Air New Zealand senior managers had some personal experience of Dunedin environmental tourism this week, an experience that could benefit the city's tourism industry in future.
The visit by three managers was part of an initiative in which 70 of the national carrier's senior staff visited the South Island this week to get an idea of what passengers it delivered to the South experienced.
The visits involved visiting staff of the airline's ''sponsorship partner'', the Department of Conservation, as well as businesses for which the airline provides cargo services.
Auckland-based Air New Zealand sales general manager Antony Price said he and two others visited the Royal Albatross Centre, the Orokonui Ecosanctuary and Southern Clams.
Mr Price said he got an idea from Doc staff about nature tourism opportunities in Dunedin.
What the three learned would be passed on to the other senior managers from across New Zealand and from as far away as London, Shanghai and Tokyo.
Getting a thorough knowledge of the facilities allowed them to understand ''how we can go and promote destination Dunedin to our colleagues''.
''I think it's just ensuring we've got a better awareness of the range and quality of the product throughout the whole of the South Island.''
Mr Price said he had been working overseas in the past five years looking after Air New Zealand operations in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States.
''For people like me, when we're operating off-shore, when we know the product that we're selling - destination New Zealand - this brings it to life much more richly when we're looking to put packages together when we're working with our trade partners to really promote New Zealand.''
The experience would also help when dealing with agencies such as House of Travel or Flight Centre.
''It gives them something different to think about when they're promoting domestic tourism.''
Of his first taste of Dunedin, he said: ''I was impressed.''
He was also impressed by local business Southern Clams, which exports its product via Air New Zealand to the United States, Europe and China.
Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon said the aim was to give the airline's future leaders a greater understanding of key business, tourism and Doc assets and the role the airline played in their success.
Mr Luxon said Air New Zealand played a key role in facilitating domestic and international tourism.
It was important for all staff to understand national tourism products and the opportunities and challenges operators faced.
