Kia ora there,

As we welcome Matariki in Aotearoa, to support your marketing we're reflecting on the past, celebrating the present, and looking ahead to the future.

This month we take a look back to debunk another common marketing myth, while celebrating the present with recent team updates and industry events for the tourism sector. We also explore how businesses can prepare their websites for both human visitors and AI-powered search, the future of digital discovery.

Whether you're planning for tomorrow or building on your current capabilities, there's plenty to inspire you in this month's newsletter.

Enjoy the read!👇

7 Website Design Features That Drive Bookings for Humans and AI

With the growth in AI tools being used for travel planning, your website now has 3 audiences to consider: Human visitors looking to book, traditional search engines, and AI search tools looking to understand and recommend your business.

Here are seven website design features that will help your tourism businesses attract more visibility, build trust, and drive more bookings.

View Article

Marketing Mythbuster #5: Brand is Just a Logo

It's time to leave this piece of past thinking behind. A logo is only one part of your brand. Your reputation, customer experience, messaging and marketing all play a role in shaping how people perceive your business.

In our latest Marketing Mythbusters article, we unpack what branding really means.

View Mythbuster #5

Why Fonts Matter More Than You Think

Typography is often overlooked yet it shapes how guests perceive your brand. The right font can convey your personality, build trust and improve usability long before a booking is made.

Tomahawk Creative Lead Pallavi Karambelkar explores how the right font choices can strengthen your tourism brand at every touchpoint.

View Article

Upcoming Tourism New Zealand Events

Online Hui 2026: Reaching Targets

Hear from CEO René de Monchy about Tourism New Zealand’s strategy and activity for the year ahead. It will focus on reaching arrival targets of 3.9 million arrivals by the end of 2026, and double the value of international tourism spend by 2034. On 1 July, 1pm.

Register Now

Workshop: How AI is Changing Destination Marketing

Learn more about how to improve AI-driven discoverability for your business.

Throughout July, TNZ are hosting in-person and online workshops including ways to align with their channels, platforms and programmes.

Held the week of 20-24 July.

Register Now

Tomahawk Out & About

It's been a busy month of getting out and about for our T-Hawks catching up with clients, lending a hand for charity, and getting to industry events.

Client Project Catch Ups

Shoutout to Eichardt's Private Hotel and Mt Cook Lakesde Retreat for welcoming us to your neck of the woods and meeting you all in person!

Nothing quite compares to spending time on location with a client to deepen understanding of your business & goals.

MEETINGS 2026

Another exceptional showcase of business event providers at MEETINGS hosted by BEIA!

Renee, Misbah & Megan couldn't resist the photo opportunity in front of the replica Hobbiton, the most talked about space at the show!

Marketing Association "Charity Hackathon"

Jaimee and Renee attended the MA Charity Hackathon in Auckland last week where they partnered with other marketers to develop ideas to support Woven Earth and its mission to create safe, healthy homes for those in need.

SKAL Auckland Matariki Celebration

The Skål Auckland team hosted a wonderful Matariki evening at the Stardome Observatory & Planetarium - an interesting night of learning, reflection, and looking ahead!

Upcoming Holiday & Tourism Event Dates

Pride Month: All of June 🏳️‍🌈
Tourism New Zealand Hui 20026: 1 July
July School Holidays: 4-19 July
Matariki: Friday 10 July
Web in Travel (WiT) Queenstown: 20-21 July
Tourism New Zealand AI Workshops: 20-24 July
Vanuatu Independence Day: 30 July
TECNZ Conference: 5-6 August (Christchurch)
BYATA Conference: 17-18 August (Tauranga)
Fathers Day: 6 September
Fiji Constitution Day: 7 September
School Holidays: 26 Sep - 11 Oct
Canterbury South Anniversay: 28 September

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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