{"id":1560,"date":"2019-10-18T05:43:54","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T17:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kiwibusinessheroes.co.nz\/awards\/?page_id=1560"},"modified":"2024-09-17T21:53:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T09:53:04","slug":"port-to-port-cruises-and-wildlife-tours","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kiwibusinessheroes.co.nz\/awards\/port-to-port-cruises-and-wildlife-tours\/","title":{"rendered":"Port To Port Cruises and Wildlife Tours"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Established<\/b>: 2018<\/span><\/p>\n

Location<\/b>:\u00a0Dunedin<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact Name:\u00a0<\/strong>Rachel McGregor<\/p>\n

Website:\u00a0<\/b>www.porttoport.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Business mission and vision<\/b>:<\/div>\n
“To provide a service that excites passengers and showcases the maritime industry as well as the wildlife in the area. We would like to eventually have a small fleet of vessels and operate a variety of good quality and affordable harbour cruises. “<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
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Vote<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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\u201cWe operate a vessel on Otago Harbour taking passengers for wildlife cruises and we also run a harbour ferry service for people and bicycles\u201d<\/span>
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<\/i><\/i><\/span>What sets you apart from your competitors?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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We operate small group tours which are really personal. We are wildlife experts and we focus on other aspects of the harbour too, such as the maritime industry and history. Different to the others that just pass by these things.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Please provide details of any business awards you have won.<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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None yet as we are still new<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Please describe why you decided to go into business for yourself.<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
I have a passion for commercial boating and also for marine wildlife. I am a busy person and need to be kept challenged and focused. I couldn’t think of anything more fitting for my skills and knowledge.<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Please describe some of the challenges you needed to overcome to get your business off the ground.<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
Having to learn all the behind the scenes stuff like accounting, managing staff, marketing, regulations, and starting the business from scratch.<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Please tell us about an example where you managed to overcome a significant challenge that stood in the way of your business success.<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
There were many personal obstacles. I was working in a full time job for the port company as well as working as a skipper on my boat on my days off. It was a challenge trying to find time for all the paperwork and set up. I also have a young child which was a juggle trying to manage everything all at once.<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Please explain how perseverance or overcoming adversity has been necessary for you to make a success of your business.<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
It’s very easy to give up early on, which I think just means you don’t want it enough. It has taken a lot of perseverance to get through all the hoops we have and to keep coming up with new ideas to keep things exciting for people to return to us.<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>What business success have you achieved to date? <\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
Getting the thing off the ground and getting stronger and bigger with plenty of bookings even in the down season!<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>What are you most proud of in relation to your business?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
How people have adopted us as part of the harbour, so quickly. They call it ‘doing the Port To Port’! And how we can support so many other businesses and link the communities so seamlessly.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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<\/i><\/i><\/span>How many people does your business employ?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
6-8<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>What contractors do you regularly use in your business?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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Iconic Tours, Headfirst, Go Bus, Otago Peninsula Museum<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>What training opportunities have you provided to the people you employ?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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Opportunities to train with us as crew and skippers. Some of the boatshed staff have showed interest in being guides so we use than as guides when we can.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>What positive reviews and testimonials do you have from happy customers?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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We have flawless reviews on Trip Advisor, facebook and Google business.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Apart from the potential financial benefits, what other benefits do you get from being a business owner?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
Being in a beautiful exciting place all the time. Working on the harbour is fantastic, we hang out with people who are on holiday and we all have a great time.<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Please describe any community involvement or sponsorship your business is involved with.<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
We often give prizes as donations for raffles and to support the local community, such as preschools, school, support groups etc<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>What other ways do you - as a business - give back to the community?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
By encouraging people to visit the shops and attractions nearby. And organising events to showcase these businesses.<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Please outline any other information you think is relevant to this entry.<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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We are a new business with a big focus on our passengers. We love the small company feel we have and our passengers appreciate being treated as individuals. We can better attend to their needs and wants when we can see and talk to them personally on our cruises. Thats something that won’t change no matter how big we get.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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