Outstanding success for KEA Campers in the Tourism Industry Awards

News from Ministry of Tourism and KEA Campers - 21/10/05

Mark Burton, Tourism Minister at the time of the awards, congratulated Kea Campers on winning tourism's top award for the second year in a row.

The company also won the major category award for Tourism and Transportation services and the major category award for Innovation in the Tourism Industry Awards.

"I am very proud to be here to present this Supreme Award for New Zealand tourism. These awards recognise the importance of quality in the New Zealand tourism industry, something that I have been committed to promoting during my six years as Minister of Tourism," said Mark Burton at the presentation.

"The New Zealand tourism industry has grown enormously over recent years and Kea's growth tracks that pattern.

"Founded only 10 years ago, KEA has quickly become a major player in the campervan and motorhome industry, but you haven't compromised quality during your rapid growth. Indeed, I note that your mission has been to provide the best vehicles and services in the leisure vehicle industry.

"Your business is a great fit for New Zealand's ideal visitor, the "Interactive Traveller", someone who demands quality and who comes to New Zealand for authentic experiences with our natural, social and cultural environment," Mark Burton said.

KEA four berth camper on the West Coast. Photo source: KEA Campers Click here to view a larger version

Tenth Anniversary of KEA Campers
KEA Campers recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, having grown in a decade from a family business with twenty vehicles to a large multinational tourism operation running more than 800 luxury motorhomes and campers across Australia, New Zealand and Southern Africa.

The company was started in 1995 by Grant & Ros Brady, Michael Becker and Barbara Hampe. Last year, with turnover above $40 million, it celebrated in style by winning four major NZ Tourism Awards in 2004 including the prestigious Supreme Award. This year it again won the Supreme Award and two other awards described above.

KEA has also continued expansion over the past twelve months with a motorcycle division renting top quality BMW touring bikes, and with one of the country’s largest and most luxurious rental motorhome – a deluxe Mercedes A-Class motorhome.

KEA’s market leading innovation began straight away with the introduction of the first two-berth shower and toilet camper in a high-roof transit. European clients loved the vehicle and it started a long tradition for KEA, of delivering a superior product.

This year KEA introduced a new four-berth camper, with a multi-purpose rear seat/bed arrangement and an on-board computer with wireless Internet capability.

Celebrating the tenth anniversary with staff and key suppliers at a recent function, KEA executive directors recalled the year they started as a small family business.

“It was not a good time to start. It was the year Mt Ruapehu blew up – we took photos of some campers at the mountain and by the time we got back to Auckland the mountain had erupted,” said Executive Director, Michael Becker.

“Travel agents in Germany told us that New Zealand was out of favour and overseas tourists thought the eruption had closed Auckland airport.”

KEA responded to the difficult conditions by attending its first New Zealand Travel Trade Event –TRENZ. The company chose to display a camper van near the entrance – the first time that had been done.

“The international travel companies recognised our enthusiasm and some were looking for new products in this market so they agreed to support us,” says Michael Becker.

“Introducing the two-berth shower and toilet camper based on a van proved popular with Europeans. It gave us a unique point of difference that we have worked hard to maintain. I believe it revolutionised the campervan industry in New Zealand.”

KEA develops its own manufacturing company
Building unique campers eventually led KEA to starting its own manufacturing company in 1998.

KEA Manufacturing Company in 2003 Photo source: KEA Campers Click here to view a larger version

Since then it has introduced many features, including more powerful air conditioning, television, fully-moulded shower and toilet cubicle, extra large luton berth, amorphous solar panels, flexible rear seating arrangement – convertible to two singles or one large double - and a valuables safe.

Michael Horn says that KEA’s unique construction system includes the use of fibreglass moulds and shapes, paired with marine alloys to build a tough, lightweight, structure.

In 2000, the company moved into Australia. Growth since then has been ten-fold, and KEA now operates over 800 campers in the Australasian market.

Recognition of Kea Campers' development
In 2003 KEA won two Tourism NZ major category awards – the Innovation and Technology Award for the implementation of its fleet management and booking system “GTT”, and as the leading Transportation and Services Provider.

In 2004 the company won the Supreme Award, the Transportation Providers Award in the Tourism Transportation Services Category and the Innovation In E-Commerce and New Technology Award in the Tourism Innovation Category and this year it has had further successes described above.

Recognition has, in part, come from the implementation of computer technology and wireless internet links in the new luxury four-berth motorhome.

Rudi Fuhrmann, now an Executive Director of KEA Campers, says the project is a world first and potentially one of the biggest and most original innovations seen in the tourism industry in New Zealand.

He says it is an example of how the company continues to improve services and facilities and to exceed the expectations of demanding global customers.