Cook Islands Tourism returned to the Phoenix Travel & Adventure Show (February 14–15) for the third time, reinforcing its position as a favourite for Southwest travellers. Christian Mani (GM North America) reported high engagement, particularly from "repeat fans" who visited the islands after meeting at last year’s show and are already planning their return.
 
A highlight of the event was Christian’s presentation at the Destination Theatre, which drew a solid audience eager for authentic South Pacific experiences. The booth featured a new high-impact backlit collage showcasing the route map, aerial images of Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Onefoot Islands, alongside the latest Travel Guide brochure.
 
Strategically positioned next to Goway Travel, the team successfully bridged the gap between inspiration and booking by referring interested travellers directly to the Goway team for immediate post-show quotes. This collaboration ensured a seamless pipeline for converting Phoenix-based interest into confirmed 2026/2027 arrivals.

Key Takeaways for Travel Trade 

• Many 2025 attendees have already converted to visitors and are now planning second trips, proving high market retention.
• Proximity to retail/wholesale partner Goway Travel streamlined the lead-to-quote process for serious prospects.
• The new Travel Guide was highly effective in capturing leads interested in specific accommodation and activity options.