With 1000 influential tourism delegates in Rotorua this week for TRENZ the Rotorua Night Market is pulling out all the stops to provide visitors with a memorable experience.
"The i-Site is putting on a Kiwi barbeque to celebrate the TRENZ delegates being in town," Rotorua i-Site operations manager Kyle Kydd said.
"We've also invited a few of Rotorua's iconic tourism operators like OGO, Rotorua Duck Tours and NZ Riverjet down to showcase their products, while the Agrodome will be entertaining the crowd with one of their world-famous performances."
As the farm to the table movement has grown around the globe so too has the Rotorua Night Market. Offering patrons everything from Kiwi kai and fresh produce to ethnic offerings from around the globe the Thursday market acts as a beacon to visitors to the region and locals alike.
Destination Rotorua trade manager Patrick Dault said inviting TRENZ delegates to the market as an optional activity was a great way to give the international buyers an insight into the real Rotorua and meet the local community.
"Part of Destination Rotorua's strategy is to tempt visitors to stay here longer and the Thursday Night Market is yet another reason why people may look to include an extra night in their Rotorua itineraries," Mr Dault said.
The Rotorua Night Market has grown to become an integral part of the Rotorua visitor offering and a place where locals mingle with travelers on a weekly basis.
"Whether you live here or have just arrived in town, the night market has become the go-to place on a Thursday night," Rotorua Lakes Council inner city portfolio lead Cr Karen Hunt said.
"It's just humming and has made such a positive difference to the feel of the inner city. It's been so successful that we recently had to double the size of it."