Rotorua is cranking up the thermal heat this week for TRENZ 19 as the annual showcase for all things New Zealand Tourism rolls into town.
This year’s much-loved event features 310 Kiwi suppliers and says Kia ora to 386 international and domestic buyers from 30 markets including Australia.
There’s a gaggle of international media here too including yours truly so it’s great to be back in the adventure capital of the North Island soaking up the good vibes and the sulphuric aromas. (ok, maybe not the last part).
The show runs from Monday 13th through Thursday 16th May and this year is happening at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre in the heart of Rotorua.
TRENZ is the $39.1 billion New Zealand tourism industry’s biggest and most influential trade event, with international travel buyers reconnecting and establishing new relationships with leading tourism operators from around New Zealand.
TRENZ19, Rotorua Energy Events Centre
“This year’s TRENZ is going to be spectacular and it’s wonderful to be back in Rotorua after our previous TRENZ successes in this beautiful, unique region,” says Chris Roberts, Chief Executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, which manages and produces TRENZ on behalf of the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust.
“We have more buyers and more markets than we had last year, which is a sign of the continuing popularity of New Zealand as a destination,”
“Buyers at TRENZ are big players in key international markets such as Australia, China, USA, UK, Germany and Japan, along with developing markets like Brazil and Indonesia. These buyers directly influence who comes to New Zealand and what they experience while they are here.”
Chris Roberts, TIA CEO
TRENZ began last night in New Zealand’s original ‘birthplace of tourism,’ with a formal Pōwhiri at Ohinemutu and an opening function hosted at world-famous Te Puia.
New Zealand’s Southern Lakes will host a party at the Blue Baths on Tuesday with the infamous farewell party to be held up at the Skyline Gondola above the city on Thursday evening.
Mr Roberts describes TRENZ as “business speed dating,” with more than 15,000 meetings expected to be held between buyers and tourism operators over the next three days. That’s a lot of chat and a lot of potential business.
From hotels to airlines, regional tourism boards to wine growers, cycling specialists and diverse experiences to suit every traveller, TRENZ is the place to bring it all together under one roof in New Zealand.
The Polynesian Spa, Rotorua
Another welcome element to TRENZ from other trade shows is the activity afternoon on Wednesday, where all delegates get the chance to get out of the conference hall and see some of Rotorua for themselves on a range of guided itineraries.
“This week 1500 attendees will be housed, fed and entertained in the city, and hundreds of thousands of dollars will be spent putting on all the TRENZ events. This is the biggest event on the tourism industry calendar and it’s going to solidify Rotorua’s reputation as an attractive destination for international travel and business.”
Larnach Castle, Dunedin
TRENZ delegates also have the opportunity to participate in pre and post famils all over New Zealand.
Last year’s TRENZ, held in Dunedin for the first time, injected millions of dollars into the economy and raised the profile of host regions Dunedin, Waitaki and Southland internationally.
Find out more: www.trenz.co.nz
- READ: #TRENZ2018 Dunedin hailed a success: Heads to Rotorua in 2019
- READ: 5 thrills you HAVE TO TRY in Rotorua, New Zealand
- READ: Rotorua rolls out the welcome mat for over 1,000 delegates