Russia proved to be an outstanding host for the recent 2018 FIFA World Cup: incredible arenas, beautiful cities, warm and friendly locals ... all key to a successful event.
Pacific Attitude surfed this wave to further deliver some memorable experiences for over 230 Kiwis and Aussies travelling for the occasion. The level of satisfaction reached an all time high - flirting with 100% as messages of thanks and positive testimonials are flooding in!
Once again there was a high number of individual and personalised interaries adapted to suit, from a family on a backpacking tour to Corporate VIP groups riding Russian tanks, enjoying a cooking demonstration with one of the World's Top 10 Chefs and so many more unique and different experiences enjoyed during their free days between games.
Below is an overview and feedback from just one of the lucky ones who enjoyed the journey of a lifetime and benefitted from the Pacific Attitude team's professionalism and dedication:
"Now after six weeks away I finally have (sort of) settled back into my NZ routine. It certainly was a wonderful time away and especially my World Cup experience in Russia was! Never mind that Germany was unable to defend their title. France definitely deserved to take over as a World Champion!
We were so lucky with having you both to organize the time at the World Cup! Most of all thank you for responding so quickly to my concerns about my first accommodation in Moscow. From then on everything went so smoothly and I would not be surprised if you also did manage to organize the most beautiful summer days for us. I lapped up every moment, not only the games. I would recommend Netizen Hostel for a budget stay, a class better than Ready Steady in Sankt Petersburg, but the beauty of this wonderful city made up for it!
Thank you so much for all your correspondence and reassurances over the months I had dealings with you!
I certainly would recommend you to anybody that intends going on a trip run by Pacific Attitude!"
- Horst
...
"... it was a once in a lifetime trip for me and I enjoyed every bit of it. Well done and I will for sure recommend your services if we have any events that we need to plan on that scale."
- Faizul
Dear Pacific Attitude's team,
I wanted to sincerely and deeply thank you for the programme you put together for us as it was simply perfect.
Not
even the shade of an issue, all bookings were totally matching
with our expectations, and because of the suggested activities &
excursions have allowed us to discover Australia at its best, in
an optimized way according to the time we did spend on site.
My son, his girlfriend and I warmly thank you for having organizing us an unforgettable trip on the other side of the world !
Thank you again for everything !
See you soon !
Henri, Camille & Glen MIOCH (Montpellier – France)
"I still think of our holiday and the football was truly a highlight! Thanks very much. The atmosphere was really good. Rosie and I went straight to the bars as soon as we got to our hotel room. Mingling with the English and Slovak fans was cool fun. Lots of singing and friendly banter between the two groups, but never any bad feelings. It was great.
When
the national anthems played in the stadium, it was deafening! We
were behind the goals with a large section of English fans, and
to our right, in the corner was a large group of Slovakian fans.
They sung loudly too!
We are already planning our next trip to the northern hemisphere. We will probably go to England this time around Christmas 2017/18 and go to Old Trafford, Anfield, and a few other places.
Thanks again for all your help Vincent. Hope to see you again at a football match soon!"
- Mike Gooch
" Hi Vincent,
Just a quick note to let you the 2 days I spent in Roland Garros
were really excellent! Looking forward to experience much more
great times around sporting events with Pacific Attitude"
- Jean Baptiste GENIN
"I just got the feedback from people we invited to Roland
Garros through Pacific Attitude – they simply had an exceptional
day. Everything went really weel and the greeting was fantastic
– a warm and infinite thank you for the great organization .
Shall we have further projects around sporting events, we will
naturally get back to you !"
- Elody LLOYD
The Montpellier Herault Rugby Association had planned to tour throughout New Zealand for their Youth Development project they have been leading for few years now.
The aim was to soak into the World's best rugby nation to get inspired and share the training method leading to such a high and competitive level.
Pacific Attitude set up their entire itinerary, touring the North Island from Auckland to Wellington, touring across Waikato, Taranaki and Manawatu. In addition to their generic travel arrangements (flights, accommodation, rental car) Pacific Attitude has offered its expertise with connecting them with the best interlocutors to allow optimized results for their quest.
