Cook Islands’ hard working commercial traveller, Robert Skews

Cook Islands’ hard working commercial traveller

THE TURAMA PACIFIC TRAVEL GROUP IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL INBOUND TOURISM OPERATORS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. WE’RE CHATTING HERE WITH ROBERT SKEWS, THE COMPANY’S MANAGING DIRECTOR.

they became an integral part of the Rarotonga community, especially Robert’s beloved wife ‘Mama Mousie’. Sadly, in May 2018, Mousie died after a battle with cancer: “One of the

Turama means many enduring things ‘light and I learned from Mousie vision.’ The was the value of family!" group consists of DMCK - Destination Management Cook Islands; Island Hopper Vacations; Tipani Tours; Raro Tours; and Weddings Cook Robert is the front man for the Turama Pacific Travel Group, travelling the world to promote Turama’s services, and the Cook Islands. Islands. Robert appeared It all started in 1990 through a partnership with Air Rarotonga destined to live in, and work on behalf of, the Cook Islands. and some Papa’a (a “I was with Air New Maori term for people Zealand until 1982. But Robert actually craved to Robert Skews is (sarong) as his business and of European descent), I went to Papua New work for himself. entrepreneurial, and for leisurewear: “Since living on including Robert Skews and Brian Baudinet. Whilst the business developed, management and partnerships came and went, including the departure of Air Rarotonga as a shareholder in the early 2000s. Today Robert Skews and Brian Baudinet are dual shareholders. We caught up with Turama’s managing director, Robert Skews, (aka Poppa Hopper, or simply Papa to his staff) who in 2013 was presented with the prestigious Cook Islands ‘Lifetime Achievement in Tourism Award’. Robert’s journey to Turama in Rarotonga really began at Air New Zealand in Auckland as a management cadet. During thirteen years with the airline he once visited Rarotonga on a relieving position, before being seconded to Polynesian Airlines in Samoa for two and half years as reservations and sales manager. That secondment had enduring consequences for his personal and professional life. “Air New Zealand provided a general manager, traffic manager and sales manager to support Polynesian Airlines until 1978,” said Robert. Whilst in Samoa, Robert met Polynesian Airlines flight attendant and his future wife Elisapeta, known as affectionately as Mousie. One of her aunties named her Mousie, as she was so small as a baby. “We married in Samoa in 1977 and were together over 40 years. We have five children: Mousie had three children, and we added another two in New Zealand, Nathan and Shannon, before coming to Rarotonga. We now have ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.” The Skews made Rarotonga their home in 1990. Soon The great thing is we don’t need to manufacture tourism in the Cook Islands! Robert Skews at Turama House Guinea with Air Nuigini from 19821986, ending up as sales and marketing manager. I returned to NZ to work with Ansett 198688 as airport manager in Auckland.” Robert then ran the Hawaiian Airlines operation in NZ: “Air Rarotonga chartered Hawaiian to fly to Rarotonga, so I then set up and managed Air Rarotonga in NZ”. “Smithy (Air Rarotonga’s founder, Ewan Smith) needed someone to handle inbound in Rarotonga, so Island Hopper Vacations was formed with me and two staff in Brian Baudinet’s Budget Travel Mana Court office, in May 1990. “We soon moved near the airport as we kept running out of space.” “16 years ago we built Turama House in Nikao.” over twenty years the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation benefited from his inclusion on their board. Robert cites Chris Wong, former CEO of the Corporation, as one of his greatest influencers; he also paid tribute to the influence of the late Dorice Reid, who served as a fellow board member. “Chris was an amazing leader. His skill was to get out there and do the marketing! I used to follow ‘Tourism’ around; that is how we grew the business. I have attended ITB Berlin (travel trade show) 25 times." Robert’s strategy has been if Cook Islands Tourism is overseas on a promotion then Turama should be there too: “And, it’s worked!” In Europe and Asia for the past five years Turama, Rosie Holidays, and the South Pacific Tourism Organisation have worked in partnership to run ‘Meet the Pacific’, an event bringing together South Pacific resort partners, tourism boards, and airline partners, with European tour operators. One thing that distinguishes Robert Skews from his peers in Rarotonga and overseas is his choice of Samoan lava-lava Rarotonga I’ve worn it; it’s so comfortable”. We asked Robert his thoughts on the future of Cook Islands inbound market. “My concern is that we lose our uniqueness. We are ‘boutique’ - we don’t have the Sheratons and the Hiltons, and we don’t need them. This is our point of difference. But, we really are struggling on Rarotonga with infrastructure and there needs to be brakes put on accommodation development. “Also, we need to find ways to develop the outer islands. The great thing is we don’t need to manufacture tourism in the Cook Islands!” Robert said he would like to see better Los Angeles and Sydney services with at least two flights a week: “Another option is maybe to have Fiji Airways link Australia through Fiji to Rarotonga; I think that could work! “You know, I love this industry and the Cook Islands. We just need to be more careful about the bringing in plastics, noisy bikes and cars, and jet skis in the lagoon! Let’s keep our pristine image; it’s our advantage!”

