An enormous celebration opportunity

 - first published in the Gisborne Herald – Saturday, July 23, 2011 • by Kathy McVey

Heart of Gisborne had ‘‘server issues’’ last week. That catch-phrase seems to cover a myriad of technical challenges in today’s business arena, but for me the most obvious was with our email. I received no incoming mail for almost four full working days and when the issues were resolved the emails were lost in cyberspace, never to be seen again. If you emailed me last week — please try again.

I discovered two things amid the frustration. Firstly, Heart of Gisborne is making a difference, judging by all the phone calls from people who wondered why I hadn’t answered their email queries. Secondly, without email to distract me, I spent some time thinking about the swiftly-approaching Rugby World Cup.

For businesses, RWC 2011 offers some enormous opportunities to celebrate, and make the most of the business opportunities created by having 85,000 international visitors, and the eyes of the world on New Zealand. If you’re in business and haven’t done so already, join the NZ 2011 Business Club. The club connects local business people (hosts) with international business people in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup. Hosting international Business Club members offers New Zealand business people a way of establishing new and enduring international relationships, and doesn’t have to be expensive! It could range from a BBQ on the beach, a game of golf, to attending a REAL New Zealand Showcase or Festival event together. Sign up at www.nz2011.govt.nz/business

Be prepared with First Impressions training. The First Impressions online staff training resource is a fun, free and interactive way for organisations such as retailers, bars, cafés and taxi-drivers, to deliver a friendly and informed welcome to our 85,000-plus visitors. Based on the orientation training module developed for the official RWC Volunteer workforce “Team 2011” , it is a great way for organisations to get involved. Go to the REAL New Zealand Showcase. This programme, of more than 200 sector events nationwide, presents the best of New Zealand business and industry to the world during the RWC. It demonstrates New Zealand’s key industry sectors, the people who work within them, and how we’ve developed products and services unique to our country. If you’d like to attend events, go to www.realnzshowcase.com To participate in your sector’s Showcase, please contact your industry organisation.

Get the REAL New Zealand Festival and Showcase widget which means you can display all the Festival and Showcase events in your region, on your own website(s). The free, interactive tile allows users of your website to easily browse these events without leaving your site, and it’s very easy to implement. Contact stephanie.francis@nz2011.govt.nz  for downloading instructions.

Hanging flag bunting and decorating your workplace is a great way for businesses to celebrate RWC. Order bunting including all the RWC 2011 national flags or the flags from one nation only