Trenz Opens for Business

Media Release 13 June 2005

Trenz Opens for Business

The Tourism Industry Association represents more than 2000 businesses and organisations within the tourism industry.

Members include accommodation and transport providers, tourism attractions, visitor activities such as adventure and cultural tourism, inbound tour operators, regional tourism organisations, visitor information centres, researchers, publishers, consultants, training organisations and other tourism service providers.

Tourism is New Zealand’s largest single export sector – accounting for 17.8% of this country’s export earnings.

The Tourism Industry Association organises the Tourism Industry Conference, TRENZ and the Tourism industry Awards.

Go to www.tianz.org.nz

Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand ‘TRENZ’ was officially opened by Minister of Tourism, Hon Mark Burton, last night and opens its doors for business today in Christchurch with the first of over 33,000 pre-scheduled appointments taking place between the 450 New Zealand tourism operators (sellers) and over 400 international buyers attending.

Organisers, the Tourism Industry Association (TIA), say that both buyers and sellers hit the ground running on the first day to take full advantage of the four day long business meeting, one of the largest and most comprehensive the country has ever held.

“Participants put a lot of time, energy and investment into this event - this is their time to reap the rewards,” says Fiona Luhrs, TIA Chief Executive.

“Meetings are undertaken between international buyers and New Zealand sellers at their specially designed booths where the flavour of the regions is a strong differentiator. The best of New Zealand products and services are showcased, new products are pitched and relationships are cemented with key offshore customers and advocates. We even provide the buyers with a trolley bag to get around because they collect so much information each day!” says Luhrs.

“With the industry growing year to year we anticipate a successful coming few days. It is an intense schedule of activities for TIA including hosting a VIP programme with a visit from the Prime Minister, managing a full media programme for the over 60 local and international media delegates as well as working with the regional tourism operators, international buyers and local sellers to ensure it is as successful as possible for them,” says Luhrs.

TRENZ emulates the finest New Zealand has to offer in every instance; food, wine, entertainment, look and feel. Buyers will get a sense for every region of New Zealand without leaving the Westpac Centre.

ENDS

Key statistics about TRENZ 2005:
Over 1700 business people are expected to attend the event at the Westpac Event Centre (TRENZ is not open to the public)
In 2005 over 33,000 fifteen minute appointments are pre-scheduled before TRENZ
Over 50 guests from local government and allied industries, and senior business professionals are expected to attend the TRENZ VIP programme in 2005.

Key statistics about tourism:
Tourism is the world's fastest growing industry
New Zealand tourism arrivals have doubled in size since 1994
Forecast annual growth is 6% on average for at least the next five years
Tourism is New Zealand's single largest export sector and contributed $7.4 billion dollars to the economy in the year ended March 2003. That is 17.8 % of exports
Tourism directly and indirectly employs 10 percent of the work force. That is one in 10 jobs in New Zealand.
Tourism represents 9.6% of gross domestic product and generates nearly $500 million in GST returns from international visitors each year. Tourism is the only export sector whose international clients pay GST.

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