Real feedback from NZ tourism operators who stopped guessing and started growing.
We'd been trying to manage our own Instagram for two years with barely any traction. Social Allies took it over and by month three we had direct booking enquiries coming through social every week. The agent outreach was something we never would have done ourselves, it's already led to two repeat group bookings.
As a small lodge owner I wear fifteen hats already. Having someone handle social, listings, and agent outreach has been game-changing. Our Google profile went from basically invisible to showing up for every relevant search in our region within six weeks.
We did the on-site intensive and it was worth every cent. The team flew up, spent the day training our staff and shooting content we actually use, our feed looks completely different now. The AEO setup means we're now showing up when people ask AI assistants about scenic flights in Northland.
I was sceptical about paying for marketing when our season is only four months long. But the agent outreach changed how we plan, we now have bookings confirmed before the season even opens. That peace of mind is priceless.
The 1:1 coaching was perfect for us. We wanted to build capability internally rather than outsource forever. After three months, our team genuinely understands what to post, when, and why. The AEO module opened our eyes to something we had no idea existed.
We've worked with general marketing agencies before and it always felt like they didn't get tourism. Social Allies speaks our language, they understand seasonality, the agent relationship, and how international travellers research and book. It shows in everything they do.
A Queenstown helicopter operator had exceptional pilots and stunning scenery, but their online presence didn't reflect any of it. 340 Instagram followers, no Google review strategy, and zero listings with international travel agents.
We rebuilt their Google Business Profile, optimised TripAdvisor, and launched weekly organic posting in the first 30 days. Month two: agent outreach began across Australia, UK, and North America. We also published AEO-optimised content that positioned them for AI search queries. By month three, enquiries had tripled and two internationally-sourced group bookings were confirmed.
A Bay of Islands eco retreat wanted to own their marketing long-term, not outsource it forever. Just the owner and a part-time host, but committed to learning it properly.
Over four months of 1:1 coaching, we built them a full content system, optimised listings across five platforms, developed outreach templates for travel agents, and walked them through AEO fundamentals. By month four they were posting consistently, fielding regular agent enquiries, and had reduced OTA dependency from 80% to 55% of bookings.