Kiwi Legends: Fear, Wonder, and Connection

Executives from five iconic New Zealand tourism brands (NZSki, RealNZ, Skyline, AJ Hackett Bungy, Ngāi Tahu Tourism) discussed what makes experiences iconic. They agreed it's not adrenaline but connection. Direct bookings run as high as 85%, and OTAs are valuable for new markets. AI is changing discovery, but smaller operators risk being overlooked. They emphasized sustainable growth and community value.