Prevue July/August 2013 - (Page 10)
planner’s pick
PLANNER:
Sherrie Chelini, VP, Incentives Division
Par Avion Meetings & Incentives
Los Angeles, CA
NEW ZEALAND: GOOD ON YA!
Astonishing food, wine & scenery make this a new “It” destination for incentive programs
5
WAYS TO TRAVEL LIKE A KIWI
• Sip awesome local wine where it’s produced.
• Dine with a local family in their home.
• Ride a jetboat in Queenstown. Extra points for bungy.
• Race America’s Cup sailboats in Auckland Harbour.
• “Farm-to-fork” is confusing here. What else is there?
taken by surprise,” says Chelini. “It’s like being in touch with the
true culture, I mean, it was just phenomenal. Celeste lights up
about it because everyone tells her it was their best night ever.”
Waiheke Island
Sherrie Chelini, VP, incentives division with Par Avion Meetings &
Incentives, created a travel reward program in New Zealand for
20 couples in April. She booked the Sofitel Queenstown in the
South Island and Hilton Auckland in the North, where groups
can rest after the Air New Zealand flight.
“It’s a long flight but Air New Zealand was great to work
with,” says Chelini. “As they say there, ‘Good on ya!’”
The modern 165-room Hilton crowns Auckland’s waterfront
with airy indoor/outdoor spaces and panoramic views of the bay.
Next door, there are numerous restaurants and boat charters that
cater to groups. The group had lunch at the nearby Harbourside
Seafood Grill. Then everyone gathered for an opening dinner at
the Hilton while watching the sun set over the water.
Chelini says, “The Hilton had a great catering menu, and the
hotel itself is beautiful. You really feel in touch with the city, the
boats, the water and nature.”
The next day the group ferried over to Waiheke Island for
olive and wine tasting before lunch at Mudbrick Winery.
“Waiheke is kind of like heaven, it’s just so quaint and
beautiful,” Chelini says. “Mudbrick Winery is outstanding and the
food was gourmet, just fabulous. It’s great to have the city, the
water and the winery so close. It’s just so different. Lunch was
almost dreamlike and it really wowed the group.”
Later that night, couples teamed up to visit with a local
family for a home-cooked meal. Having time to talk with the
locals over a great dinner is the ultimate insider experience.
“Celeste Jones at IDNZ DMC helped me plan the dinner
with the lady who started the program, and the group was totally
QUEENSTOWN LUXURY & ADVENTURE
A 90-minute flight south of Auckland, the small town of
Queenstown is the adventure sports capital of New Zealand,
surrounded by towering mountain ranges and small vineyards.
The signature experience for groups is screaming across
shallow rivers aboard Dart River Safaris’ jetboats. You’re
surrounded on both sides by the same staggering scenery where
The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were filmed.
“It’s such a unique experience when you’re in an inch
of water and flying around, but it’s a thrilling New Zealand
experience,” says Chelini. “It’s very lush and green and dramatic.
The group was just taken back by everything.”
One “truly exquisite” dinner took place at the 12-acre
Stoneridge Estate, which works a lot with corporate planners
for upscale events celebrating the local food and wine. Chelini
says the group really appreciated that they could sample wine
from the local area, just a 15-minute drive from Queenstown.
The group booked the 82-room Sofitel Queenstown
because it’s the most luxurious group-friendly hotel in the region,
located in the heart of the city just a block back from the water.
“It was in a great place, there were excellent restaurants,
a burger bar, a chocolate place and a bike shop,” says Chelini.
“They took great care of our guests, and I love the fact that we
could walk or bike around Queenstown.”
And what was the final feedback from the group?
“At the end, one of the people said that New Zealand
was never on their bucket list, but it’s been an experience of
a lifetime,” explains Chelini. “I think that really summed it up. It
needs to be on everyone’s bucket list.”
newzealand.com; idnewzealand.com
10 | prevue magazine
10-11_PlannerPick.indd 10
7/3/13 8:56 AM
PRCN-0
http://www.newzealand.com
http://www.idnewzealand.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July/August 2013
Planner's Pick: New Zealand
Fresh Meets: Autograph Collection
Bureau Buzz: Monterey County
Good Business: South Africa
sea Shores: Small Ship cruising
The Local Kitchen
Special Section: Caribbean
Dominican Republic
On Location: Hilton/LXR, Puerto Rico
On Location: The Broadmoor
The South, Florida & Las Vegas
Singapore
On Location: Starwood Resorts, San Diego
On Location: Travaasa Austin
On Location: Moon Palace Cancun
On Location: IRF Cancun
Check Out: Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana
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