"In previous years, TRENZ has been in the big cities like Auckland and Wellington, so it's a big opportunity to show off Rotorua. It couldn't come at a better time, with the beautification we're planning and have already accomplished."
Barry Mabey, chairman of the Rotorua Association of Motels, said accommodation providers were expecting a big year, thanks to events within Rotorua and also in the wider region.
"The one-day cricket World Cup, and soccer Under 20s World Cup are in the region. That will fill the February to March gap up, even though we don't actually have any games for those in Rotorua."
The Rotorua Lakes Council will also be moving ahead with the recently announced Green Corridor through the CBD. Ms Hunt said it would start with a modest development, laying down a "crushed rock" pathway joining Ngongotaha to Kuirau Park, which she said would be "simple and inexpensive".
Work on the corridor is planned to begin in mid-February, with affected retailers and interested parties getting a chance to have a say this month before plans are finalised.
She said 2015 was "about looking holistically at health in our city, helping people get more active with cycling, walking, or even things like waka ama out on the lake".
The council will also continue with renewing and beautifying the inner city, with the Haupapa St intersection next up for development. She said it was also looking at putting drinking fountains around town. "We're looking to encourage people to drink water and we want to provide them easy places to fill bottles."
In what could be good news for local contractors, there is a construction boom happening with the Ramada Hotel, Big Save and Lynmore Junction developments getting into gear, as well as new sports facilities in Ngongotaha, the Whare Aroha dementia village, Child Health Centre of Excellence and new offices going up for Glenn Hawkings and Associates.
Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Darrin Walsh expects that many projects that have been put aside will be dusted off once investors see how well all the new developments are going.
"The year 2014 came to an end with the announcement of all these new projects, 2015 is about getting them off the drawing board and getting them done or started in the real world.
"It's all great signs for 2015.
"These developments instill confidence in Rotorua business and get the money on to the money-go-round of our economy.
"Outside investors see that, and it encourages them to join in."
Upcoming major events
January 17-18: Bayleys National Sevens
February 7: Tarawera Ultra Marathon
February 13-15: Rugby League Festival featuring Vodafone Warriors v Penrith Panthers
February 13-22: Rotorua Bike Festival
February 21: Rotorua's Lakeside Concert
March 25-29: Crankworx Festival
May 17-20: TRENZ
July 17-19: Proposed new Rotorua culinary and arts festival
Developments under way
-Green corridor - will see cyclists, roller skaters, mobility scooter riders and pedestrians share the route, which will link Kuirau Park with the Government Gardens and to existing cycleways.
-Ongoing inner city revitalisation - artwork, gardens, intersection changes.
-Ramada Lakeside Resort and Spa Rotorua is also in early stages of development and is expected to open in December. The $18.5 million development will offer a mix of 68 hotel rooms and one and two bedroom apartments. It will feature a geothermal health spa, onsite restaurant and bar, swimming pool and conference facilities.
-Big Save Furniture will take over the site that is being redeveloped on Lake Rd. About 20 people are expected to be employed during the construction phase.
-Lynmore Junction - a new retail and entertainment complex on Te Ngae Rd, which will include a supermarket.
-Riding for the Disabled's new $1.1 million horse riding facility, with an Olympic-sized covered equestrian arena and administration block will begin in February. Plans are also in place for another indoor sports facility in Ngongotaha.
-Whare Aroha CARE has bought a 1.3ha site on the shores of Lake Rotorua at Ngongotaha to build a village for up to 80 dementia patients. It will include a lakeside promenade, supermarket and cafe.
-A three-storey, purpose-built office building for Glenn Hawkins and Associates, a Maori accounting and consulting firm, to be built on Fenton St. The building will have a total floor area of 1184sq m.
-Construction of $6 million Child Health Centre of Excellence is expected to start this year, on a yet to be announced site.
