Ziptrek Queenstown Expands Team

Multi award-winning eco-tourism company Ziptrek Ecotours continues to expand its business with the appointment of Matt Hirst to the sales team.

Matt will help maintain sales growth with local sales agents and will work alongside sales and marketing manager Nicky Busst - one of the four current original team members present when Ziptrek Ecotours introduced zipline tours to New Zealand five years ago.

Long-standing team member Will Murphy will be taking up a new role within the team as ‘Sales – Group and Online’. Will has worked for Ziptrek for over two years in the local sales position and moves into this newly created role. His key responsibility will be to drive the company’s digital sales and online presence.

Both appointments signify a successful summer for the Queenstown-based tour operator, after celebrating five incredibly successful years in business at the end of 2014. Another record-breaking summer season from Ziptrek saw thousands of zippers fly through the trees and experience the sustainability story first hand.

Matt has been working in the tourism industry since leaving college in 2006 where he gained numerous qualifications in travel and tourism. Since arriving in Queenstown in 2013, Matt has continued to work in tourism and brings with him a wealth of in-depth knowledge and experience.

Ziptrek Ecotours sales and marketing manager Nicky Busst said she was “delighted” to welcome Matt to the team, enabling Ziptrek to grow the sales and marketing function, particularly in the ever changing and fast past world of digital marketing.

“Matt has a fantastic track record in tourism and his knowledge and skills are invaluable as we continue to develop the business.” she said.

Ziptrek Ecotours is New Zealand’s first zipline tour operator and during its five-year journey has managed to set the standard in delivery of high quality and safe zipline based eco tours.

The tours fly down up to six exhilarating ziplines, which run through the forest canopy, starting from Queenstown’s Bobs Peak and zipping all the way to the bottom, taking in stunning views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range along the way.

Matt is “excited” to become part of the Ziptrek family which attracts people from all over the world who all believe in the company’s message.

“For me, joining Ziptrek is the next step up in my tourism career. It’s a ground-breaking, fun and forward-thinking company and I'm looking forward to being a part of that," he said.

The pioneering organisation leads the way in zipline innovation as the global Ziptrek Ecotours’ brand continues to expand. With locations in Whistler and Mt Tremblant in Canada and Queenstown the company has established itself as a preeminent name in the adventure tourism industry.