Tourism HQ revamps rite of passage for first-time travellers with Spring Break Fiji 2.0

Pictured above: Spring Break Fiji at Beachcomber Island.

After more than a decade of delivering unforgettable island getaways to thousands of young Kiwis and Australians, Spring Break Fiji is re-emerging from the pandemic years with new owners, a major investment, and a sharper focus on the youth travel market.

The high-energy, all-inclusive Spring Break Fiji brand now sits at the heart of Tourism HQ’s revitalised festival and events portfolio – and its business model is getting just as much attention as its pool parties.

“Fiji is sitting in a really strong position,” says Richard Henry, Director of Tourism HQ. “Spring Break has been running for over 10 years, but after COVID, we’re treating it like a rebirth.”

The brand has always been more than a beach holiday. With exclusive use of Beachcomber Island, a private charter yacht, international DJs, and a fully curated itinerary, Spring Break Fiji promises the kind of premium-yet-accessible travel experience that 18- to 27-year-olds – and their parents – can get behind.

Now, with $10 million poured into resort upgrades, that promise is even more appealing.

“All the rooms are getting upgraded. The food is just on a whole new level,” says Richard.

“Where it was maybe pushing two-star before, we’re in a perfect position now to be at four-star. It’s got a brand new swim-up pool, the service has lifted dramatically, and the resort experience just takes it to a whole new level.”

The centrepiece of the refresh is a complete redesign of the resort’s signature pool area, now featuring in-pool seating, a full swim-up bar and expansive timber decking. But behind the aesthetics is a commercial strategy designed for scale and sustainability.

“Our model is tight. We fly 200 guests out, they have the time of their life for five nights, then they fly home and we put the next 200 guests on that same plane.”

It’s a system designed for maximum efficiency and seamless execution.

“We have everyone show up in fancy dress at the airport for an incredible flight over with Fiji Airways, we’ve got the coaches ready to take them to the port, the 98-foot yacht waiting with DJs onboard, it’s this incredible journey from the moment they check in,” he says.

Making travel easy

And while it may sound like a high-end music festival on water, Spring Break Fiji is engineered for accessibility.

“The big one for us is that you can lock in a trip with just $50 down, and then pay the rest weekly or monthly. That’s what makes it work for our demographic. It’s not just affordable – it’s achievable.”

With operations now expanding beyond Auckland to include Brisbane and Sydney, Tourism HQ is building on the success of a model that’s found its sweet spot in Fiji.

“We did try multiple destinations in the early days, Rarotonga, Samoa, Vanuatu. But nothing came close to what we have in Fiji. When you start talking about an exclusive island, a chartered yacht, world-class DJs, it’s a combo you just can’t get anywhere else.”

Richard says Australia is where there is the biggest growth potential. “So now we’ve got guests flying out locations in Australia, and that’s a really strong growth path for us because even for the Aussies, who enjoy the likes of Bali and Thailand, Fiji with our model is more accessible.”

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Spring Break Fiji now sits alongside other high-growth properties in the Tourism HQ stable, including Rock Island and the fast-growing sports division, which hosts events like Oztag and League Nines with major prize money, TV coverage, and community outreach built in.

From a business perspective, Tourism HQ’s approach blends experience design, smart logistics, and social-driven marketing to create one of the most unique offerings in the Gen Z travel market.

“The event sells out every year, with the help of cleaver partnerships with Fiji Airways and George FM,” Richard says.

“But more importantly, it’s a dream experience for first-time travellers. That’s what we care about most – giving them the best start to their travel journey. We’ve got nothing like this in the world, it really is a world-class combination of ingredients that you can’t get anywhere else.”