Further than this rugby experience, our team has done its best to allow a bit of time to discover the kiwi lifestyle and share some great times with the locals – a true success! Another field where Pacific Attitude can take you to !
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Dear Pacific Attitude team, Just a quick note to thank you for the excellent organization of our trip!
We didn't face any issue during the entire length of our stay – everything was well set up from accommodation to transportation, including visits and all contact made with rugby clubs, school etc. in both Auckland and Manawatu.
Also, many thanks for putting us in touch with Marc, a real character, who has offered his time and his hosting expertise! We will definitely contact you again shall we have to get back to NZ or discover Australia !
Thanks and best regards,
Jean Paul GALLETIER – MHR Association Vice President
"Travel organised was perfect. Thank you for your excellent service”
Perry Turner, (NZ), The Pioneer MTB Stage Race competitor
................
“It was a great shared experience with my daughter (and
supporters!) – even if it was more challenging than we had
anticipated. Every competitor I spoke with appreciated and
acknowledged the organisation surrounding the event. I have no
doubt that Lagardere saw this as a trailblazer event, and no
corners were cut – it was evident everywhere we looked.
On the other hand, your personal attention and assistance was
perfect. I really am most satisfied thanks."
Paul Gilkinson, (NZ) The Pioneer MTB Stage Race competitor
................
"I crawled into the office this morning – Monday – for the first time, so being back to work has not happened in reality yet.
The race was superb, the people were amazing and the country is simply so beautiful it is almost like a dream. There were a few – very few – issues but that had a lot to do with my understanding of the way things work – however all was booked and in place when we sorted out the details. I certainly learnt a lot of things that will make the next time much easier.
Both Jo and I are adamant we will be back – hopefully, from my side, for next year's race and from Jo's just to be there again and to enjoy the serene nature of so much unspoilt beauty and splendour. The people are so good natured and relaxed, but trying to locate a real fixed accent is difficult as there seem to be so many. Blown away would be a good way to describe how I feel about Kiwi land.
Thanks for all your efforts and work and just be aware we will probably need your help again next year.
John Hayes (Republic of South Africa) - The Pioneer MTB Stage
Race competitor
So sorry I haven't emailed before now. We have been trying to get back into 'reality'.
We were just reflecting today as to what an amazing holiday we had. Everything just ran so smoothly and the weather and snow conditions were/are unbelievable. The Mecure was great and the views (of course) were fabulous! We ventured out to see Arrowtown (a long time wish) and the bird life park in Queenstown on the final day ... but WOW... the winter games action at Cardrona was fantastic! My kids are sold on Cardrona, they love it and really want to go back.
Personally, the first 6 months of this year were terrible for us, however this trip has really kick started the second half of 2015. For our family this trip was a wonderful and an amazing gift.
Thank you so very much!!
Kind regards
Katrina Lee
"On behalf Serbian U-20 National Team I would like to thank to you and your colleagues for your assistance and support during our stay in Pulman Lodge in Auckland.
As you know organization pre camp before World Cup in New Zealand was crucial event for the biggest achievement of U-20 Serbian Team. You are member of the World Cup Winning Team because you arranged perfect preparation for Serbian Team in Pulman Lodge in period, June 20th-27th. You have to be proud of it.
Also I would like to thank you for good cooperation for corrections of our Schedule because you understand sport and sports requests. I hope we will cooperate in future.
Dusan Gelic
Team Manager of Serbian U-20 National Team
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"On behalf of the coaching and manager staff of Ukrainian team I would like to thank you and all involved your collegues for every well organised detail (hotel, trainings, rest day, etc.) prior the tournament!!! Everything was on the top level.
Also please redirect my great thanks to Maori Lady for all presents for all our team. It was very kind step from all Maori community in New Zealand to our team, thank them!
