TRENZ worth tens of millions of dollars to New Zealand

More than 1100 international and New Zealand delegates will arrive in Rotorua to attend TRENZ 2015 (17-20 May), the tourism industry’s annual showcase, worth tens of millions of dollars to the country and directly injecting around $2 million into the local economy.

TRENZ is the $24 billion New Zealand tourism industry’s premium international trade event, bringing together hundreds of international tourism and travel buyers to negotiate new business deals with several hundred leading New Zealand tourism operators.

“This year we have 320 international buyers attending from traditional visitor markets like Australia, the UK, Japan and USA as well as developing markets such as India, Indonesia and Brazil. Over four days they will hold a total of 15,000 meetings with New Zealand tourism exhibitors, negotiating contracts worth tens of millions of dollars in new tourism business,” says Chris Roberts, Chief Executive of the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) which manages TRENZ.

“These buyers come to TRENZ to discover new and exciting tourism products and experiences that they can sell to consumers in their home markets. Over 90% of buyers at last year’s event told us TRENZ is more important than any other marketing and purchasing activities they undertake. More than two-thirds expected an increase in the amount of business they do with New Zealand as a result of their attendance,” says Mr Roberts.

TRENZ 2015, which is being held at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre, will also inject around $2 million into the local economy, including hotel accommodation, transport, meals, functions and the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent staging the event.

Mr Roberts says TRENZ is an invaluable opportunity for the 2015 TRENZ host – the eXplore Central North Island (ECNI) collective – to raise its profile with international buyers, and the 35 international and domestic media who will attend this year’s event.

The eight regions that make up ECNI range from Rotorua, the birthplace of tourism in New Zealand, to regions off the beaten tourism track that are increasingly being discovered by international visitors.

“TRENZ is the most important way the ECNI regions can showcase ourselves to the world,” says Rhys Arrowsmith, ECNI Chairman.

“This part of New Zealand offers visitors huge diversity, everything from the country’s longest ski fields, premium wineries, cultural and geothermal wonders and the largest Southern Hemisphere lake to an active volcanic island, top surf beaches, pristine rainforest, subterranean cave systems and the Hobbiton movie set!

“Hosting TRENZ in the traditionally quieter month of May is an added bonus. We are looking forward to promoting this exceptional part of New Zealand to hundreds of influential international buyers and media,” says Mr Arrowsmith.