Coaching job's just the ticket

Daniel Rode moved from Coca Cola to promoting travel across New Zealand.

Name: Daniel Rode

Role: National sales and marketing Manager for InterCity Group New Zealand

Working hours: 8am-5pm plus occasional travel on weekend and evenings.

Average pay: $70,000-$90,000 a year

Describe what you do?

I am the national sales & marketing manager for InterCity Group NZ, New Zealand's only national land transport network, comprised of InterCity and Newmans Coach Lines. I'm responsible for the overall sales and marketing activity of the company.

My role requires me to work within both the transport and tourism industries and build relationships and partnerships within both.

I manage seven business development representatives, five throughout New Zealand and representatives in Europe and Australia. I work closely with industry groups such as Tourism New Zealand and the Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand. Along with our creative team, we're constantly looking at new ways to improve and promote coach travel within New Zealand.

InterCity Group has 130 services a day, carrying more than 1.2 million passengers a year to 650 cities and communities throughout New Zealand.

How did you end up in your current job?

I was working in the FMCG industry as a business development manager for Coca-Cola and decided I needed a change to a new market.

A recruitment consultant recommended InterCity Group to me. To begin with, I was somewhat hesitant about moving from Coca-Cola. However, after my first meeting with Malcolm Johns, the CEO of InterCity Group, and discussing his plans and direction for the business, I was sold.

The company has been through a number of changes since it was first established in 1991 and I really felt after my initial interview that the business was at a turning point.

Developments in technology, together with the expanding offshore sales activities is establishing InterCity Group as one of the country's leading transport and tourism companies.

Why did you choose this career?

I wanted to work in a dynamic industry. The tourism/transport industry has given me this opportunity and has kept me on my toes everyday since I started.

What qualifications did you need?

I don't have a tourism background so I'd have to say that wasn't overly important. Before settling in New Zealand, I spent many years travelling around the world, so I guess you could say it was more hands-on training. My qualifications are in physical education, but I had always been involved in sales, having spent a number of years working in one of Britain's leading fashion retail stores, Next, while studying.

What sort of person does it take to do what you do?

It takes someone who enjoys the challenge of juggling many different projects at once. You have to have an appreciation of travel and the ability to build relationships with people.

What do you enjoy most about it?

Everyday is different. Probably the aspect I enjoy the most is how well everyone in the industry works together. Sure we're all competitors, but at the end of the day we're all working to present New Zealand as a great destination and that only comes by working together. We all rely on each other in some way, whether it's accommodation providers or skydiving operators, we all interact with travellers. As New Zealand's only national land transport operator, we have a strong kiwi brand with lots of history and a great product offering. The challenge for me is to promote our network so that we create a wider customer base and build a brand that kiwis are proud of it and recommend to visitors.

What is the strangest thing you have encountered while at work?

I recently organised an "Olympic challenge" for some of our wholesale agents in Rotorua. The idea was to organise a networking opportunity and basically have a bit of fun. One of our partners for the weekend was the Agrodome farm show.

It was great fun and there were even liquid refreshments on hand, administered of course by a drenching gun.

What would you tell someone wanting to do your job?

Wait for another couple of years until I've achieved all we have planned. Get out and travel. It's great learning experience and life's too short to sit there dreaming about things.

What do you think your next career move will be?

I'm really enjoying the tourism industry and at this stage have no real idea where my career may take me, as there are so many opportunities.