Women Travel NZ - resources for setting up a tourism business or B&B - suppliers, marketting tips, tax implications and more

Women Travel New Zealand

New Zealand accommodation and tours for women

Resources for Women Travel Businesses

Copy these imagse to your web page to show you are part of the womentravelnz network...

Link: to WTW: http://www.womentravel.info Link to WTNZ http://www.womentravel.co.nz

PAGE LINKS

Social Media Marketing

Places to start a business B&B Suppliers B&B Insurance

Connecting with Tourism NZ and Regional Tourism

More helpful Links and Resources for Tourism businesses

Places to Advertise Maps Vianet ON LINE Booking System
Marketing Ideas Set up your own Website

Do you need a mentor or business advice?

Also check out our page: Businesses for sale

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING - Facebook, twitter, blogs, web 2. and more...

This is a subject I am passionate about, and believe it can make a huge difference to our businesses and to our customers:

to your customers (keeping them informed)
to your professional life (keeping connected with others in your field)
to search engine recognition (keeping you at the top of google and others)

Web2Blog is my website which helps people understand how to make the most of social media marketting and also help you to get a Word Press Blog based website.

Read more on how to make the most of

Twitter
Tweet Deck (for multiple Tweets)
You tube
Linked in/Facebook ...

Places where we think there are gaps in the Women Travel Network in New Zealand

- What about starting up an accommodation business and marketting it to women travellers

Bay of Islands - Gisborne - Queenstown - West Coast - Whakatane - Dunedin - Whitianga/Coromandel

Accommodation Providors:

For Suppliers: Food suppliers - Beverage suppliers - Linen - Other Odds and Ends Click here

B&B Insurance "There are particular issues for B&B owners - carrying guests in our cars, public liablity insurance, loss of business, etc. Many standard insurance policies do not include this. Vision Insurance is a broker which has negotiated a special package for B&Bs, all our insurance is now bundled together with them - it is great value and great peace of mind." Rosemary Waihoihoi Lodge, Waipu Northland. Find out more Mention Waihoihoi Lodge as your referrer!

A Warm Kiwi Welcome : How to run a successful B&B, Boutique lodging or guest house in New Zealand. You can order the book directly from the author at the special price of only $30 a copy, postage included to anywhere in New Zealand. Email

Connecting with Tourism New Zealand and Regional Tourism Networks

An important first step for any travel businesses in New Zealand

Are you registered with tourism NZ?

This is very important free and a good way of connecting with Tourism NZ

Here are the instructions: (courtesy of Destination Northland) to register on the official Tourism NZ website

Some tips for you to assist with the process: You will be asked to provide 3 key things -

a 80 - 120 word description of your property, which will appear on your operator page.
a 15 - 20 word summary which appears as a listing resulting from a 'search.
keywords which will be used by clients when 'searching' the site. Some examples might be the name (or part of the name)of your business, your location eg Mangonui, Paihia, etc, and other descriptors such as beachfront.

I would suggest you have this information available in a "Word" document or similar that you can cut and past into this portion of the Registration form. The reason being that if you take longer than 10 minutes on any of the pages you will be 'timed out' and the site will shut down and you'll need to start all over again. This page of the registration form is the one which requires the most input and is likely to take you some time to think about - especially 'off the cuff'. The rest of the registration process is very straight forward with easy to follow online instructions.

You will find the registration forms on www.register.nztb.co.nz Once you have successfully completed your registration, you can go online again anytime using the 'Returning Users' section to update or refresh your information, you simply need to remember your user name and password.

Are you in contact with your Regional Tourism Organisation?

Ours is Destination Northland, all the regions have one. It is an excellent opportunity to connect to local tourism training events, to perhaps have overseas media visit your place, and general networking. Follow this link to find your local provider.

More helpful links and information

IRD and B&Bs and Tax

Inland Revenue and Tax and Accountants Homestays - gst treatment IRD Tax information bulletin Vol 7.13 May 1996 If you are not registered for gst, this leaflet explains some of the potential advantages, especially if you are investing in renovations. This has some very helpful information, if you don¹t have an accountant, consider getting one. Talk to your accountant in case there is more up to date information available

New Zealand Tourism Industry Blog: Connect with others in the tourism Industry

Tourism New Zealand - their corporate website

TIANZ - Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand - a member organisation

How to start a B&B in New Zealand

The Business of B&B - Australia and NZ - listings and information for owners - they have a members area which has lots of information which used to be in a hard copy newsletter of the same name

@Home NZ - connecting and supporting B&B hosts and working to have quality standar

Customer Service Training Programmes - Kiwi host and others - Highly recommended that you and your staff keep up to date with the latest in Customer service. Too many NZ business are 'good enough' but not as good as they could be.

Rosemary writes: "I did one early in my development time setting up a B&B and the cost was repaid immediately with improved service with great customer feedback which kept helping us improve business even more. "

Red Cross First Aid Courses Equip yourself to be able to help people in an emergency - you may be the closest one at hand.

Rosemary writes: I had a customer collapse and become unconscious as a result of previous surgery. An ambulance where I am is 20-30 mins away. It is very important to have some skills to keep people calm and out of danger until help arrives.

Places to Advertise your Women Travel Business

Especially for women travellers

In the Women Travel Network

List on Women Travel NZ and you are automatically listed Women Travel the World, and also conneced to the Bushwise Women site - of course, any business focused on women travelers this is a must first step.
Women Travel Blogs - articles accepted about your business in our associated blogs:
Women Travel the World Blog and Women Travel NZ blog

Tamaki Makaurau Lesbian Newsletter - ( Auckland based, but wider distribution) email
Her Business - excellent articles and local networks
Lesbian Connection A US based international magazine for lesbians, a wide circulation and not cheap to advertise in, but worth an occasional advert in my opinion. Womentravel.co.nz advertises every 6 months or so in this. Consider a joint advert with another NZ operation. email
Purple Roofs Travel Directory - a good international directory site

NZ Tourism Online - this is one of NZ's top sites and after consultation they developed a category for women's accommodation. They have an excellent newsletter.

Gaystay NZ: a good grass roots network of NZ gay and lesbian hosted accommodation, not expensive
Rainbow Tourism - Mark Proffit and Dee Farrell run this site from Australia - no money up front, 10% commission for confirmed bookings

Gaygetter - gay and lesbian travel portal

Lesbian Accommodation lesbian friendly places to stay in UK , Europe and world wide

Need More Help?

I am very happy to assist you with mentoring and helping you to build your business $NZ60/hr or part thereof, either in person, on the phone or on skype.
I can help you get a great and easy to manage website which will be seen by search engines- see www.web2blog.co.nz
contact me if you think I can help rosemary@womentravel.co.nz