Nick Rowland: Sports Travel & Hospitality Head of Commercial discusses next year's AB trip to South Africa

The All Blacks are headed to South Africa next year to face off against the Springboks. 

Sports Travel & Hospitality Head of Commercial Nick Rowland chats about next year's ABs trip to South Africa, expressions of interest from fans, and how the different touring packages can accommodate different visitors.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Pine
from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
All Blacks fans already checking their calendars and booking their
leave to go on this tour. Nick Roland is head
of Commercial for Sports Travel and Hospitality Group New Zealand,
Rugby's official travel and hospitality partner. Nick, how much fan
interest do you expect there to be in this All
Blacks tour of South Africa next year?

Speaker 3 (00:29):
Put it this way, Piney, We've probably been waiting thirty
years for this, haven't we meet.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
It's a very good way of putting it, a very
good way of it.

Speaker 3 (00:36):
Yeah, we're definitely seeing a lot of interest. I mean,
the announcement today is obviously one thing, and obviously we're
hurry you hurrying away at our trying to pull some
product together. But we've got massive interest already. We've had
interest even before this news came out today, because there's
been rumors sweling for a while. So yeah, to say
there's heaps of interest on the line, it definitely is.
We've been waiting thirty years and we're excited about it.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
How attractive is the history element of South Africa and
the battles down the years long long ago, getting up
in the middle of the night and you know, in
some cases listening to these games on the radio. How
big is the history element when all Blacks fans plan
their overseas trips to support the team.

Speaker 3 (01:16):
Yeah, I think it's huge. From our end. We obviously
we've traveled to South Africa a few times. But if
you look back over the years, the rivalry that these
two teams have. You know, they said it in the
video that they launched this morning. With the New Zealand
Rugby and South Africa Rugby around, you know, they've changed
the world. In some cases, it's not just it's more
than sport really so. And for Kiwi fans, you know,

(01:38):
it's a kind of ultimate destination going to South Africa
and getting on too fari and doing some of those
other things while you're over there and seeing the beautiful country.
But absolutely the history between these two teams, and we
can still see it to day and age right like
it's one all this year and it continues to be
backwards and forwards battle every time they meet.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
So the team's going to be away for the best
part of six weeks. Will you kind of cut and
slice packages to suit those who can't be there the
whole time.

Speaker 3 (02:04):
Yeah, one hundred percent. Yeah, we'll obviously do the full
remit of it if someone wants to go away. I
think it's thirty two days in total, thirty one days
in total, so we'll obviously do that. But yeah, absolutely,
we'll have a whole bunch of different cuts of what
it looks like. Some people might just go for the tests,
some people might just go for the you know, the
regional games, So we'll have a whole mix in place
when we launch products. And yeah, it's really exciting because

(02:25):
you can not only do the games, but while you're
there you might as well check out some of the
beautiful country that is South Everya.

Speaker 2 (02:30):
Indeed, and with such a long tour for those who
do take up one of the longer options, do you
need to also keep people occupied if you like, between matches.

Speaker 3 (02:39):
Yeah, some people will choose to do their own thing, obviously.
I can imagine there's going to be a whole bunch
of South Africans from New Zealand wanting to go.

Speaker 2 (02:45):
Over, etc.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
But you know, some people will do their own thing,
but we'll also be able to occupy them as well.
It's one of those countries where a lot of people
don't necessarily like traveling to by themselves, so going as
part of a big group gives that that safety net,
gives them the camaraderie with the other all Blacks fans
that will be there. So we'll do a bit of both.
But you'll see definitely that old school tour coming to
the four here with so many great matches, and you know,

(03:09):
it's really exciting for that long haul stuff to be
able to get into, you know, Safari's Uptable Mountain over
to Robin Island and you know see everything in and
around the spots that will go to.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
When do you expect the venue for the Fourth Test
to be announced?

Speaker 3 (03:24):
I'm not sure really. It's one of those ones where
I think that there's talks of a few different venues.
They're just trying to nail it completely down. It's it's interesting,
right because it's a little bit like Chicago for the
Northern Tour or the Grand Slam this year. It's kind
of those ones. Some people will just do that or
someone will carry on, so it'll be interesting. I'm not
sure when that comes out. I can't imagine it'll be

(03:46):
too far away, but yeah, we're obviously looking forward to
that as well and seeing how many people will kind
of kick onto that fourth test after being in South
Africa for so long.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
And have you been inundated with people offering their services
as tour guides?

Speaker 3 (04:00):
It is a few bad people wanting to be along.
I think your producer actually fine, a Hea, you know,
I'm on heaby to carry some bags. So we always
get that with our tours. You know, it's exciting, it's
an exciting business to be and really but yeah, we
will definitely if we want them, I'm sure we'll be
able to find them.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
I bet you will, all right, So just to recap, then,
when are you expecting to have or have you already
got some some packages and some options for people to
look at, or if you haven't, when might those be available?

Speaker 3 (04:27):
Yeah, we've got expression of interest running today so people
can REGISTERROW on our website, All Blacks Travel on hospitality
dot com. And we're expecting the next couple of weeks
to have our packages all lined out at least in
a basic detail to be able to purchase. And then
you know, we'll kind of continue to refine as we
get closer, as we know more information about different things
that are happening over there. We'll obviously have opportunities for

(04:48):
people to buy into extra things and that sort of stuff,
but base packages we're expecting to be online in the
next couple of weeks.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
Good Man, Nick, thanks for updating us, mate. It's an
exciting tour ahead for those who take the opportunity. Always
appreciate your time on Weekend Sport Perfect.

Speaker 3 (05:02):
Thanks Finie, No, thank you, Nick.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
Nick Roland, head of commercial for Sports Travel and hospital Group.
He's on the Rugby's official travel and hospitality partner.

Speaker 1 (05:10):
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