House of Travel
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA privately owned New Zealand travel group operating retail, online, corporate, events, and travel-management businesses.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
House of Travel is a New Zealand travel company founded in Timaru in 1987 by Chris Paulsen. It developed from a single retail travel store into one of the country’s largest travel organisations and a substantial Asia-Pacific travel group. Its core consumer-facing network consists of House of Travel retail stores distributed across New Zealand, supported by central capabilities in areas such as information technology, product, marketing, and human resources. A defining feature of the retail business is its joint-ownership model. Individual stores are operated with local owner-operators, while House of Travel Holdings retains a corresponding ownership interest. This structure combines the commercial support and systems of a national group with the local knowledge and entrepreneurial involvement of regional travel professionals. By 1990, the company had expanded to 33 stores across New Zealand, and it subsequently continued to develop both physical and digital distribution. The group’s activities extend beyond leisure travel retail. Orbit World Travel serves business and corporate travel customers in New Zealand and Australia. HOT Events provides conference, incentive, and event-management services in both countries. In New Zealand, the group’s online operation, originally introduced as House of Travel Online, was later branded Mix and Match. The online business aggregates flight options and provides online booking services, complementing the group’s store network. Associated businesses and brands have also included Wanderlust Travel Agents New Zealand, TravelManagers Australia, and HOOT Holidays Australia. House of Travel has marked several important stages in the evolution of travel distribution. It recorded its first year exceeding NZ$100 million in sales in 1992, according to the company history cited in reference material, and entered the corporate-travel segment more deliberately in 2001 by converting selected locations to the Orbit Travel identity. In 2004 it introduced what it describes as New Zealand’s first online booking solution with full flight aggregation. The online operation adopted the Mix and Match name in 2009. The company has also held travel-partner roles connected with major sporting and national organisations. It acted as the official New Zealand travel agent for travel associated with the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. It has also been identified as an official travel partner of Netball New Zealand and the Silver Ferns. These relationships have helped position the company as a broad travel-services organisation rather than solely a retail booking chain. House of Travel celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in 2017. Founder Chris Paulsen remained closely associated with the company as executive chairman for many years and received industry and civic recognition, including a Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand lifetime-achievement award in 2018. In 2024, after 37 years with the organisation, Paulsen announced his retirement from the chief executive role and David Coombes was announced as the new CEO. The group’s New Zealand retail network is reported to comprise 61 stores, extending from Kerikeri in the north to Invercargill in the south. House of Travel remains privately owned and operates through multiple travel-related brands and business units.
History
House of Travel began in 1987 when Chris Paulsen established the first store in Timaru, New Zealand. The business was created around a retail travel model that could combine the personal service of local advisers with the infrastructure of a larger organisation. Rather than operating every location as a centrally controlled branch, House of Travel developed a joint-ownership arrangement in which local owner-operators share ownership with House of Travel Holdings. This model gives store operators a direct commercial stake while allowing the group to provide common technology, product systems, marketing, human-resources support, and operational guidance. Expansion was rapid during the company’s early years. By 1990, House of Travel had opened 33 stores across New Zealand. The company’s history records its first year above NZ$100 million in sales in 1992, although the available reference material does not provide a source link or clarify the precise accounting period. Over time, the network expanded across both islands and became a prominent national retail travel presence. The group broadened its scope in the early 2000s as business travel became a more important market. In 2001, selected existing locations were rebranded as Orbit Travel and focused primarily on corporate travel. Orbit subsequently developed into a major corporate travel operation in New Zealand and expanded into Australia under the Orbit World Travel name. House of Travel also established HOT Events, a conference and incentive management business serving New Zealand and Australian clients. Digital distribution became another major development. In 2004, House of Travel introduced an online booking solution with full flight aggregation. The online operation was renamed Mix and Match in 2009 and became an important flight-booking channel in New Zealand. The digital business complemented rather than replaced the company’s adviser-led store network, allowing customers to access online inventory while retaining the option of local travel expertise. House of Travel’s broader group structure came to include several related businesses, including Wanderlust Travel Agents New Zealand, TravelManagers Australia, and HOOT Holidays Australia. The group therefore came to operate across leisure retail, online travel, corporate travel, event management, and travel-management services. Its geographic focus remained New Zealand and Australia, although the travel products sold through the business serve international destinations. The company expanded its public profile through official travel relationships. It acted as New Zealand’s official travel agent for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. It has also been an official travel partner of Netball New Zealand and the Silver Ferns. These partnerships linked the brand with major sporting travel and national representation. House of Travel reached its thirtieth anniversary in 2017. Paulsen continued to serve as a senior figure and executive chairman, and in 2018 he received the Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand’s national lifetime-achievement award. The business also received repeated employer, service, and travel-industry recognition during the 2000s and 2010s. A leadership transition occurred in 2024. Paulsen announced that he was stepping away as CEO after 37 years with the organisation, while David Coombes became chief executive. The group is reported to have 61 House of Travel retail stores across New Zealand, from Kerikeri to Invercargill, alongside its other brands and business units. It remains a privately owned travel group.
