John Anderson (businessman)
Encyclopedia
John Anderson is a New Zealand
businessman, author and celebrity speaker. He founded Contiki Holidays
in 1961.
, New Zealand in 1938. He is married to Ali (Alison), a passenger who fell ill on one of Contiki's first tours. They have four children: Susie, Peter, James and Sarah.
Anderson's parents divorced when he was five years old; he was raised primarily by his mother although maintained a good relationship with his father, a dentist who emigrated to England when he was a child.
Anderson emigrated to England in 1961, returning to New Zealand in 1979 with a wife and family. He lived in Auckland
for many years and currently lives in Blenheim
, Marlborough.
, England
where his father was living. Anderson planned his route to England to include many stopovers en route. As the president of his local Jaycees
association, Anderson contacted fellow presidents in the cities that he planned and received many offers to host him. In this way, Anderson was able to defray his travel costs considerably.
In his book Only Two Seats Left Anderson describes his travels with a mixture of awe and sense of adventure. This was Anderson's first travel outside of New Zealand which at that time had a population of just over 2 million.
ns to join him on the trip. He worked out the total costs for the trip and then divided by 11, thus providing a free seat for himself.
The trip sold quickly, assisted by Anderson meeting prospective fellow travellers and exaggerating his experience of Europe. In fact, his only previous experience of Europe was an overnight trip to Paris. Shortly after having sold all the seats, Anderson was approached by two more prospective passengers. Anderson decided to take advantage of the interest and advertise a second tour to operate following the first. This second tour also sold well and sold out before the first tour departed.
Despite Anderson's inexperience the tour was a success. Anderson admitted his lack of European knowledge to his customers on the first day. After that, he and the eleven others shared duties and decision making, including driving duties in the 12 seater Commer van they christened Tiki after the Maori good luck charm
For the second tour Anderson had increased the price from £100 to £115 per person. Despite this, upon arrival in Monaco Anderson found he had nearly run out of money and would be unable to complete the advertised itinerary. Anderson worked out the amount of money that he would need to express the group directly back to England and took the remaining funds to a casino where he gambled on the roulette
tables. He won and was able to continue the tour without his customers finding out.
When the New Zealand Tourist Board
challenged Anderson over his use of the name Tiki Tours he changed the company's name to Contiki, the con coming from The Continent
.
Contiki grew to include tours worldwide. During the 1980s the company began to diversify from its roots as a tour company for 18 to 35 year olds (originally 19 to 29). Examples included building hotel resorts in Queenstown and in the Great Barrier Reef, and the purchase of Fullers Ferries
.
By the mid 1980s Contiki was a global organisation headquartered in Hong Kong. Anderson was living in New Zealand and travelled frequently for directors meetings and to review the company's operations.
purchased a 50% stake in the business.
The stock market crash of 1987
devalued many of Contiki's assets. This, along with the poor performance of recent acquisitions, notably Fullers Ferries, placed Anderson in financial difficulty. In 1989 he was forced to sell his remaining shares in Contiki as well as his family home in order to avoid bankruptcy
.
that focuses mainly on his time with Contiki from 1961 to 1989.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
businessman, author and celebrity speaker. He founded Contiki Holidays
Contiki Tours
Contiki Tours is a Travel Corporation-operated coach tour company operating in Europe, Russia, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Asia...
in 1961.
Personal life
Anderson was born in WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand in 1938. He is married to Ali (Alison), a passenger who fell ill on one of Contiki's first tours. They have four children: Susie, Peter, James and Sarah.
Anderson's parents divorced when he was five years old; he was raised primarily by his mother although maintained a good relationship with his father, a dentist who emigrated to England when he was a child.
Anderson emigrated to England in 1961, returning to New Zealand in 1979 with a wife and family. He lived in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
for many years and currently lives in Blenheim
Blenheim, New Zealand
Blenheim is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough, in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the regional council. It has a population of The area which surrounds the town is well known as a centre of New Zealand's wine industry...
, Marlborough.
Overseas experience
In 1960 Anderson travelled to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where his father was living. Anderson planned his route to England to include many stopovers en route. As the president of his local Jaycees
Junior Chamber International
Junior Chamber International is the only worldwide non-political and non-sectarian youth service organization. It is an international community of citizens between the ages of to with the aim and purpose of creating positive changes in the world...
association, Anderson contacted fellow presidents in the cities that he planned and received many offers to host him. In this way, Anderson was able to defray his travel costs considerably.
In his book Only Two Seats Left Anderson describes his travels with a mixture of awe and sense of adventure. This was Anderson's first travel outside of New Zealand which at that time had a population of just over 2 million.
