Amanda Cushen

Background

About Amanda Cushen

Business Navigator in the Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes region for Business South An exciting role allowing me to Connect, Empower help businesses and access training and support. Across the Otago region I also promote Business Mentors New Zealand. Tourism IQ is a tourism consultancy business owned by my husband. John CUSHEN and I We work with an array of tourism businesses across all areas to ensure business growth and quality “Better never stops”… I have an extensive background of Tourism sprinkled with sales and marketing in other corporate roles. Examples relevant to Tourism IQ include -+13 years as a Tourism Business Advisor for Tourism New Zealand focussing on the accommodation sector assessing and developing 200 + businesses a year in areas of guest expectations and sustainable business practise within Economic - Social and People - Health and Safety and Environment Also included mystery shopping of premium markets – the Hotel Inspector!+ 6 years - Established, Owned and operated a very successful Country Lodge that had a strong focus on offering guests a highly hosted experience + 2.5 years - Regional Business Partners - Business Growth Advisor managing funding over Covid period in the Otago region 30 plus Million across the region based on discovery and action plans and in depth understanding of business needs. High energy with a passion to grow and help business owners succeed in their chosen business. Humour/Friendliness /Empathy /Professionalism /Diligence /Integrity /Imagination /Communicator - Ability to train and manage teams to ensure they "shine"- Marketing aptitude developed by promotional marketing, research analysis and logic - Excellent organisational skills in all areas of business (Virgo)- Profit and goal focus to all areas of business - Tourism SME owner and operator for many years - People connector - Negotiation skills - terms and conditions and contracts - Internal auditing ISO9001