New Asian markets manager for Southern Discoveries

Premier South Island tourism operator Southern Discoveries is extending its reach to the burgeoning Chinese and Asian markets with the appointment of Cecil Potatau to its Auckland-based sales team.

Southern Discoveries General Manager John Robson said he was delighted to secure Cecil (known as Cess) to consolidate and promote the company’s presence in these growing markets.

“Cess is extremely well known and respected in the tourism industry, having previously held international and domestic sales roles for Kelly Tarlton’s, THL and Intercity Group, and most recently as manager of Auckland’s five i-sites,” he said.

“In these positions he’s gained solid experience working with Chinese and Asian clients and partners, and building relationships in this very important inbound market.

“With Southern Discoveries’ expansion over the past five years and especially our new Queenstown boat and high country experiences launching in late 2013, we’re delighted to welcome him to that key sales position,” said Mr Robson.

Mr Potatau said he was looking forward to getting back into international sales and covering a competitive, emerging market.

“This is a challenging and interesting space to be in, made so much easier by the strength and growth of Southern Discoveries’ product,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to put us at the doorstep of the Asian and Chinese markets.”

Mr Potatau’s role will complement that of Account Manager Simon Watson in promoting and selling Southern Discoveries’ wide range of award-winning tourism products in Milford Sound and Queenstown.

Mr Watson, a former ITOC (Inbound Tour Operators Council) board member, joined Southern Discoveries in late 2009 as a consultant overseeing the Auckland wholesale and inbound tourism markets.

Key to the sales drive will be Queenstown’s newest activity, a multi-million dollar catamaran and nature experience on Lake Wakatipu to be launched later this year.

The purpose-built 26m high-speed catamaran, to be known as Spirit of Queenstown, will launch for the start of the 2013/14 summer season, and its associated new group and conference and incentive (C&I) product. 

Southern Discoveries owns and operates three boats in Milford Sound, the Milford Discovery Centre & Underwater Observatory, Blue Duck Bar & Café, Go Milford Coach & Cruise, Queenstown Explorer and three information centres in Queenstown and Te Anau.  The company also holds a 50% shareholding stake in KJet.

Last month, TripAdvisor awarded Southern Discoveries’ Milford Sound Cruises a Certificate of Excellence for the third year in a row, putting it in the top-performing 10% of all businesses worldwide on TripAdvisor.

The New Zealand based company is the oldest and most well established tourism operator in Milford Sound. For more information visit: www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz