TIME Unlimited Tours

It’s been a great summer for Auckland company TIME Unlimited Tours. The Auckland operator has enjoyed a four-fold increase in visitor numbers since September and has just won a major international tourism award for their website.

In business since April 2005, TIME (To Integrate Maori Experiences) Unlimited Tours is operated by Ceillhe and Neill Sperath and offers a wide range of personalised and interactive Auckland and indigenous tours, ranging from Auckland Maori tours to wilderness walks in the Waitakere Ranges and kayak fishing trips in the Hauraki Gulf. 

The couple was delighted to win the public vote section of the Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award 2010, announced this month. This international award aims to motivate tourism operators to improve their online communication on biological and cultural diversity, to highlight their best practices in managing tourism and to raise awareness on biodiversity.

TIME Unlimited Tours secured 48% of the public vote globally, and Neill says winning by such a big margin, against many much larger organisations from around the world, is a great endorsement of the quality of their operation and website by customers and industry partners.

Ceillhe and Neill feel there are many factors involved in making their website a winner, starting with working from the outset with professionals in website design and construction – “One of the best business decisions we have made”.

“As well as the many details contained in our website itself, we think the message of sustainability also comes across clearly and we can prove it, for example with our Qualmark Enviro Silver Award.”

Parts of the website are displayed in six languages and Neill says that attracts people from all over the world. About 85% of TIME Unlimited’s business is international. While major markets are North America, Western Europe and Australia, they have also had clients from the likes of Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Pakistan.

Of Maori and Irish/German descent, Ceillhe and Neill say they are both incredibly passionate about Auckland and New Zealand, which is reflected in every aspect of their business. “We offer very special and high-quality experiences to travellers. In our view, it’s the many little personal touches that make all the difference.”

www.newzealandtours.travel