Southern Lakes Host Tourism Industry’s Big Event

Southern Lakes To Host Tourism Industry’s Big Event For First Time

For the first time ever, New Zealand’s premier visitor region will next year take centre stage at the tourism industry’s most important annual event, the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) announced today.

TRENZ 2011 will be held in Queenstown, starting 23 May. TRENZ is New Zealand’s largest international tourism trade event. Over four days, it showcases selected New Zealand tourism operators to invited international travel and tourism buyers, and media. The event directly helps to grow New Zealand’s $9.3 billion international tourism industry.

“Southern Lakes is one of the jewels in the crown of New Zealand tourism and has a highly developed tourism infrastructure. TIA is really excited to be taking TRENZ there next year. This will be an unparalleled opportunity to show off some of our best tourism experiences to the international travel trade,” TIA Chief Executive Tim Cossar says.

“This will give international travel buyers and media a powerful incentive to make the time to travel to New Zealand for TRENZ 2011.”

TRENZ has traditionally been held in Auckland, Christchurch or Rotorua as these were the only centres with infrastructure to host such a big event. Moving to Queenstown will provide fantastic new opportunities, Mr Cossar says.

“Taking TRENZ to a new host region gives us the opportunity to completely revamp the event. We aim to make TRENZ 2011 a break from tradition and set a benchmark for future events.”

The 2011 programme will include as many opportunities as possible for international delegates to get out and experience the Southern Lakes region – featuring Queenstown, Lake Wanaka and Fiordland – for themselves. It will also move away from the traditional booth set-up and offer even more informal but valuable networking opportunities, similar to a number of high quality trade marketing events overseas.

A major catalyst for the decision to revamp TRENZ is a move by its Australian equivalent, ATE, to the beginning of April 2011. TRENZ has usually been timed so that Buyers could take in both events during one trip.

“After consultation with major stakeholders, we concluded that this timing would not work for the New Zealand tourism industry, as many operators and airlines are still busy with late peak season business,” Mr Cossar says.

“Along with our major event partners, Tourism New Zealand, Air New Zealand, Qantas and other major supporters, we look forward to working with the Southern Lakes region to give our international delegates a new experience that will really show them why New Zealand is one of the world’s top visitor destinations.”

Visit www.trenz.co.nz / Follow TRENZ10 on Twitter / Find TRENZ on Facebook

ENDS

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