General Travel New Zealand - Grafton

General Travel                                                              Proudly awarded Inbound Tour Operator of the Year - 2018     

General Travel New Zealand is one of the country's longest established inbound tour operators, with a growing international clientele seeking its highly personalised travel management service.

Founded in 1973, the company's depth of experience together with its commitment to provide the best possible quality in service and product development has earned it a solid reputation. Because General Travel New Zealand is privately owned and operated, its principals bring a truly "hands-on" approach to their business.

They have a personal and direct interest in meeting, and even exceeding, the expectations of individual travellers and groups of visitors from markets including North America, Australia, Japan, Asia, Europe, South Africa, India and South America.

The company's staff is widely experienced and dedicated to ensuring clients are more than satisfied with every aspect of its service.

Specialist divisions, employing highly-skilled, multi-lingual staff with intimate knowledge of New Zealand, cater for the range of widely differing needs of the company's diverse visitor markets.

General Travel New Zealand is affiliated to recognised tour operator and travel associations.  General Travel's FIT package range is promoted through the "Kiwiway" brand.
 

Anna Black, BCom
Executive Director 

Born into the business of tourism, Anna did not actually start her tourism career until after she had her own successful career in investment banking in London (coupled with an over-extended OE for nearly 7 years). However the call of tourism was too strong and after many years of arranging groups of friends to travel to see the All Blacks play in France, Anna decided the inevitable was in front of her.

Starting with General Travel in 2003, Anna has worked her way through operations and administration, learning the different areas of the business to become General Manager and now Executive Director as one of the shareholders.

Email: [email protected]

John Sng
Managing Director

Born in Singapore, John and his family moved to New Zealand in 1990 where he started his ‘tourism career’ in earnest, working for a large hotel chain and even owning and running a hotel himself for many years! After joining General Travel in 2001, John quickly became an integral part of the management team and joined Peter Black as shareholder and owner in 2001.

John's considerable experience with Asian markets, and especially during his previous involvement with the hotel chain as Director of Business Development for Asia, was a welcome addition to General Travel. The Asian divisions of the company have continued to grow under his leadership, gaining further international recognition and respect.

Email: [email protected]

Peter J Black, MNZITT
Chairman

Founding Director of General Travel, today as Chairman Peter leads the company into an exciting future. Peter has always based the development of his businesses on two concepts; to provide innovative quality services and products, and to meet the needs of customers efficiently, competitively and professionally.

One of New Zealand's travel industry pioneers, he commenced his career in 1964 and founded General Travel New Zealand and its subsidiaries nine years later.  In 1980, Peter established World Interline Tours New Zealand to service the specific holiday requirements of New Zealand airline and travel industry personnel.

In 1981, Peter was a founding director and major shareholder of Johnstons Coachlines, which today is owned by a public company and continues to be a leading upmarket coach company throughout New Zealand. General Travel Marketing was launched in 1990 which represents the business interests of international tourism principals in New Zealand. In 2000, Peter was instrumental in establishing the Kiwiway brand which has been introduced to all major international markets, and today offers excellence to a wide range of product, enjoyed by thousands of visitors to New Zealand.

Peter is a Member of the New Zealand Institute of Travel and Tourism, a past executive member of the Inbound Tour Operators Council of New Zealand (now Tourism Export Council New Zealand) and was formerly a founding Director of Pacifica Inns and Lodges (Motor Lodges of New Zealand).

Today the company is proudly involved in all major world markets.

Email: [email protected]

Memberships & Affiliations - Click here for more information about our memberships

ADS Approved Destination status China market
PKP – Premier Kiwi Partnership programme (China market) with Tourism New Zealand
DOC Department of Conservation Concession Licence
Tourism Export Council of New Zealand
TIANZ Travel Industry Association New Zealand
TAANZ Travel Agents' Association New Zealand (allied)
PATA Pacific Asia Travel Association
USTOA United States Tour Operators' Association
JATA Japan Association of Travel Agents
Qualmark Endorsed 'Tourism Export Council Inbound Tour Operator'