Camp mixes business with Christian values

When the team at Keswick Christian Camp decided to "raise the bar", nobody expected to win a business award.
But the staff's determination to combine Christian values with top facilities and customer service has paid off. Keswick was the first of New Zealand's 81 Christian camps to gain Qualmark accreditation and Silver Enviro award.
In October last year, it also became the first to win a business award, taking out the Newstalk ZB Community Organisation category at the Westpac Rotorua Business Excellence Awards 2010.
"We decided some years ago that we needed to raise the bar with accommodation and service. We went for the Qualmark accreditation to measure ourselves against industry standards, not just against other camps."
Keswick only entered the business awards because it was anonymously nominated two years ago. Then it was a finalist in three categories and last year it won the community organisation award.
"It has really helped us look at what we do and what we could do."
Judges' feedback has seen a new focus on building the governance skills of the camp's board.
"It was a revelation. I immediately did a course on governance, qualified as a director and became a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. Six of our 12 board members have now done the course."
The camp grew out of a need to create a permanent base for the New Zealand Keswick Convention - an event set up by six ministers in 1924 - and it has been at its Holdens Bay site since 1963.
Christian values are still an important part of the camp, but Hammond said it was more about leading by example than preaching at people.
"We have Christian principles, but all sorts of people use us - from stock car drivers to barber shop quartets."
Keswick hosts about 180 camps and groups a year. Hammond estimates the organisation contributes about $1.2 million a year to the local economy because, unlike many camps, it promotes local attractions and facilities, rather than keeping groups on-site for activities.
"We are more facilitators. We encourage groups to use all Rotorua has to offer - the activities, the parks, the reserves."
But improving facilities and service has to be balanced with the camp's goal of keeping costs as low as possible - currently $47 a night for adults, including accommodation and meals - so nobody is excluded from staying there by price.
"But we have to make a profit to put money back into upgrading the facilities and into some of the programmes we sponsor behind the scenes."
That has been achieved, with turnover up nearly 15 per cent and occupancy rising 5 per cent through the recession.
Hammond is keen to build up programmes at the camp and in the community to help address social issues.
"There are youth programmes out there, but nothing seems to be working. We don't know what form this will take yet, but we need to ask what is missing that would make a difference."
There are plans to build a two-storey, 28-room complex with a meeting auditorium, dining room and 112 beds at the Keswick site.