Rotorua to host tourism activity extravaganza

PHOTO/FILE

In the biggest event of its kind, Rotorua will host 600 TRENZ delegates, including hundreds of the world's most influential travel and tourism buyers, to an afternoon of activities, ranging from exhilarating mountain biking to a rejuvenating spa.

TRENZ is the $30 billion tourism industry's premier international trade show. The 2016 event next month is being hosted by Destination Rotorua and will be attended by 350 international tourism and travel buyers and representatives from around 300 of the country's leading tourism operators.

"On May 12 hundreds of TRENZ delegates will take a break from their business meetings to experience firsthand some of the world-class visitor activities on offer in Rotorua," Tourism Association New Zealand chief executive Chris Roberts said.

"They will discover a part of the country that has something for every type of visitor from authentic cultural experiences, adventure, and spas to geothermal, eco-tourism and luxury, always infused with warm hospitality.

"This time away from scheduled TRENZ meetings is also an opportunity for delegates to network informally, make new contacts and potentially identify new business opportunities."

Destination Rotorua general manager Oscar Nathan said the activity afternoon featured around 30 different options and would showcase the diverse range of world-class activities Rotorua offered international travellers.

"Activities range from plunging down the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall to a wine-matching session and an exploration of a living Maori village.

"Delegates keen to get close to the natural wonders of the region can walk amongst the Redwoods high above the forest floor, fly over an active volcano or tour an otherworldly geothermal field."

Mr Nathan said TRENZ and the activity afternoon were a valuable opportunity to highlight to influential international travel and tourism buyers why Rotorua was New Zealand's coolest hotspot.