Serhiy is also a match manager for all host Ukrainian games, so maybe in future our federation will deal with you again. As after all we do not have any issues of organisational, financial matters, etc between our sides.
One more time thank you for all, kind assistance and co-operation!
Aleksey Niekrasov
Ukraine Football U-20 Team Manager
"Just wanted to write to say thanks to Pacific Attitude for all your efforts and assistance for the trip to the World Cup.
What a blast – all 19 of us really rated the trip. The match tickets were fantastic, so close to the pitch that we were within 20m of Messi when he took the corners and had Rodrigues celebrating the goal of the tournament right in front of us.
The hotel in Lapa worked really well as a venue for the conference, especially the roof top pool. Its location was perfect as it was a lot less touristy than Copacabana and we felt like we were part of the local Brazilian scene".
Andrew Clements – Zeus Management
"I worked with Pacific Attitude & Groupe Couleur as a guest speaker at numerous events during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the 2013 French rugby tour to NZ. During these events I found the Crew to be very professional, organised, and friendly to myself and their clients. I received many remarks from their clients commenting on their satisfaction and enjoyment whilst touring. I would have no hesitation in recommending Pacific Attitude to future clients wishing to travel aboard and experience another country at its best."
Tony Marsh – Former French Rugby Player
"I have been joining the NZ Parliamentarian Team as a guest player for PRWC 2011 in NZ – this will remain a great memory as we won the trophy on our own soil – but the whole tournament was a real success as really well organized – The organizing team was in charge of both on field & off field organization, and they did a great job! They put an excellent itinerary together with a great mixture of culture, sport, discovery and fun!
The organizing crew was really professional in the execution of their work, but good fun too as they even jumped on the field to play some footy in addition to being part of every single step of the whole project – a warm thank to the team!"
Ofisa Junior Tonu’u – former All Black
"Thanks to Pacific ATTITUDE, everything ran like clockwork and I was able to get plenty of good things done for a first trip (as you would have seen from my list of excursions!). Vincent Delmas is a good connection to have down there. He tries to offer one an original experience and he's eager to please (the first time I met him he offered me so many suggestions that I found it hard to take them all in one sitting!) He also convinced me to do something that I didn't seriously think I would do on the trip: go training with the locals at Ponsonby Rugby Club! I'm really glad that I did it and it is something that I'll never forget.
He came through manfully when there was a real problem on the morning that I was due to depart from Queenstown to Hamilton in advance of the third Test match. There was a technical glitch which meant that the plane that was supposed to be flying to Hamilton that afternoon was no longer in a position to fly. But Vincent got everything sorted that morning and had alternative flights arranged for me, even before I knew that there was a problem in the first place. He had the problem solved even before I knew there was a problem!
When in Christchurch I spotted the opportunity to do the "Tranz-Alpine Express" which is a very interesting and comfortable panoramic railway journey across the "Kiwi Alps", from Christchurch on the East coast to Greymouth on the West coast. Indeed, I would recommend it to any future clients of Pacific ATTITUDE who are travelling to New Zealand, it is a good day trip.
My lodgings throughout the trip to New Zealand were safe and comfortable. It is also worth mentioning that it was a lovely young family who ran the Ambassador Motel in Hamilton. I would recommend them to others.
There were lots of little tips and insider knowledge that Vincent imparted to me during my trip, which I am grateful to him and to you for. Tips such as, for example, the imperative of dining at Ferg Burger while I was in Queenstown (the finest burgers in New Zealand apparently).
Queenstown also afforded me the opportunity to go Skydiving, which was an incredible experience that I will never regret doing. In this case, Vincent gave me the good tip of jumping off at 12,000ft, rather than at 9,000ft which I had initially planned to do for reasons of comparative cheapness. But Vincent wisely advised me that this would be a false economy, and I duly opted for 12,000ft!
Thanks again to Pacific ATTITUDE for the work done to allow Killester Travel to be the only agency in Ireland (I think) to have offered a package trip for Ireland's 2012 Summer Tour to New Zealand for supporters.
John Reid, Killester Travel