The first tours
Arriving in England in 1961, Anderson set about planning a trip to see Europe however had only £25 to his name Anderson came up with the idea of advertising for 11 other young AustralasiaAustralasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
ns to join him on the trip. He worked out the total costs for the trip and then divided by 11, thus providing a free seat for himself.
The trip sold quickly, assisted by Anderson meeting prospective fellow travellers and exaggerating his experience of Europe. In fact, his only previous experience of Europe was an overnight trip to Paris. Shortly after having sold all the seats, Anderson was approached by two more prospective passengers. Anderson decided to take advantage of the interest and advertise a second tour to operate following the first. This second tour also sold well and sold out before the first tour departed.
Despite Anderson's inexperience the tour was a success. Anderson admitted his lack of European knowledge to his customers on the first day. After that, he and the eleven others shared duties and decision making, including driving duties in the 12 seater Commer van they christened Tiki after the Maori good luck charm
Tiki
Tiki refers to large wood and stone carvings of humanoid forms in Central Eastern Polynesian cultures of the Pacific Ocean. The term is also used in Māori mythology where Tiki is the first man, created by either Tūmatauenga or Tāne. He found the first woman, Marikoriko, in a pond – she seduced him...
For the second tour Anderson had increased the price from £100 to £115 per person. Despite this, upon arrival in Monaco Anderson found he had nearly run out of money and would be unable to complete the advertised itinerary. Anderson worked out the amount of money that he would need to express the group directly back to England and took the remaining funds to a casino where he gambled on the roulette
Roulette
Roulette is a casino game named after a French diminutive for little wheel. In the game, players may choose to place bets on either a single number or a range of numbers, the colors red or black, or whether the number is odd or even....
tables. He won and was able to continue the tour without his customers finding out.
Contiki Holidays
The trips which had begun as an exercise to fund his own travels around Europe became a fast-growing business; fleet and staff grew rapidly and a number of new tours were developed under the name Tiki Tours, in recognition of the company's first vehicle.When the New Zealand Tourist Board
Tourism New Zealand
Tourism New Zealand is the national institution tasked with promoting New Zealand as a tourism destination internationally. It is the trading name of the New Zealand Tourism Board, a Crown entity established under the New Zealand Tourism Board Act 1991...
challenged Anderson over his use of the name Tiki Tours he changed the company's name to Contiki, the con coming from The Continent
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
.
Contiki grew to include tours worldwide. During the 1980s the company began to diversify from its roots as a tour company for 18 to 35 year olds (originally 19 to 29). Examples included building hotel resorts in Queenstown and in the Great Barrier Reef, and the purchase of Fullers Ferries
Fullers Ferries
Fullers Group is a ferry and tourism company in Auckland, New Zealand. It operates in the Hauraki Gulf and in 2007, transported 4.2 million passengers.- Services :Fullers run ferries from the Auckland Ferry Terminal in Quay Street, Downtown Auckland...
.
By the mid 1980s Contiki was a global organisation headquartered in Hong Kong. Anderson was living in New Zealand and travelled frequently for directors meetings and to review the company's operations.
Sale of Contiki
In the early 1980s Anderson sold down his investment in Contiki, allowing fellow directors to invest as shareholders. In 1985 Omnicorp, a company controlled by Lloyd MorrisonLloyd Morrison
Hugh Richmond "Lloyd" Morrison, CNZM is a Wellington, New Zealand-based investment banker and entrepreneur. He founded H.R.L...
purchased a 50% stake in the business.
The stock market crash of 1987
Black Monday (1987)
In finance, Black Monday refers to Monday October 19, 1987, when stock markets around the world crashed, shedding a huge value in a very short time. The crash began in Hong Kong and spread west to Europe, hitting the United States after other markets had already declined by a significant margin...
devalued many of Contiki's assets. This, along with the poor performance of recent acquisitions, notably Fullers Ferries, placed Anderson in financial difficulty. In 1989 he was forced to sell his remaining shares in Contiki as well as his family home in order to avoid bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
.
After Contiki
During the early 1990s Anderson was employed to sell off the assets of former Contiki empire. His wife Ali returned to fulltime work to supplement their income. They briefly owned and ran a chain of stores in Auckland selling packaged sandwiches. The business was short-lived and they moved to Blenheim in the late 1990s. Along with Contours Travel, John has started tours to South America for 'baby boomers'.Public speaking
In recent years Anderson has taken up public speaking as a profession and has presented his Contiki story to many businesses.Only Two Seats Left
In 2010 Anderson published Only Two Seats Left, an autobiographyAutobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
that focuses mainly on his time with Contiki from 1961 to 1989.