Category Archives: Tourism Leaders

The Kingdom of Tonga has unveiled its new destination brand, “Kingdom of Tonga: The Friendly Islands”, developed in partnership with Tomahawk. 

Drawing on Tonga’s globally recognised nickname, The Friendly Islands, the new brand celebrates the nation’s warmth, hospitality, and vibrant culture. Each letter in the TONGA logo has been carefully designed to reflect traditional tapa patterns and cultural motifs, creating a visual identity that brings the country’s rich heritage to life. 

What sets this rebrand apart is its people-led approach. Over 20 months, Tomahawk conducted extensive research and workshops across four islands, including 15 workshops and over 20 consultations with tourism operators, cultural leaders, schools, community members, and government representatives....

We are delighted and excited to announce our return as an official event supporter at TRENZ 2025, reaffirming our long-standing commitment to New Zealand’s thriving tourism industry. 

Back by popular demand, our team will once again bring our signature Popcorn Cart & Chill Zone to the event, offering a welcoming space for delegates to relax, recharge, and connect. Also making a comeback is the roaming Snack Trolley, delivering bite-sized treats and good vibes across the show floor. 

"TRENZ is where the future of our industry is shaped, and we’re thrilled to be part of the energy again in 2025," says Renee Goodsell, General Manager of Tomahawk. “Whether it’s a snack break, a shared laugh, or a strategic chat, we’re here to support meaningful connections that drive tourism...

We are thrilled to announce our selection as a 2024 Culture New Zealand Award winner, a prestigious accolade that highlights companies with an unwavering commitment to creating an exceptional workplace environment. This recognition showcases our team's dedication to fostering collaboration, nurturing creativity, and prioritising people at every level. 

Organised by Hyer, the Culture New Zealand Awards set an incredibly high standard, evaluating over 5,000 companies and interviewing more than 20,000 employees to identify the top 100 organisations exemplifying workplace excellence and values-driven leadership. 

The benefits of this recognition extend far beyond our Tomahawk internal team. A motivated and cohesive team ensures that the tourism businesses we partner with receive...

Tomahawk is excited to announce that our founders and company directors are relocating to California. The move comes at a pivotal time, aligning with personal family considerations while also offering exciting new opportunities for Tomahawk to further connect with key markets and ensuring they are better positioned to support customers and capitalise on growth. 

"We're thrilled to be taking this big step change," says Gina Paladini. "Relocating to the US allows us to be closer to some of our biggest tourism markets, and it's an exciting chapter both for us and for Tomahawk as we continue to explore expanding our global customer base." 

Paladini and Hayson believe the timing of the move couldn't be better, particularly with the strong leadership of General Manager Renee...

We are thrilled and proud to share our new partnership with Accommodation Australia! They are leading a nation-wide major project across the tourism, travel & hospitality industry to promote and grow the workforce leveraging (and enhancing) the platform we developed for Go with Tourism!

“The GWT team with Tomahawk’s support created something very powerful for the tourism and hospitality industry,” says Dame Kerry Prendergast Tourism Industry NZ Trust Chair. “We are very pleased to see the valuable work of Go With Tourism being leveraged by our friends in Australia.”

Tomahawk has been engaged to develop the platform for the Australian market to allow employers, prospective workers, students and international visitors to connect to education, employment and other vital...