Brooker Travel Arrowtown manager Drew Carmody (25), said the arrival of the business, which opened last month, had been given a warm reception.
"Everyone's got the same sort of attitude: they want to support the locals. You can't ask for a better reception."
Brooker Travel was founded in 1985 by Bruce Brooker in Dunedin, originally specialising in managing the travel requirements of the University of Otago's academic and management staff.
The company expanded in 1989 and restructuring led to Andrew and Karen Carmody - Drew's parents - becoming directors.
By 1996, the company had moved from a family business to become a new company incorporating director David Smith, and a merger in 1999 with Winston Darling United Travel further strengthened Brooker Travel, making it among the top 20 retail travel agencies in New Zealand.
The Mosgiel office opened in 2001, followed by a Wellington office in 2003.
Mr Carmody has been in the industry for eight years, working his way up from a domestic travel consultant to an experienced senior international travel consultant.
The decision to open an office in Arrowtown resulted from office space becoming available at the rear of the newly redeveloped Emporium building, he said.
"It was the building more than anything.
"We've had a holiday house up here for a long time, probably about eight or 10 years, and then my mum moved up here a couple of years ago.
"Andrew is a part-time resident - he spends four days a week in Dunedin and three days here.
"We were just getting to know the town and saw an opportunity I guess."
Mr Carmody's brother, Clark, is also an Arrowtown resident, working at Joe's Garage, situated next door to Brooker's newest office.
Although he has only been an official Arrowtown resident for a short time, Mr Carmody said he'd settled in quickly to the small town, helped in no small part by joining the Arrowtown Bulls for the tail end of the rugby season.
"The rugby has definitely helped.
"The first week I filled in when we went down to Maniototo and then I went to get a haircut and the hairdresser recognised me.
"It's worked out perfectly for us getting the name around."
Mr Carmody said despite the difficult economic times, the Brooker office in Arrowtown was there to stay.
"I think we're pretty lucky.
"If it were a stand-alone company, I think you're going to struggle through the initial six months.
"But we have four Brooker offices . . . the Dunedin office is one of the biggest in the South Island, so having that backing makes it a lot easier.
"You can set yourself up a lot differently from a new business and save a lot of costs.
"It's just myself at the moment but, hopefully, once things start taking off we'll get a junior in and go from there."
And despite the economic doom and gloom, people were still travelling, with long-haul deals making holidays to the United Kingdom and Europe a lot more affordable, he said.
"Business in Dunedin . . . [is] only down 5%. It hasn't hit us too hugely.
"Businesses are starting to cut back, but it's balanced out by people who didn't plan to travel doing it because the deals are so good.
"This year, one [deal] ends and another comes straight out.
"People are still doing long-haul - short-haul stuff is pretty similar. There are pretty good [short-haul] deals out there, but there always have been.
"With UK and Europe, people were having to plan six and 12 months out, but the deals are so good it means that you can just go."
While there had not yet been an official opening for Brooker Travel Arrowtown, one was definitely on the cards as soon as some finishing touches were made to the office, he said.
