research programmes
Covec has a dedicated research division with extensive experience in the design and delivery of long-term research programmes. These programmes are generally built around primary data collection processes and often use customised web technologies to facilitate the collection and dissemination of data. They are typically high frequency research processes conducted for government agencies and national associations requiring comprehensive research frameworks, robust data collection and processing methods, and diligent project management. We have extensive experience in both supply-side programmes, where businesses are the main respondents, and demand-side programmes, where consumers are the main respondents.
Our services include the restructuring of existing research programmes, and the development of new programmes. All technical and operational aspects are delivered in-house by our highly skilled and experienced research team.
Design & management of the Convention Delegate Survey
The Convention Delegate Survey (CDS) is a continuous online survey of around 2,000 convention delegates each year distributed through professional conference organisers. This programme measures the expenditure and travel patterns of local, domestic and international convention delegates in New Zealand and is used to estimate the economic contribution of multi-day conventions to the New Zealand economy. The CDS weighting methodology uses population estimates from the CAS combined with visitor arrival data from the IVA (Statistics New Zealand).
Design & management of the Tourism Industry Monitor
The Tourism Industry Monitor (TIM) is a quarterly online survey of around 500 tourism businesses across New Zealand commissioned by MED. This programme is the main source of historical and forward-looking performance-based information for the tourism industry, and is used to produce the tourism confidence index.
Management of the International Visitor Survey
The International Visitor Survey (IVS) is an ongoing research programme that measures the travel and expenditure patterns of international visitors to New Zealand. The IVS is classified as a Tier 1 statistic by Statistics New Zealand. Covec has managed the data collection component of the programme since 2008, conducting 5,200 face-to-face interviews with departing international visitors annually at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch international airports. Our work includes the management of 17 multi-lingual field staff across three airports, the coordination of interview scheduling to meet survey quotas, and the secure storage and transmission of primary data.
Redesign & management of the Convention Activity Survey
The Convention Activity Survey (CAS) is a monthly online survey of more than 100 professional venues across 12 major centres in New Zealand (Auckland, Hamilton and Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Wellington, Nelson/Marlborough, Canterbury, Queenstown and Dunedin). The CAS measures the number of MICE events and delegates hosted in professional venues each month, and is the only reliable source of convention activity data in New Zealand.
Redesign & management of the NZHC research programme
The NZHC Research Programme is a monthly online survey of more than 100 of New Zealand’s largest hotels commissioned by NZHC. This programme measures and benchmarks the performance of major hotels in New Zealand in terms of occupancy, average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available (RevPAR) room. Covec has made several major enhancements to the NZHC programme since taking it over in 2004. These include taking the programme online with the development of a simple, secure website that meets the needs of a range of users. Covec manages the programme through a hands-on tiered communications programme that is responsive to the industry’s changing information requirements. The NZHC research programme is now considered to be a benchmark within the tourism industry and is used by Statistics New Zealand as a collection mechanism for the Commercial Accommodation Monitor (CAM).
The Economic Value of Tourism: Supply and Demand-side Perspectives
The Economic Value of Tourism project is a three-year research project that is looking at how tourism creates value in the New Zealand economy. There are two main components to the project. A supply-side analysis is measuring the value that specific tourism-related businesses add to the economy both directly and through supply-chain effects. At the same time, a demand-side analysis is estimating the value to individual business sectors, and the wider New Zealand economy, of the following visitor segment case studies: export education students, cruise passengers and campervan visitors. The analysis is informed by the collection of confidential financial data from selected businesses (supply-side) and detailed online expenditure surveys of selected visitor segments (demand-side).
The impact of the price of oil on inbound tourism
This was a three-year research project delivered in partnership with Lincoln University and Landcare Research. The main objective of the project was to assess the sensitivity of the inbound tourism market to the price of oil. The outputs from the project included several published articles and a range of working papers, as well as an online oil price risk assessment tool for New Zealand tourism businesses.
Tourism and Aviation: Critical Linkages
Jointly with the University of Otago, Covec undertook detailed research into the economic drivers of the New Zealand aviation sector and the implications for tourism.
Tourism forecasting programme 2002-2010
Covec has managed the Ministry of Tourism’s forecasting programme since 2002. The outputs from this programme include detailed forecasts of international visits, nights and expenditure segmented by purpose of travel and origin, as well as forecasts of domestic visits, nights and expenditure segmented by purpose of travel and type of trip (day vs. overnight). Covec has played a key role in planning and managing the ongoing development of this programme.