Business South August 2021

100 | Juggling demand the biggest challenge Richard Loader Skyline Queenstown operates the Gondola experience at the top of Bob’s Peak with its sensational views of Queenstown and surrounding mountains, the world-famous and gravity-fuelled Luge thrill ride, and world-renowned Stratosfare restaurant. TOURISM Skyline Enterprises - Queenstown O perating the must-do activity for all visitors to Queenstown, Skyline Queenstown was transported from the single largest visited tourism operation in the Country to virtually zero overnight when Covid impacted the world. Skyline Queenstown operates the Gondola experience at the top of Bob’s Peak with its sensational views of Queenstown and sur- rounding mountains, the world-famous and gravity-fuelled Luge thrill ride, and world-re- nowned Stratosfare restaurant. Although largely unknown in the first weeks of 2020, there were early signs of Covid’s im- pact when it was noticed visitation from China had significantly reduced. By February things were ramping up and the closure of borders in March meant a significant portion of Skyline Queenstown’s international business was lost. When lockdown was announced the business that once struggled to keep up with demand had to close. “There were a lot of unknowns,” says Wayne Rose, GM of Skyline Queenstown. “As the virus took over the world and New Zealand borders were closed, it was clear this was going to have a long-term impact and we’d need to resize the operation.” Post-lockdown, May 16th and Day-One at alert level 2 the sight of the Gondola once again traversing Bob’s peak was both an eerie sight and a beacon of hope for tourism in Queenstown. Operating within a world of purely domes- tic tourism with no sign of it being anything different for the foreseeable future, Skyline Queenstown’s traditional business model was, however, no longer feasible. “The restaurant wasn’t feasible in a domes- tic market and was mothballed. It’s a 308-seat restaurant and we were just seeing a trickle of visitation. In the café, tables were placed two metres apart, pick-and-go options were closed, and service was single server and seated. “Only a hundred people were allowed in the space at any one time and conferencing en- quiries stopped overnight. We did start picking up enquiries again last October/November and moving forward it’s looking very promis- ing from this point.” The buffet was reintroduced in mid-Sep- tember at Alert Level 1 and while it initially operated at a loss it provided an opportunity to extend further employment opportunities and begin the rebuild for the future. “Resource planning is probably our single biggest challenge at the moment. We’re a volume-based business and when you operate in a purely domestic market you have peaks quickly followed by tourism droughts. With Kiwis having nowhere else to go, there’s a huge influx into Queenstown during school holidays. But outside of those holidays all the kids are back a school and it’s back to a trickle of visitation again. So resourcing the business for a two-week period, then dealing with the lull of the trough then resourcing back up again for the next peak, which is the next school holidays, is extremely challenging.” With Queenstown’s well-publicised bumper winter season with the Trans-Tasman bubble, Skyine Queenstown resourced up to provide guests with a really great experience, only to be smacked with a covid-wave. “So we’re almost in a holding pattern at this time. Looking to the future, Wayne says while there will be a few bumps and hurdles along the way the future is looking bright with work already commenced on rock excavation for a large carparking facility at the rear of the base terminal and plans underway to replace the current four seat Gondola with a new ten-seaters, including new top and bottom terminal buildings — hopefully by 2024. Proud to support Skyline Queenstown Be Paci c We bring more to the table We are proud to support Skyline Enterprises 0800 555 130 www.trents.co.nz