Southern Lakes to host New Zealand tourism industry's big event for first time

For the first time ever, New Zealand's premier visitor region will host the country's largest international tourism trade event.
TRENZ 2011 will be held in Queenstown, from 23rd May 2011 and will showcase selected New Zealand tourism operators to invited international travel and tourism buyers, and media.
TRENZ is the New Zealand tourism industryâs most important annual event and over its four days directly helps to grow New Zealandâs $9.3 billion international tourism industry.
As Tourism Industry Association New Zealand Chief Executive Tim Cossar explains, âSouthern 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.
âThis 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, Cossar says.
âTaking 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 â featuring Queenstown, Lake Wanaka and Fiordland â 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.
As Cossar explains âafter 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.
âAlong 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 worldâs top visitor destinations.�?

http://www.trenz.co.nz