Prominent staff changes within Leisure Time Group’s business events brands, Lime & Soda and Vokali, have been announced today. Two new staff members join the group; Amanda Graham as Business Development Manager – M.I.C.E. and Amelia Lowe as an Incentive & Event Manager.
Lime & Soda’s General Manager, and former owner, Debra Dufty will be finishing in her role by the end of this year after assisting in the business transition following Leisure Time Group’s purchase of Lime & Soda earlier this year.
Amanda Graham, who recently left the role of Convention Bureau Manager at Hamilton & Waikato Tourism, will take up her new BDM position in January 2021. Amanda has a significant and strong business events background. In the five years she spent with Hamilton & Waikato Tourism she led the region’s growth and reputation for business events. Prior to this she was BDM at Hamilton Gardens for three years and has spent over 20 years as a professional conference organiser including time spent operating her own PCO businesses. Amanda has also held prominent positions within the industry including Chair of New Zealand Convention Bureaux, and Gold Board Representative with CINZ (now BEIA).
Amanda said that she is very excited to be back working in the PCO world and working with Scott and the team at Lime and Soda and Vokali.
“These are interesting times for the Business Events sector, and I am looking forward to the challenges this new role will bring.” Amanda will also continue her work with the Raglan Business Community for a few hours a week.
Amelia Lowe has been working in the events industry for five years, most recently with Conference Innovators and prior to that with ProMag Publishing, and as Events Coordinator for the Fire Protection Association NZ. Amelia is an experienced Events Manager and is looking forward to working for Lime & Soda and Vokali to help clients create their dream conference, event or incentive.
Leisure Time Group Managing Director, Scott Mehrtens, said it was a very exciting time for the Group and their business event division, “We are thrilled to welcome these two very experienced and well-respected event professionals into our business events teams. We look forward to Amanda and Amelia starting their roles in the New Year and anticipate a strong year building on the existing level of events in our diary.”
“We are very appreciative that Debra stayed with us after the acquisition of Lime & Soda as this enabled a satisfactory period of assistance, especially during the very uncertain times we have had in the events industry which has been hugely affected by COVID19 this year. We wish Debra all the best as she leaves us to spend some time with her family.”
Debra Dufty established Lime & Soda (formerly WATevents Ltd) in 2009 and built up the business whilst juggling the demands of three small children and a husband whose job requires a significant amount of travel, “It’s been an amazing and challenging journey!” she said.
“I know I am handing over the reins to an extremely professional team and look forward to seeing the business continue to grow and prosper.”
Lime & Soda was purchased by the Leisure Time Group in April 2020, strengthening the Group’s events division to enable an even broader range of creative event offerings for local and international clientele. Lime & Soda joined the Group’s family of travel and event brands which includes destination management company, Vokali – established in 2019 to take over the growing number of event and incentive clients and enquiries coming into the Group’s international tourism brands; Travel Time South Pacific, and AgriTravel International.
Both M.I.C.E. brands will continue to run from their Hamilton and Auckland offices, offering nationwide services to clients wishing to partner with them for incentives or event management.
Vokali / Lime & Soda are a gold member of Business Events Industry Aotearoa (formerly Conventions & Incentives New Zealand – CINZ) and offer a highly personalised service, to assist with clients’ workload while creating memorable incentives and events with exacting standards and professional support throughout.
For more information:
https://vokali.co.nz
https://www.limeandsoda.co.nz
