NEWS FROM WILLIMENT TRAVEL GROUP IN NEW ZEALAND

WELCOME TO THIS WILLIMENT TRAVEL GROUP (WTG) UPDATE. WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A NUMBER OF EXCITING INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS WHICH BROADEN OUR RANGE OF TRAVEL & EVENT SERVICES TO YOU.

EXCLUSIVELY NEW ZEALAND

In 2007 WTG acquired a fi fty percent stake in the highly successful niche Inbound Tour Operator – Exclusively New Zealand. In a very short period of time this Taurangabased business, founded by Rob Young and managed by Tomas Kastberg, has earned an enviable reputation as one of New Zealand’s elite high-end inbound travel specialists – attracting clients from the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe. Their hallmark is uniquely individual New Zealand holiday experiences for FIT’s and small Corporate Groups. They provide one-off itineraries which include the very best of New Zealand’s luxury lodges, guided wilderness experiences, fi shing and hunting opportunities and iconic sights using helicopters, private jets and chauffeur driven limousines.

WTG has merged its own Inbound operation known as ‘New Zealand Experience’ into the Exclusively New Zealand operation in Tauranga. Debbie Evans has relocated from Wellington to Tauranga and she has been joined by the highly experienced Rachel Barber from Gullivers Sports Travel in Tewkesbury, UK. These two well respected operators will handle all Inbound Special Interest Groups, School Groups and Sports Tour Groups for Exclusively New Zealand. They have joined Rob and Tomas and four other highly motivated New Zealand Tourism specialists to form WTG’s new Inbound operation- Exclusively New Zealand. We invite you to contact Exclusively New Zealand for all your clients’ travel into, and around New Zealand, whether it is for FIT’s, Corporate Incentives, Conferences, Special Interest Tour Groups, School Tours or Sports Tours. We invite you to visit their impressive web-site; www.exclusivelynz.co.nz

NEW TAURANGA PREMISES

During 2008, Exclusively New Zealand will move into new purpose-built premises in the heart of the city of Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty. This region has seen the highest population and employment growths in New Zealand over the past ten years. This trend is set to continue as thriving primary industries like forestry, dairying and fruit production require more employees, supporting industries and infrastructure. The Port of Tauranga is now one of New Zealand’s biggest, second only to the Port of Auckland in terms of tonnage handled. With an attractive year round climate and wonderful beaches and nearby lakes, and only two hours easy drive from downtown Auckland, the Bay of Plenty’s abundant lifestyle mix appeals to an increasing number of New Zealanders.

BAY OF PLENTY OFFICE FOR WILLIMENT TRAVEL GROUP

WTG has recently opened a new retail office in Tauranga. The business is managed by Natalia Stevenson, who moved to Tauranga from our Wellington office after RWC 2007 - where she had been the Manager of our Sports Team for a number of years. This new office has been established to service the travel needs of our numerous clients who reside in the Bay of Plenty and the Waikato regions. The focus is on our All Blacks Travel and Sporting Tours and Packages and on building our Business Travel and Events Travel brands in this region. WTG Bay of Plenty will operate out of the new Exclusively New Zealand premises.

CLUED UP

In 2007, CluedUp also became part of the Williment Travel Group with WTG acquiring a 50% stake in this innovative company. Since 2000, CluedUp has developed a reputation in New Zealand as a leading provider of corporate events, with extensive specialist experience in corporate team building events. The event experience, creativity and fl air of CluedUp is a great asset to WTG as we strive to keep our products and services fresh and innovative.

CluedUp has created and delivered corporate events throughout New Zealand and further a fi eld in locations as varied as Australia, Mexico, Vanuatu, France and Morocco. Company founders Greg Norris and Nic Preddle lead the CluedUp team from WTG offices in Wellington, supported by General Manager Angela Williams. CluedUp also has branches in Auckland and Melbourne.

For corporate team events, special event design, destinationspecifi c events, product /brand launches, celebration events and event management services, CluedUp is ‘the’ place to go. We invite you to visit www.cluedup.co.nz

ACQUISITION OF WARWICK BEATSON TRAVEL LTD IN CHRISTCHURCH

WTG has recently concluded negotiations to acquire the well known and thriving Christchurch travel business: Warwick Beatson Travel Ltd (WBT). WTG directors are pleased that Warwick and his key staff have been retained to drive the business forward. WTG and WBT have worked closely for many years in the creation and promotion of sporting tours, with similarities in our operation of Business Travel and Event Management divisions.

