Tourism Experience Design Summit

A 1 day event to explore the most powerful part of any tourism or hospitality business: the experience.

Join the waitlist now to be the first to know when we launch tickets.

Unlock improved business performance in any market cycle

Greater yield? Yep. Return guests? Tick. Better reviews? Always. Less visitors, more profit? Of course. Higher value businesses? 100%

Unfortunately, most people don't know how to start so they keep doing the same thing. That’s what the TXD Summit is for - to share the learnings from people who have done it before and show how your business can also reap the rewards of experience design.

GAIN INVALUABLE INSIGHTS FROM THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS

  • Man wearing beanie and coat smiling at a cafe table with a coffee cup, eyeglasses, and plant in the background.

    Ed Burak

    Ed is an experienced practitioner in human-centred design who just finished building the $20 million All Blacks Experience. He’s a specialist in experience design, and design thinking processes.

    Ed lives for opportunities to utilise his strategic design and research capabilities to help shape sustainable business.

    His role is bringing truth to the table by decoding the voice of the customer, workshop facilitation, voice of the customer insight and putting the end user at the centre of good design.

    Ed has a breadth of experience within the Tourism sector, having held executive roles within Tourism Holdings Ltd and Ngai Tahu Tourism over the past ten years.

    LinkedIn
  • A woman in a green sweater smiling by the water, with boats in the background.

    Stacey Jones

    Meet the culinary creative behind the Secret Sauce. Stacey’s work includes Special PR, Four Square and Burger Burger offering a unique take on edible experiences that leave a lasting impression.

    Originally from the UK, she relocated to Kiwi shores, and married her passion for food with marketing expertise, founding Kitchen Takeover – an endlessly sold-out secret supper experience with over 15,000 diners served, two NZ Event Awards, the largest event in Wellington on A Plate 2023 and countless collabs with celebrity chefs.

    She’s ready to share her experience, passion and knowledge to cook up marketing and experiences that leave a lasting impression.

    LinkedIn
  • A smiling person with curly hair wearing a gray collared shirt.

    Benedikt Bouillon

    Benedikt has 20 years of experience in Hotels, Restaurants and the Wine Industry. A typical hotel career, he started from the ground up, working as a Waiter, Porter and Receptionist before progressing to more Senior Roles.

    His career took him from his home country of Germany to London and Vienna, before adding stops in Melbourne and New Zealand. He became a General Manager at 31, looking after Ultra-Luxury Lodges Matakauri Lodge and Kauri Cliffs.

    Focussing on Guest Experience as well as Leadership Skills, his workshops and mentoring will help you stand out from your competition.

    LinkedIn
  • Man in dark shirt and glasses sitting on a stool against a dark background.

    Brad Rowe

    Brad’s journey in tourism has taken him all around the world turning products into experiences and creating new businesses.

    With a keen eye for innovation and a deep understanding of the tourism landscape, he delivered New Zealand’s premiere mountain biking experience, strategic chairlift and gondola developments and public sector tourism development roles.

    This unique combination of experience has helped him gain valuable insights into all areas of the visitor economy, adding untapped value and unlocking new opportunities.

    As the industry faces unprecedented changes, Brad stands ready to ensure the visitor experience remains front and centre.

    LinkedIn
  • Logo featuring a white feather with the text 'All Blacks Experience' on a black background.
  • Text reading "Kitchen Takeover" on a plain background.
  • Dark Sky Project logo, black background with text arrangement.
  • Logo featuring the text 'RIDE SKYLINE MTB Queenstown New Zealand' with a graphic of a cable car and cyclist.
  • "Flavours of Plenty Festival" logo on pink background.
  • Logo of Matakauri with a simple outline of a mountain, featuring the text "Matakauri Queenstown | New Zealand."
  • thl logo with yellow and red gradient arc on white background

Agenda

We intentionally leave time between sessions to debrief, discuss and plan how you can implement session tactics

830am - 9am: Arrive, register, coffee, light breakfast

Where: The Sherwood

9am - 10am: Building a million-dollar experience

with the All Blacks - Ed Burak

Where: The Sherwood

10.15am - 11.15am: How experiential hospitality grows yield & builds brand - Stacey Jones

Where: The Sherwood

11.15am - 1pm: Boat into town + lunch

Where: Queenstown Marina -> Mountain Club

1pm - 2pm: Redefining the guest experience - Benedikt Bouillon

Where: Mountain Club

2.15pm - 3.15pm: TBC

Where: Mountain Club

3.15pm - 4pm: Wrap up and action planning - applying lessons learnt to your business - Brad Rowe

Where: Mountain Club

4pm - 5pm: Wine tasting and food pairing experience

Where: Mountain Club

5pm onwards: Drinks and Dinner (optional)

What to expect

Group of people socializing on a rooftop terrace with a mountain view in the background.
Cozy cafe interior with wooden tables, pendant lights, and a coffee counter. White subway tiles cover one wall, and sheepskin throws are draped over benches. Outside, stacks of firewood are visible.
Outdoor seating area with people at picnic tables, surrounded by plants and buildings with red and gray roofs, and a view of mountains in the background.

  • A long list of valuable ideas to take back to your business.

  • To build relationships with progressive peers from the tourism industry.

  • An unforgettable day packed with masterclass sessions, all-you-can-eat food and drink and a couple of unique experiences of their own thrown in.

What’s included?

  • Breakfast, lunch, transport between sessions, agenda activities.

What’s not included?

  • Flights, accommodation, dinner and anything not listed above.

PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE THE TXD SUMMIT

  • Two people sitting at a table with coffee mugs, engaged in conversation; hands and mugs are visible.

    Relationships over powerpoints

    We’ve designed the event to make sure the people that should meet, meet. We hand-curate discussion roundtables and facilitate connections.

    You have very specific problems and goals. There are people who have the exact same goals, and have already figured it out. You should talk!

    Shared experiences unite people – making the relationships you form here strong.

  • Group of people sitting in an office, watching a presentation on a large screen, surrounded by indoor plants.

    Best possible practitioners teach their craft

    You can learn from the people who do the absolute best work in their field.

    All of our speakers are hand-picked practitioners, no motivational book-tour people, no sales pitches.

    It’s a lot of how-to with a sprinkle of inspiration. Model what the best are doing, and reap the rewards.

    Speakers stick around for the full event, so you can chat with them around other sessions.

  • People socializing at an indoor gathering, with drinks on a table.

    It feels like a big dinner party

    Fun is a serious business at TXD Live.

    All-you-can-eat and drink all day long.

    You’re leaving your home, it’s gotta be worth it.

    You’ll have fun, we promise.

CANCELLATION
POLICY

Full refund if cancelled before 30 days of the event. If canceled 15 to 30 days before the event, there’s 50% refund and no refund if you cancel less than 2 weeks before.