4 minute read
BRING YOUR FRANCHISE TOGETHER
Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre is the perfect venue for meetings of all sizes, with special discounts for franchises
When the team at Exceed are looking for somewhere in Auckland to bring their franchisees together, there’s only one place they think of – Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre. The Mount Wellington location is convenient for motorways, the airport, and, crucially, offers free parking.
‘When you’ve got up to 50 people turning up in their vans for a training session, that’s a major benefit,’ says Tony Burnette, General Manager for the award-winning franchise. ‘But it’s not the only one: Waipuna offers a wide range of spaces and function rooms. We’ve used them for everything from regional meetings to national conferences, roadshows and supplier expos to round tables and break-out sessions. Loading and unloading is easy; you can drive right up to the back doors.
‘Having rooms overlooking the lagoon makes for an open, sharing atmosphere. And, at the end of the day, you can all relax together in the bar and enjoy the water view and sunset. Of course, there’s accommodation on site too, which makes it easy for the out-of-town franchisees and the quality of food is really outstanding.’
And there’s one more factor that Tony says makes a big difference. ‘The team at Waipuna actually understand franchising. They have been members of the Franchise Association for many years. Sales and marketing manager Shelley Trutsch has been to many franchise events herself. They understand about bringing groups of business owners together and the importance of celebrating the franchise relationship.’
A choice of 17 different venues
Shelley says that Exceed is just one of many local and international franchise brands that know they can rely on Waipuna. ‘We can offer 17 different venues on site, which can host everything from small meetings, up to events of 300 people. Our large banquet space seats 250 people for an awards or conference dinner, and we even have our own theatre.
‘Franchise psychologist Greg Nathan – another Waipuna visitor – talks about the importance of having lots of natural light to create focus and energy. Almost all our spaces offer that, many with an inspiring water view.’
And there’s another reason for the special atmosphere at Waipuna. ‘Rather than being part of a big chain, Waipuna is owned by a licensing trust,’ Shelley explains. ‘Our purpose is to employ and train local people, and our core focus is to give back to the community. Rather than send the profits off overseas to corporate owners, we fund things like resurfacing local netball courts. It gives us a unique and friendly feel, which ties in perfectly with the ethos of franchising.’
Tony agrees. ‘Exceed believes strongly in supporting the community. It initiated The Heart Box charitable trust, which places defibrillators in public areas, for example. We like the fact that Waipuna has a very similar culture, which means the money we spend there stays local.’
Special offer for franchises
Now, Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre has launched an offer specifically for the franchise sector, including service providers.
‘We recognise that it’s been a tough time for many small businesses, so we want to help by offering franchises a special 15 percent discount on venue hire when full-day catering is provided,’ Shelley announces.
‘That applies both to 8am-5pm daytime events, and to 6pm-midnight events. We’ll provide complimentary coffee and tea on arrival, and a 15 percent discount on post-function beverages in the bar.
‘Of course, we know that every franchise is different. If you want to do something a bit special, we’d love to help you with that. We pride ourselves on providing friendly and personal service, so contact me directly and find out how we can help bring your franchise together.’
Advertiser Info
Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre www.waipunahotel.co.nz
Contact Shelley Trutsch
027 499 2412
09 526 3008
