Bumper international buyer numbers at TRENZ 2015

Bumper international buyer numbers at TRENZ 2015

New Zealand’s $24 billion tourism industry is on a roll, with international travel and tourism buyers flocking to attend TRENZ 2015, the industry’s most important annual trade event.

TRENZ 2015 is being held in Rotorua from 17-20 May and will be attended by 320 buyers from 24 markets.

“That’s a 10% increase on TRENZ 2014 in Auckland and the highest number of buyers since 2007,” says Chris Roberts, Chief Executive of the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA), which organises the event.

“Compared with last year’s TRENZ, we have particularly good growth in buyer numbers out of the UK, a traditional visitor market, and also from some of New Zealand’s emerging visitor markets, including Indonesia, Argentina and Brazil.”

TRENZ is a showcase for the best products New Zealand tourism has to offer the world’s travellers. Mr Roberts says that, in addition to reconnecting with well-established operators, the buyers will be looking for new and different experiences they can sell to consumers in their home markets.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says, “It is encouraging to see such a strong resurgence in international buyers attending TRENZ 2015 - especially out of the western markets and our newer emerging markets.

“TRENZ is a key event on the travel trade’s annual calendar and provides real value for the tourism industry - allowing operators to get face-to-face with international buyers.

“I look forward to attending TRENZ once again for what I am sure will be another successful four days for buyers and industry alike.”

Mr Roberts says TRENZ exhibitor numbers are also well up on last year’s event, with 290 of the country’s leading tourism operators preparing to showcase their products and experiences to buyers compared with 260 last year.

Over the four day event, exhibitors and buyers will have a total of 15,000 15-minute meetings, negotiating contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to the New Zealand economy.

Mr Roberts says the growth in buyer and exhibitor numbers attending TRENZ 2015 reflects the very positive results New Zealand’s tourism industry is enjoying, both in terms of visitor arrivals and value.

“The buyers who attend TRENZ are the most influential in terms of generating international visitors to New Zealand. Almost 90% of buyers at last year’s TRENZ said the event is more important than other marketing or purchasing activities they undertake.

“TRENZ is a very significant event for the industry as we aspire to our Tourism 2025 goal of almost doubling annual tourism revenue to $41 billion by 2025.”

ends

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