- 2024
Chief executive transition
[1]Founder Chris Paulsen retires from the CEO role after 37 years and David Coombes becomes CEO.
- 2017
Thirtieth anniversary
[1]House of Travel celebrates 30 years since its founding.
- 2009
Online business becomes Mix and Match
[1]The House of Travel online operation adopts the Mix and Match brand.
- 2004
Online booking solution launched
[1]House of Travel introduces an online booking service with full flight aggregation.
- 2001
Corporate travel expansion through Orbit
[1]Selected locations are rebranded as Orbit Travel to focus on business and corporate travel.
- 1992
First year above NZ$100 million in sales
[1]The company history identifies 1992 as House of Travel’s first year exceeding NZ$100 million in sales.
- 1990
Retail network reaches 33 stores
[1]House of Travel expands to 33 stores across New Zealand.
- 1987
First House of Travel store opens
[1]Chris Paulsen establishes the first House of Travel store in Timaru, New Zealand.
Products and positioning
A locally operated, nationally supported travel-services group combining physical travel advisers, online booking, corporate travel management, and event services. Its brand proposition is built around local expertise, broad travel inventory, and the resources of a larger privately owned group.
Leisure travel retail · 1987
House of Travel retail stores
The core House of Travel network consists of locally operated travel stores across New Zealand. Advisers assist customers with itinerary planning, flights, accommodation, holidays, cruises, tours, insurance, and other travel arrangements. The joint-ownership model pairs local owner-operator knowledge with support from House of Travel Holdings. The network is reported to include 61 stores, ranging from Kerikeri in the North Island to Invercargill in the South Island.
Online travel agency · 2004
Mix and Match
Mix and Match is House of Travel’s online booking operation in New Zealand. It evolved from the group’s earlier House of Travel Online service, which launched in 2004 with aggregated flight inventory, and adopted the Mix and Match name in 2009. The service provides an online route for flight bookings and complements the group’s adviser-led retail stores.
Corporate travel management · 2001
Orbit World Travel
Orbit World Travel is the group’s specialist business-travel operation in New Zealand and Australia. It grew from the rebranding of selected House of Travel locations as Orbit Travel in 2001, when the company identified corporate travel as a significant growth segment. The business focuses primarily on managing travel requirements for corporate and business customers.
Events and incentive travel
HOT Events
HOT Events provides conference, incentive, and event-management services in New Zealand and Australia. It extends the group beyond individual leisure bookings into organised group travel, business events, incentives, and related destination-management requirements.
Travel protection
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is among the services distributed through House of Travel’s retail and travel-adviser channels. The brand has received Canstar recognition for travel-insurance value in 2020 and 2023, although the available material does not identify the exact insurance underwriter or policy structure.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Rio Olympic Games travel partnership
New Zealand
House of Travel served as the official New Zealand travel agent for travel associated with the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Outcome. The role connected the brand with official travel services for a major international sporting event.
- 2014Commonwealth Games travel partnership
New Zealand
House of Travel acted as the official New Zealand travel agent for travel associated with the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Outcome. The partnership supported travel arrangements connected with New Zealand participation in the Games.
- Netball New Zealand and Silver Ferns partnership
New Zealand
House of Travel has been identified as an official travel partner of Netball New Zealand and the Silver Ferns.
Brand decisions
2024
Leadership succession from founder to David CoombesOtherBackground
Founder Chris Paulsen announced his retirement from the CEO role after 37 years with House of Travel.
Action taken
David Coombes was appointed chief executive.
Aftermath
The transition marked a change from founder-led executive management while Paulsen stepped away from the CEO position.
2009
Rebranding of the online travel operationStrategyBackground
House of Travel continued developing a separate digital proposition alongside its physical store network.
Action taken
House of Travel Online was renamed Mix and Match.
Aftermath
The rebranded service continued as the group’s online flight-booking business in New Zealand.
2004
Launch of online flight-booking capabilityProduct launchBackground
Consumers were increasingly using online channels to research and purchase air travel.
Action taken
House of Travel launched an online booking solution with full flight aggregation.
Aftermath
The online operation was later branded Mix and Match, becoming an important digital channel for flight bookings in New Zealand.
2001
Creation of a dedicated corporate-travel operationStrategyBackground
House of Travel identified corporate travel as a growing market segment.
Action taken
A number of existing locations were rebranded as Orbit Travel and focused largely on business travel.
Aftermath
Orbit developed into a major corporate travel company in New Zealand and later operated in Australia as Orbit World Travel.
Sources2 sources
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