Mr Quickfall and Skyline Enterprises chairman Ken Matthews announced yesterday that Skyline would buy the tourism sightseeing and adventure operations of Mr Quickfall.
The deal is expected to be completed tomorrow.
Totally Tourism is an umbrella company that operates brands including The Helicopter Line, Mitre Peak Cruises, Milford Sound Scenic Flights, Queenstown Combos, Challenge Rafting, Harris Mountains Heli-Ski, Air Fiordland, Wanaka Flightseeing and Glacier Helicopters.
Mr Quickfall has been associated with some of those companies since 1986 when the former The Helicopter Line (THL) was listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange. The original company was made up of mainly Central Otago tourism assets before it expanded nationally.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Quickfall said he had started his association with some of the companies back in 1986 and had been made general manager of THL's leisure division soon afterwards.
When THL was restructured in 1999, he and his wife Jackie purchased some of the Queenstown assets, building their business on the back of those existing operations.
"This is the next step in the evolution of those assets. We are both more than comfortable selling to Skyline. The company has a similar culture to ours and we know each other well."
All businesses had a time when current owners took stock.
Mr Quickfall said he and his wife regarded themselves as caretakers and regarded Skyline as the obvious way for Totally Tourism to continue to grow.
Skyline was an experienced tourism operator and had access to more capital than perhaps he and his wife did, he said.
"The timing is right, in our stage of life."
However, Mr Quickfall would not be stepping back completely. A general manager would be appointed to replace him, leaving Mr Quickfall to continue in the key areas of relationship management and the strategic direction of Totally Tourism.
Mr Matthews said Skyline was pleased to retain Mr Quickfall's expertise and support.
The company would continue to operate without any discernible change.
"We view the brands within the company as wonderful additions to the Skyline portfolio," he said.
