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Local travel agents are feeling the hard hits from COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, and locally, one business is asking the community to help each-other out wherever they can by shopping local.  

House of Travel is a locally owned and operated business which has been operating in Alexandra since 2004.  

House of Travel Alexandra manager Aaron Dyson said the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the business and the travel industry as a whole.  

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“In the months leading up to and during level 4 and 3 lockdown, our staff have worked tirelessly to assist our customers in every way possible,” Aaron said. 

“At times navigating an ever-changing landscape and policies from airlines and suppliers.  

“Our team put in huge hours to ensure we could get our customers home before lockdown.  

“We also assisted reuniting families with loved ones who were currently living, working, studying overseas who needed to get home to New Zealand.”

House of Travel is calling on locals to support one another to restart the local economy. 

The world is still far from coming to grips with COVID-19 and the suspected long-lasting impacts the virus will have on everyday life, let alone international travel. 

With that in mind, it is uncertain when people will be able to travel again and travel agents, tourism operators, hospitality workers and all associated industries are hoping things work out sooner rather than later. 

“We continue to help our customers who have bookings in place for this year,” Aaron said. 

“Moving forward, we expect to see changes that will allow people to start safely travelling again.”  

“As Kiwis, travel is in our blood - it’s what we do.

“With the right measures and precautions in place, we hope to see the local community experience the joys and enrichment travel provides, both within our own country and overseas.

“Customers are our focus and we are a team of passionate travel nuts who love putting together dream holidays for our Central Otago customers.

Over the years House of Travel has developed strong relationships with customers as well as supporting local businesses and organisations, and he is hoping those relationships prove to be reciprocal.

House of Travel has been proactive with supporting local organisations over the years, and now it is calling for help. 

House of Travel have sponsored about 30 organisations, clubs and associations over the years, not to mention a bevy of events. 

“We have a strong community focus (and support) of local groups and organisations we have sponsored over the last couple of years,” he said. 

“We believe that supporting local is an integral part of being an active contributor to our community. 

“More than ever we need our community to support us and to shop locally.”

Recent local sponsorship and partnerships.

• Dunstan High School platinum partner
• Dunstan High School scholarship $1000.00
• Dunstan High School netball
• Hospice NZ national partnership
• Number of Central Otago A&P shows
• Central Otago Golf clubs
• Central Otago Bowls
• Central Otago Sports Award – major sponsor
• St Gerards School fair
• Alexandra Primary school fair
• Terrace school fair
• Lions Clubs
• Basketball/Miniball
• Alexandra Blossom Festival
• Central Otago Duck race
• Wool on
• Cromwell Rowing club
• Otago Racing/Trotting club
• Alexandra District Club
• Dunedin City Motors – Alexandra Bathurst event
• Central Otago Volunteers day
• Breast Cancer Foundation
• Bodeker Scientific – Beer and Climate sponsorship
• Central Otago Wedding Fair
• Farmlands Ladies dinner
• Clyde/Earnscleugh Rugby Club