
– AucklandRescheduled to
Early December 2022
The Great Travel Renaissance: Reimagining tourism through a digital lens
Digital is set to play a starring role in confronting and overcoming the extraordinary challenges tourism is facing. Join digital thought leaders combined with trailblazing tourism brands as we come together to harness a new era of marketing in order to embrace a bold new travel landscape.
Expect valuable insights and an engaging speaker lineup geared to help New Zealand tourism navigate enormous marketing change. Thought-provoking, candid and interactive, the inaugural Destination: Digital event is a must-do for savvy tourism marketing professionals looking to come together for an afternoon of cutting-edge, inspiring learning and connection.
2022 Speakers

Nineke Metz
Marketing Manager, Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Over the past two years, Nineke and her team have repositioned the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to a brand with fresh appeal to the hearts and minds of New Zealanders. With domestic visitation topping that of 2019, digital transformation and a fresh new brand narrative have played leading roles in Nineke’s approach. Discover how Waitangi plans to leverage digital to maintain and grow their domestic market share in 2022.
Panelist

Tim Olson
Head of Projects, Maverick Digital
Mention words like ‘personalisation’, ‘immediacy’ and ‘usability’, and Tim Olson’s face will light up – this passionate digital leader is most in his element bringing trailblazing online experiences to life. Tim loves the pace at which the digital environment is evolving, and believes there’s never been a more pivotal time to embrace and leverage technology for the tourism industry.
Speaker

Shayne Forrest
Deputy Chief Executive, Hobbiton Movie Set
As far as Shayne is concerned, digital marketing is an ‘essential service’ for Hobbiton Movie Set. Since 2018, the famous operator has embraced a best-practice approach to digital with the goal of increasing its share of direct bookings. And while the pandemic has changed the face of tourism, it hasn’t shaken Shayne’s belief that digital offers the most effective and agile way to make the most of new opportunities.
Panelist

Jodi Williams
Ex GM Global Content Marketing & Brand, Air NZ
A highly regarded and accomplished marketer with proven ability to deliver strong commercial results through outstanding strategic skills fused with innovative and creative thinking, having led one of our most admired brands in New Zealand and across the globe. Jodi is an inspiring storyteller who has a passion for tourism and is now helping brands deliver their stories in the most engaging way possible.
Panelist

Stephen England-Hall
Chief Executive, RealNZ
The words ‘digital transformation’ are all senior tourism executive Stephen needs to start fizzing with ideas. From his recent position as CE of Tourism New Zealand to a background growing trailblazing agency start-ups internationally, Stephen is a visionary digital thought-leader excited about the future of technology and tourism.
Panelist

Shaun Fitzgibbon
Partner, TRA
Shaun is a partner at TRA and passionate about using insight to enable business growth. Shaun thrives on understanding human behaviour and is not shy in admitting he loves using data and machines to help solve real human problems. Shaun comes from a background in marketing, commercial strategy, and insights – all of which he brings together to help TRA’s clients deliver amazing experiences to their customers.
Speaker

Tash McGill
Director, The Transformationist
Finding a unique voice for your brand – and not just telling your stories – is key to standing out in a cluttered digital space, believes Tash McGill. An experienced agency strategist, writer and author of The Transformationist podcast, Tash has worked with well-known brands including Tourism NZ and is passionate about developing the skills to enable extraordinary storytelling.
Speaker

Alex Dykman
Founder/CEO Maverick Digital
Obsessed with empowering tourism through digital, Alex founded Maverick in 2014 with the vision to help travel embrace and leverage technology. Alex is inspired by the ever-changing nature of technology and the impact it is having on distribution and customer experience. She believes digital capability and understanding lies at the heart of tourism’s recovery in 2022.
Speaker

Heidi Gillingham
Programme Manager, Go With Tourism
Heidi and the Go With Tourism team bring an exciting and diverse set of experiences across tourism, hospitality, youth entrepreneurship and government. Passionate about helping tourism 'build back stronger', Heidi and her team are focused on empowering our industry to step up and become an industry of choice for employees and job seekers. Passionate about the opportunities digital offers tourism to connect with younger audiences, Heidi and her co-presenters Helen and Simone are practical, pragmatic speakers; fantastic at cutting through to the heart of the matter.
Speaker

Craig McKay
Managing Director, Interactive Arts
Passionate about creating, transforming and re-imagining experiences that blend the physical and digital worlds, Craig is a leader of global interactive design experiences and has recently worked for Tourism NZ, Comvita and Spark. Right now, augmented reality technology is becoming readily accessible – and Craig believes this is a huge opportunity for tourism marketers.
Speaker

Nineke Metz
Marketing Manager, Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Over the past two years, Nineke and her team have repositioned the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to a brand with fresh appeal to the hearts and minds of New Zealanders. With domestic visitation topping that of 2019, digital transformation and a fresh new brand narrative have played leading roles in Nineke’s approach. Discover how Waitangi plans to leverage digital to maintain and grow their domestic market share in 2022.
Panelist

