The most anticipated event on New Zealand tourism's event calendar wrapped up today in Rotorua with pundits saying it has been a major coup for the Kiwi visitor industry.
Each of the 350 tourism buyers in attendance at Trenz 2016 will send an average of 4000 visitors to New Zealand
annually.
As each visitor will spend an average of $3425 during their visit, these buyers could have influence over more than $4 billion coming into the New Zealand economy.
It was worth a celebration at Skyline Rotorua tonight as the destination bid farewell to international buyers, national tourism operators and media at the Trenz 2016 closing function.
All 1100 tickets to the event ran out weeks ago after last year's closing function, also hosted by Skyline Rotorua, received an unprecedented 100 per cent satisfaction rating from attendees.
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said she had received positive feedback from hundreds of people about event.
"It was like a slick machine. I am very proud of what Destination Rotorua delivered. This is a very proud time for Rotorua and we are recovering our place as the cultural heartland destination with very exciting products happening here.
"We are definitely a district on the move and we're noticed nationally and internationally. You can never stand still, so change is going to be absolutely inevitable in this business and the pace of change is very fast."
Destination Rotorua trade manager Patrick Dault said the event had been a fantastic and was a major coup for the Rotorua visitor industry.
Skyline Rotorua general manager Bruce Thomasen said they had a huge task on their hands to build upon last year - but that the team was definitely up to the challenge.
"Kiwi music legends Che Fu and Jordan Luck were just two of the acts entertaining a crowd that, after three full days of tourism appointments, was ready to cut loose.
"As well as providing gourmet multi-national dining over the course of the evening and wine to match from the Volcanic Hills winery, we also opened up the Luge, Skyswing and Zoom Zipline to get their hearts racing and provided Stargazing tours to showcase Skyline Rotorua's latest attraction," he said.
"Skyline's contribution in hosting such an epic closing function also showed some of the world's most influential travel buyers that Rotorua truly is a tourism powerhouse," said Mr Dault.
"The entire crowd was truly wowed by Skyline's hospitality and the extent to which their team went to provide a world-class experience."