Mālō e Lelei there,

As we edge towards September, we definitely have a spring in our step this month!

From exciting Skift IDEA Award news, to always-on marketing, better website UX, our latest Marketing Mythbuster, and an AI Search tip - we’ve packed this month’s newsletter with practical insights to help keep your tourism marketing moving forward.

Grab a cuppa and enjoy the read👇

Tomahawk is a Finalist in the Skift IDEA Awards!

We’re incredibly proud to share that Tomahawk has been named a finalist in the 2026 Skift IDEA Awards in the Industry Innovators Tourism category, for our Tonga Tourism rebrand project. And it's exciting to think that we’re the first New Zealand agency ever to achieve this recognition!

Always-On Marketing in an Unpredictable Market

Traveller behaviour around booking lead times has changed. People are making travel decisions at different points in their planning journey, with some booking well in advance while others are increasingly making decisions much closer to their travel date.

The result is a booking landscape that is far less predictable than it used to be.

That's why an "always-on" marketing approach is something to build into your strategy. In our latest article you'll find out what it means, and how to manage it in conjunction with more seasonal campaigns.

7 UX Features Websites Need for More Bookings

Your website might be attracting plenty of visitors, but if they're leaving without booking, your user experience (UX) could be letting you down. The good news? Small improvements often have a surprisingly big impact on direct bookings. In this article, we'll share seven UX features that help turn more website visitors into paying guests.

Marketing Mythbuster #7:

"I can do all of our marketing myself"

While DIY marketing certainly has its place, trying to do it all yourself could be holding your business back. That’s why we’re busting this marketing myth.

Discover where DIY marketing makes sense, when it’s time to bring in expert support, and how the right marketing investment can deliver better results for your business.

Adventure Tourism Awards (Australia & NZ)

If you're in the adventure and youth markets these awards and conference are worth putting on your radar!

Quick facts:

• Nominations close 13th Sep

• Voting closes 4th Oct

• Gold Coast Conference 21-22 October

AI Search Tip: Build Your Reputation Online

Your website can tell AI Search tools that you're great, but it's much more convincing when other reputable websites and real customers say it too.

That means looking beyond your own website and Google Business Profile. Think industry directories, media coverage, partner websites, review platforms and other credible third-party mentions. For tourism, Tripadvisor is still one to pay attention to as it's reviews and ratings are now also being used to power recommendations inside AI tools including ChatGPT and Claude.

If you haven't looked at your review sites for a while, now is the time to do a check-in. Have you replied to all reviews? Is your information and images up to date? Are there review sites you haven't listed on yet?

We're doing the same thing.

We're taking our own advice and strengthening our presence across industry platforms. We've identified two key sites that are important for agencies like ourselves - Clutch and DesignRush, where our clients can share their experience. 

Worked with Tomahawk? We'd love your perspective.

Upcoming Holiday & Tourism Event Dates

• Fathers Day: 6 September
• Fiji Constitution Day: 7 September
• School Holidays: 26 Sep - 11 Oct
• Canterbury South Anniversary: 28 September
• Labour Day (AU): 5 October
• Fiji Day: 10 October
• Niue Constitution Day: 19 October
• Adventure Tourism Conference (AU/NZ): 21-22 October, Gold Coast
• Hawke's Bay Anniversary: 23 October
• Labour Day (NZ): 26 October
• BEIA Conference: 28-29 October, Christchurch
• Marlborough Anniversary: 2 November
• Canterbury Anniversary: 13 November
• Westland and Chatham Islands Anniversaries: 30 November

Remember, we're just an email away if you need any advice or support for your digital marketing and website!

Ngā mihi

Tomahawk Team

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