Our history

1987

• The first House of Travel outlet opens in Timaru in January, founded by Chris Paulsen.
• May saw 3 more stores opened in Takapuna (Auckland), Wellington and Blenheim. 
• House of Travel Christchurch was opened that September, then Ashburton in October and Gore in November. 

1990

• A total of 33 stores were open around New Zealand by the end of 1990.

1992

• We were bigger than Coca Cola New Zealand, surpassing them by total sales of New Zealand Companies.

1994

• We now had 50 stores opened.
• New brand launch of 'How Kiwis See the World'.

1998 

• Our first House of Travel website was created and launched.

2001

• Miss Lucy campaign launch.
• Our corporate travel brand, Orbit launched.

2004

• Chris Paulsen, our Founder, was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year.

2006

• People's Choice Award - New Zealand's Best Travel Site.
  • Won each year between 2006-2011.
• Our partnership with Hospice begins.

2007

• House of Travel wins Prime Minister's Award for Social Responsibility due to our partnership with Hospice.
• We were up to 76 stores by the end of 2007.
• House of Travel enters Australia through purchase of Holiday Specialists and Travel Managers.

2010

• House of Travel relaunches Mix & Match.

2014

• House of Travel now had 80 stores.
• Launched the first House of Travel and Orbit apps.

2015

• Global Travel Network (GTN) joins the House of Travel Group. 

2016

• Launched Mix & Match app.
• New brand campaign launched 'The best holidays are created together'.
• Chris Paulsen awarded the Local Hero Award. 

2018

• Chris Paulsen receives a lifetime achievement award from the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand.

2019

• New brand 'Better Together' launches.
• Lucy returns. 
• We recorded our best year on record. 

2020

• Covid - we helped over 4000 kiwis get home.
• We secured a contract with the Healthline to redeploy 300 staff to help mitigate redundancies due to the ending of international travel. 
• House of Travel announces two new long-term equity investors - Sinclair Investment Group and Tailorspace, and welcome the Edgar & Gough families to the family.

2022

• We celebrate our 35th birthday and start rebuilding our business.

2024

• Recorded our best year, exceeding the record from 2019. 
• David Coombes announced as our new CEO.
• Chris Paulsen, our Founder, announces retirement.