Rotorua woman emerges as holiday parks star

Rotorua Top 10 Holiday Park's Jasmine Adams, pictured here with husband Jared and son Konah, has won the Holiday Parks' Emerging Star Award for holiday park professionals under the age of 35. Photo/File

A Rotorua holiday park owner has been recognised for her efforts by the holiday park industry.

Jasmine Adams, of the Rotorua TOP 10 Holiday Park, has won the inaugural Holiday Parks' Emerging Star Award for holiday park professionals under the age of 35.

A statement from Holiday Parks New Zealand said Ms Adams had been recognised for her efforts in leading the wider industry and her community, as well as her own park.

She has been working in the holiday park sector for more than four years, and now owns and operates the Qualmark-rated 5 star Rotorua TOP 10 Holiday Park.

She manages the park's online market and has increased its Facebook fans from fewer than 300 to more than 29,000 by designing and implementing a marketing strategy which has turned out to be a viral success.

Her most recent giveaway had a reach of more than 800,000.

Ms Adams is chairwoman of Holiday Parks New Zealand Rotorua, the local holiday parks group, and works closely with Destination Rotorua in advisory roles.

Community is also important for Ms Adams and she has led a large number of community-focused initiatives, fundraisers, and projects to help many organisations
in Rotorua.

These include installing cameras at Lifewise Mental Health and Addiction Services, and supporting schools.

This community-focused work was highly commended at the 2016 Westpac Business Excellence Awards.

Holiday Parks New Zealand chief executive Fergus Brown said Ms Adams clearly showed the commitment required to succeed in today's tourism industry.

"She has shown a passion and dedication to the holiday park sector. The judges said that not only is she a driving force in running a good business but her impact on the wider industry is substantial.

"For her age, Jasmine is contributing not only to her own park but also to the industry and other parts of her community at a high level," he said.

Destination Rotorua general manager Oscar Nathan said Ms Adams' award was well deserved.

"It has been my pleasure to know and work alongside Jaz over the years. It has also been my privilege to see her grow into the focused, committed, and energetic tourism leader she has become today.

"In her work Jasmine has not only made a significant contribution to her family business at Rotorua TOP 10 Holiday Park, but she has also selflessly worked to ensure a smarter, better performing and informed sector for her colleagues as well," said Mr Nathan.

"Jasmine has given many hours to working on, in and for initiatives that not only improve the holiday park sector, but also assist the wider destination through the likes of responsible camping in Rotorua and the successful Rotorua Tourism Investment Partnership Programme to name a few."

Key facts:
- The holiday park sector provides 36 per cent of New Zealand's commercial accommodation capacity and 19 per cent of commercial guest nights.
- In the year ended April 2017 holiday parks provided 7.665 million guest nights.
- Guest nights to holiday parks are made up of 34 per cent international visitors and 66 per cent domestic visitors.
- While staying at holiday parks guests contribute over $1 billion in direct expenditure to local communities.
- Around $612 million (60 per cent) of the expenditure is contributed by domestic travellers, with the balance of $405 million (40 per cent) by international travellers.
- Expenditure by international visitors contributes directly to New Zealand's
export earnings.