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Pihopa Retreat - NZ's #1 Hotel - Tourism Marketing

Objective

Increase Pīhopa Retreat’s visibility internationally and online, and build the foundations for more direct bookings.

Project

Full-service tourism marketing strategy across content, brand, digital, and PR

Results

Website traffic has doubled, with new brand assets and international media outreach building long-term visibility

We were engaged by Pīhopa Retreat, an award-winning luxury lodge in Nelson, to elevate its tourism marketing and grow its profile with an international audience. The retreat’s reputation for personalised, detail-driven hospitality was consistently praised by guests – but the existing marketing was functional rather than experiential, and wasn’t capturing what actually set Pīhopa apart.

We began with a baseline data review of all marketing and booking data, including the current split between agent and direct bookings, so progress could be measured over time. From there, work spanned several areas:

Filming & content

  • New hero video, filmed with talent, to bring the Pīhopa experience to life
  • Social media shorts
  • An owner-led property walkthrough, produced for trade use

Website & SEO

  • Comprehensive website upgrade and restructure for improved SEO
  • New Experience, Wellness, About, Sustainability, and Media Kit pages
  • Redesigned footer and gallery, Instagram feed, and an accolades strip
  • Website copy rewritten to foreground the guest experience and Sarah’s personal story
  • A comprehensive SEO report to guide current and future content
  • Technical SEO remediation and FAQ blocks added to key pages to support AI search
  • Google Business Profile updates (listings, imagery, blogs)

Branding & design

  • Refined and corrected brand files
  • New “gold circle” device to visually showcase awards and accolades

Email marketing

  • New email templates and ongoing campaigns to the retreat’s database
  • Support with the 2026 Condé Nast Awards submission

PR & trade

  • Country-specific press releases and a new backgrounder document
  • A trade presentation and a concise product guide for agent and travel show meetings
  • A media kit page with press releases, a photography library, and interview information
  • Ongoing research and outreach to target international luxury travel publications

Together, this work reflects a shift from generic hospitality promotion to genuine tourism marketing – built around the experience, story, and people that make Pīhopa Retreat distinct. Rather than treating each channel in isolation, we’ve aligned content, brand, and PR under one strategic direction, giving the retreat a consistent, elevated presence wherever international travellers and agents encounter it.

Results

  • Website traffic has doubled over the past few months
  • New long-term marketing assets created (film, brand, trade, and media materials)
  • Active international media outreach underway
  • Strong foundations laid for continued growth in visibility and direct bookings

I started working with Karenna from Elevate Consultancy on behalf of Pihopa Retreat with one specific project in mind, but she ended up delivering so much more. What began as a single focus quickly evolved into a complete overhaul of our marketing, and the results have been incredible. Karenna brought fresh and beautiful ideas, clear strategy, and a deep understanding of what our business needed. She took the time to really get to know Pihopa Retreat and translated that into marketing that genuinely reflects who we are. Her professionalism, creativity, and attention to detail made the entire process seamless. Communication was always easy and consistent, and I felt supported every step of the way. I highly recommend Karenna and Elevate Consultancy to anyone looking to elevate their business—her impact has been significant for us.'

Sarah Mellor, Pīhopa Retreat

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