Four generations of family, 2004

On the road again, Copenhagen 2018

Yakitori and Cuban cigars in a beach bar eatery named after a volleyball

THERE ARE MANY SMALL RESORTS IN THE COOK ISLANDS; NONE QUITE LIKE THE QUIRKY CASTAWAY RESORT ON THE SUNSET COAST OF RAROTONGA.

“We got married in Rarotonga located right on the beach in October 2011,” said Paul next to the newly renovated Bought from the bank in 2012, the resort has developed its infrastructure and built its reputation over the past seven years through the determination of its co-owners Paul Ash and Michelle ObergAsh. Michelle’s sister Frances about twenty years ago. Michelle is a former Miss Cook Islands. Whilst Paul was doing his thing, Michelle was a senior executive for 18 years at the Ministry for the Pacific Islands Affairs in Wellington. “Then I was still doing work in Christchurch. Michelle had moved to Raro so we made a conscious effort to buy a business and settle here. “We bought Castaway in May 2012. It was completely run down. It came with 12 rooms, one part time cleaner and a guy doing a bit of gardening. The bar and restaurant were closed restaurant. The open sided, elevated, undercover section of restaurant seats seventy, whilst sixty can be seated in the open on the beach. “We have live music on two or three evenings, Friday being the most popular with Anania Brown.” Wilson’s bar and the restaurant (breakfast, lunch and dinner) “I enjoy the occasional cigar it was time to seek out new Managing director of Castaway Resort 2012 Ltd is New Zealander Paul Ash who comes from a maverick-style business upbringing. According to down”. Michelle took over the accommodation side, and Paul focussed on getting the bar and restaurant going. The old restaurant but when I came here years ago you couldn’t buy a cigar. There’s only one type of cigar to smoke and that’s Cuban! I import them now for sale at Wilson’s”. investors to help renovate and extend the accommodation from twelve units to eighteen. “All existing rooms are now being upgraded and additional units being built. All 18 will Paul his previous vocation was called Crusoe’s so it Another innovation introduced be fully self contained and air was ‘a contract chief occurred to Paul that a good by Paul is Yakitori skewers: conditioned.” executive troubleshooter’ working for various banks, corporations and organisations. Paul met Michelle Oberg in Christchurch during a blind date set up by Paul Ash, Castaway’s managing director name for a beach bar and eatery was Wilson’s after Tom Hanks ‘friend’ in the movie Castaway. Cool style, warm service is now the order of the day at Wilson’s, which is are open seven days a week, except on Sunday when the bar opens at 6 o’clock. The restaurant menu offers a different theme every night including pasta, Mexican, curry, and seafood. “There is a selection of beef, lamb, chicken, tuna, scallops, prawn, vegetarian and cherry tomatoes, all marinated in our secret Yakitori sauce!” With the food and beverage fairly well looking after itself, Today Castaway Resort is a successful local business to be enjoyed by all, with a harmonious and cooperative relationship between its accommodation, food and beverage.

Cool style, warm service is now the order of the day.

Wilson’s Bar and the new restaurant, beachside on the Sunset Coast at Arorangi