01/08/09, 00:17:49 UTC

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Tourism leaders over the moon over Trenz

dailypost.co.nz

New Zealand's biggest tourism trade show TRENZ is returning to Rotorua next year and the city's tourism leaders could not be more thrilled.

Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing general manager Don Gunn was over the moon yesterday when the Tourism Industry Association announced that Trenz (Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand) will be held again at the city's Energy Events Centre in May next year.

"The news is superb for Rotorua's tourism industry and for the local economy as a whole," he commented.

"It's a real coup for Rotorua to have a second opportunity to showcase our city to some of the world's movers and shakers in international travel."

Mr Gunn said the local tourism industry would be celebrating the news as it had put a lot of effort and significant investment into ensuring this year's expo in May was a huge success.



Mr Gunn told the Daily Post he will now talk to the organisers about opening up part of the trade show to "Joe Public" so they can see how big a deal it is - a suggestion which came after this year's event.

However, ultimately that would be the Tourism Industry Association's decision.

He said there would be added features at next year's expo as he did not want to replicate everything from this year's expo.

"We want do some things slightly different."

Event Venues Rotorua general manager Peter McLeod is also delighted. He said it was a bold move for the Tourism Industry Association to bring Trenz to the Energy Events Centre this year; given that the facility was only a few months old and that it had never before been staged outside of Auckland or Christchurch.

"We were conscious that we had to perform and to make a big positive impact on the delegates and organisers. Fortunately their feedback was overwhelmingly positive and many said they wanted to come back."

Tourism Industry Association chief executive Fiona Luhrs said she was delighted to announced that Rotorua would host the event and was confident the city would see long term benefits.

Research showed that more than 65 per cent of the delegates at this year's expo rated Rotorua as an excellent host region and all said they had a successful time here.

Next year's event is expected to attract about 350 tourism businesses from throughout New Zealand and a similar number of international travel agents for four days of totally focused business activity. About 60 international and New Zealand media also attend the event.

Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor described the decision to hold Trenz in Rotorua again as a great move.

"It recognises the professionalism and enthusiasm shown by local organisers and businesses in the lead up to and during this year's event.

"It is also testament to the city's first class facilities including its hotels and restaurants, and the new Energy Events Centre."

 Printable Version  | published Sep 24, 2007