8 | Skyline Rotorua T TVirginia Wright Gondola operation on upward curve Skyline Rotorua is part of the Skyline Enterprises Group, which includes the sister property in Queenstown and luge operations in Canada, Singapore, Korea and Malaysia. “People are our most important asset. We can have all the best and latest products but we can’t deliver an exceptional guest experience without people....” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Last year Skyline Rotorua celebrated the 40-year anniversary of its gondola opening in 1985 and the more than eight million visitors who have since enjoyed going for a ride. Many Kiwis have fond memories of their first gondola or luge ride. It’s become a quintessential part of growing up in New Zealand, while visitors from overseas can sit back, relax and enjoy some of New Zealand’s most iconic scenery. Andrew Jensen has been with Skyline Rotorua for 25 years and been General Manager for 10 of them. Skyline Rotorua is part of the Skyline Enterprises Group, which includes the sister property in Queenstown and luge operations in Canada, Singapore, Korea and Malaysia. The company is also developing a new site in Swansea, Wales. Gondolas, restaurants and luges remain the core of the business, with additional activities such as zip-lines and retail introduced to offer visitors more options, encouraging them to stay longer. ‘We’ve gone from those early days when we had a four-seater gondola, and a café with plastic resin tables, to today when we’ve got two chairlifts, a revamped, well-appointed restaurant with a full kitchen, and 5 luge tracks totaling 7.3 kilometres, making us the longest luge track system in the world,” says Andrew. “We continue to refine and improve our offering, adopting the latest technology in terms of maintenance and safety,” he says. Investment in their future extends beyond physical infrastructure into people, which Andrew believes is equally important to their continued success. “People are our most important asset. We can have all the best and latest products but we can’t deliver an exceptional guest experience without people, even in this day of AI,” says Andrew. As Skyline Rotorua has grown and expanded so has the number of career pathways they offer, with apprenticeships, trade qualifications, and opportunities to grow to management positions both locally and globally. “We’ve got quite a few team members who started as luge operators after-school and during school holidays who are now leading operations for our offshore sites,” explains Andrew. Skyline Rotorua works closely with other tourism operators, Tourism New Zealand, and the local Rotorua Tourism Office (RotoruaNZ), to support the destination in domestic and international markets. Rotorua, with its geothermal attractions and cultural history, has always been at the heart of tourism in the country and as the region has grown so has the number of visitors. Skyline Rotorua’s visitor numbers have grown over recent years and they’re fully committed to sustaining that progress. They’re equally committed to doing it in a sustainable manner. Their first solar installation of 288 panels not only allows Skyline to power their gondola and administration building with renewable Rotorua sunshine for six months of the year, but its clever, elevated design provides shade in the carpark for visitors year-round. They’ve created wetlands and are supporting the surrounding environment of Mount Ngongotahā to return to its natural state, with the planting of trees and native flaxes, thus encouraging native birds such as tui, kākā and korimako (bellbirds) to return to the area. They’re working closely with PredatorFree New Zealand Trust to eradicate noxious weeds and pests. To reduce their waste to landfill they are working closely with the Rotorua Sustainable Charter, focusing on soft plastic recycling and reducing waste in general. Food waste is diverted from landfill and converted to Biofuel at the EcoGas facility in Reporoa. These are just some of their initiatives. “We’ve been here for 40 years, and we’re investing into a more sustainable future for years to come,” says Andrew. Andrew and Skyline Rotorua are constantly looking for opportunities to add new activities that their visitors might enjoy. In the meantime there’s plenty of fun to be had, or just a good coffee and a bite to eat while enjoying the view from the restaurant in the sky above Rotorua. ALL ROUND ELECTRICAL Established in Rotorua in 2011, All Round Electrical provides high-quality electrical services across residential, commercial and specialist projects. We work across a wide range of industries including tourism, hospitality, manufacturing, construction and health, combining electrical expertise with a practical, hands-on approach. Whether it is a straightforward electrical installation or a project requiring underground services, trenching, specialist equipment or a custom electrical solution, our team works closely with clients from planning through to completion. Residential Trenching & Thrusting Pool Heating Temporary Power Commercial Underground Services 027 699 9258 www.allroundelectrical.co.nz
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