay our team’s wages for five days”.
During the lockdown, only essential workers heading to jobs were allowed to take ferries to and from Waiheke. However, since the move to alert level 2 last month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been urging Kiwis to start getting back out and seeing their own country.
Tourism NZ shifted its focus to domestic tourists as it launched a new video titled Do Something New Zealand.
Kim Rae, the owner of Waiheke holiday rental business Stay Waiheke, and others behind the On the House promotion are promising more big ideas.
“We are now working on planning future activations for Waiheke and are also in touch with other areas of New Zealand about our initiative,” the team said.
Robbie Champtaloup, the owner of holiday rental company You’ve Got It Maid, said her properties, including Tahamoana and the 16 Waikare apartments, were among those to sell out one day after the promotion began.
“It’s absolutely fantastic,” she said of the idea.
A number of visitors who missed out on booking holiday rentals that were part of the On The House promotion booked other rentals anyway, she said.
Even though they missed out on getting Waiheke dollars, they still planned to visit because they had made their minds to get away after long weeks cooped up at home.
“We did lose our March and April so we are hoping it continues,” Champtaloup said.
“I’m nervous the novelty will wear off around July and August and the reality will set in that money is short.”
But after the Queen’s Birthday long weekend was also fully booked, Champtaloup’s hopes were rising after a bigger start to the winter than last year.
“Definitely this June has been a much better month this year than it was last year,” she said.