WTG now has nationwide New Zealand coverage with offices in Auckland (established in 1998), Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch. All offices trade under the name of Williment Travel Group and offer the services of Williment Business Travel, Williment Event Management, Williment Sports Travel and “All Blacks Travel – Proudly by Williment” brands.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2007

Despite the obvious disappointment at seeing our All Blacks head home after the RWC Quarter Final match in Cardiff, the Rugby World Cup 2007 in France was a resounding success for WTG. We had been working on the RWC’07 project since the RWC’03 Final in Sydney. We dedicated a large number of staff and resources to the project and staged familiarisation trips to France for our staff and key clients on four separate occasions building up to September 2007. Considering our clients had the furthest distance to travel of all the people travelling to France for RWC’07, WTG were extremely proud to have more than 2,650 clients at the Final in Paris on 20 October 2007.

ALL BLACKS TRAVEL – PROUDLY BY WILLIMENT

The New Zealand Rugby Union and WTG have recently renewed the existing License Agreement between the two parties which has seen WTG develop Official New Zealand Rugby Travel Packages over recent years. The new agreement, in effect for the coming three years, allows WTG the exclusive right to market “All Blacks Travel – proudly by Williment” in the New Zealand market and world-wide. From September 2008, only WTG and one other licensee will have access to travel industry match tickets to All Blacks Tests in New Zealand and abroad.

WTG is excited about the opportunities surrounding the new All Blacks Travel brand, particularly the exclusive offerings we will be able to offer to our clients including access to premium match tickets, All Blacks training sessions and meet the players functions. Our continuing aim is to deliver wonderful travel experiences and good value for money combined with exclusive All Blacks Travel offers to our loyal customers.

WILLIMENT TRAVEL GROUP HISTORY

First registered in 1968 by the late Mick Williment (a highly regarded Wellington and All Blacks fullback in the 1960’s). Williment Travel Group has grown to become New Zealand’s leading Sports Tour Specialist. Mick, along with NZRU stalwarts such as Ces Blazey, Russ Thomas and Dick Littlejohn lobbied the IRB to introduce a Rugby World Cup (RWC) which was finally allowed to take place in New Zealand in 1987. Mick and current Director – Duncan Garvie were closely associated with the planning and organisation of that first RWC and the company has been an Official Travel Agent to every RWC since then.

Sadly in 1994 Mick passed away prematurely at the age of 54.

Ownership of the company passed to Duncan Garvie and Ross Jamieson, who had both been working with Mick for some time. Duncan as General Manager and Ross as Accountant. Together they set about rejuvenating and modernising systems and procedures, and they initiated a license agreement with the NZRU that allowed them exclusive rights to promote official All Blacks Supporters Tours. In 2008 that relationship between the NZRU and WTG took another leap forward with the newly created “ALL BLACKS TRAVEL – PROUDLY BY WILLIMENT” brand. This is a premium brand offering high quality unique All Blacks Supporters Tours and Packages following the All Blacks at home and abroad.

In 1997 a Williment Sports Travel office was opened on Auckland’s North Shore in partnership with Wendy Tawhai. In 2004 Peter Barlow (current President of Travel Agents Association of NZ - TAANZ) joined them as a partner and Director to bring his vast Corporate - Business Travel experience to the Group. In 2007 Hayden Armstrong, the company’s talented and hardworking CEO became the fourth director in WTG.

Today our range of product and service offerings including Business Travel, Sports Travel, Event Management, Exclusively New Zealand and CluedUp form the Williment Travel Group, with offices in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch. Williment Sports Travel continues to offer a raft of exclusively licensed travel packages to such events as All Blacks Tests, Rugby League, Motor Racing, Horse Racing, Cricket, Netball and other special interest events.

Williment Business Travel has won valuable travel service contracts with a growing list of small to medium sized businesses that require our high level of service, responsiveness, technology and the latest travel knowledge. We are very proud to be the travel service provider for world-famous movie companies in “WellyWood” – Weta Workshops, WingNut and Park Road Post – all of Lord of the Rings fame. Other notable travel accounts include Digicel Pacific, Cigna Life, Clemenger BBDO, the British High Commission, the Canadian Embassy and the High Court of New Zealand.

Williment Event Management manages Corporate and Incentive travel for a number of leading Companies in New Zealand, including PlaceMakers, Crane Distribution and RadioWorks. A recent project on behalf of the Catholic Diocese of New Zealand will see this division handle nearly 4,000 people from NZ to Sydney for World Youth Day in July 2008.

Williment Travel Group remains fiercely independent, privately owned, financially sound and highly motivated to offer its clients the personal touch and great travel experiences, whether it be for business or leisure, for sports or events. The owners are totally ‘hands-on’, working alongside staff driving the business forward.