Tim Olson
Head of Projects, Maverick Digital
Mention words like ‘personalisation’, ‘immediacy’ and ‘usability’, and Tim Olson’s face will light up – this passionate digital leader is most in his element bringing trailblazing online experiences to life. Tim loves the pace at which the digital environment is evolving, and believes there’s never been a more pivotal time to embrace and leverage technology for the tourism industry.
Speaker

Shayne Forrest
Deputy Chief Executive, Hobbiton Movie Set
As far as Shayne is concerned, digital marketing is an ‘essential service’ for Hobbiton Movie Set. Since 2018, the famous operator has embraced a best-practice approach to digital with the goal of increasing its share of direct bookings. And while the pandemic has changed the face of tourism, it hasn’t shaken Shayne’s belief that digital offers the most effective and agile way to make the most of new opportunities.
Panelist

Jodi Williams
Ex GM Global Content Marketing & Brand, Air NZ
A highly regarded and accomplished marketer with proven ability to deliver strong commercial results through outstanding strategic skills fused with innovative and creative thinking, having led one of our most admired brands in New Zealand and across the globe. Jodi is an inspiring storyteller who has a passion for tourism and is now helping brands deliver their stories in the most engaging way possible.
Panelist

Stephen England-Hall
Chief Executive, RealNZ
The words ‘digital transformation’ are all senior tourism executive Stephen needs to start fizzing with ideas. From his recent position as CE of Tourism New Zealand to a background growing trailblazing agency start-ups internationally, Stephen is a visionary digital thought-leader excited about the future of technology and tourism.
Panelist

Shaun Fitzgibbon
Partner, TRA
Shaun is a partner at TRA and passionate about using insight to enable business growth. Shaun thrives on understanding human behaviour and is not shy in admitting he loves using data and machines to help solve real human problems. Shaun comes from a background in marketing, commercial strategy, and insights – all of which he brings together to help TRA’s clients deliver amazing experiences to their customers.
Speaker

Tash McGill
Director, The Transformationist
Finding a unique voice for your brand – and not just telling your stories – is key to standing out in a cluttered digital space, believes Tash McGill. An experienced agency strategist, writer and author of The Transformationist podcast, Tash has worked with well-known brands including Tourism NZ and is passionate about developing the skills to enable extraordinary storytelling.
Speaker

Alex Dykman
Founder/CEO Maverick Digital
Obsessed with empowering tourism through digital, Alex founded Maverick in 2014 with the vision to help travel embrace and leverage technology. Alex is inspired by the ever-changing nature of technology and the impact it is having on distribution and customer experience. She believes digital capability and understanding lies at the heart of tourism’s recovery in 2022.
Speaker

Heidi Gillingham
Programme Manager, Go With Tourism
Heidi and the Go With Tourism team bring an exciting and diverse set of experiences across tourism, hospitality, youth entrepreneurship and government. Passionate about helping tourism 'build back stronger', Heidi and her team are focused on empowering our industry to step up and become an industry of choice for employees and job seekers. Passionate about the opportunities digital offers tourism to connect with younger audiences, Heidi and her co-presenters Helen and Simone are practical, pragmatic speakers; fantastic at cutting through to the heart of the matter.
Speaker

Craig McKay
Managing Director, Interactive Arts
Passionate about creating, transforming and re-imagining experiences that blend the physical and digital worlds, Craig is a leader of global interactive design experiences and has recently worked for Tourism NZ, Comvita and Spark. Right now, augmented reality technology is becoming readily accessible – and Craig believes this is a huge opportunity for tourism marketers.
Speaker

Nineke Metz
Marketing Manager, Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Over the past two years, Nineke and her team have repositioned the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to a brand with fresh appeal to the hearts and minds of New Zealanders. With domestic visitation topping that of 2019, digital transformation and a fresh new brand narrative have played leading roles in Nineke’s approach. Discover how Waitangi plans to leverage digital to maintain and grow their domestic market share in 2022.
Panelist

Tim Olson
Head of Projects, Maverick Digital
Mention words like ‘personalisation’, ‘immediacy’ and ‘usability’, and Tim Olson’s face will light up – this passionate digital leader is most in his element bringing trailblazing online experiences to life. Tim loves the pace at which the digital environment is evolving, and believes there’s never been a more pivotal time to embrace and leverage technology for the tourism industry.
Speaker

Shayne Forrest
Deputy Chief Executive, Hobbiton Movie Set
As far as Shayne is concerned, digital marketing is an ‘essential service’ for Hobbiton Movie Set. Since 2018, the famous operator has embraced a best-practice approach to digital with the goal of increasing its share of direct bookings. And while the pandemic has changed the face of tourism, it hasn’t shaken Shayne’s belief that digital offers the most effective and agile way to make the most of new opportunities.
Panelist

Jodi Williams
Ex GM Global Content Marketing & Brand, Air NZ
A highly regarded and accomplished marketer with proven ability to deliver strong commercial results through outstanding strategic skills fused with innovative and creative thinking, having led one of our most admired brands in New Zealand and across the globe. Jodi is an inspiring storyteller who has a passion for tourism and is now helping brands deliver their stories in the most engaging way possible.
Panelist
Featuring

Networking

Key Note Speakers
