Trenz proves fruitful for Rotorua tourism (+video)

Rotorua tourism businesses can expect to generate about $106 million worth of new business during Trenz 2016.

The district can also hold its head high after confirmation it is currently hosting the largest Trenz tourism conference in history with waiting lists for both exhibitors and international buyers.

The event opened in Tuesday night and runs until tomorrow afternoon at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre.

About 365 travel and tourism buyers from 28 countries, and more than 300 New Zealand tourism operators flocked to Trenz this year, Destination Rotorua Marketing general manager Oscar Nathan said.

"Three out of the four times Rotorua has hosted this event have been the most successful events in history, in terms of international buyer attendance," he said.

"Broadly speaking, Trenz is worth approximately $3 billion in business signed and the Rotorua portion of this is estimated around $106 million."

Mr Nathan said the event was at full capacity and for the first time there were waiting lists for both buyers and tourism operators.

Rotorua is the largest single region represented at Trenz this year with 23 different stalls.

Businesses such as Ogo, Mitai Maori Village, River Rats, Polynesian Spa, Te Puia, Rotorua Museum, Wai-o-Tapu and Rotorua Canopy Tours are all back again this year.

Major national organisations such as Ngai Tahu Tourism are representing the Agrodome and Rainbow Springs, alongside Skyline New Zealand, which is representing Skyline Rotorua.

Also turning up for their first Trenz were the new owners of the Princes Gate Hotel and Redwoods Treewalk general manager Alex Schmid.

Mr Schmid said he was excited to be at his first Trenz after having an amazing first season in Rotorua.

"This event will be very valuable for us with lots of high class interest in our product. I think it's the best thing a new business can do and I'm expecting to get a lot more business from my meetings this week.

"We are also preparing a visitor combo with Rotorua Duck Tours," he said.

Tamaki Maori Village sales and marketing representative Lady Saifiti is at her third Trenz.
"It's been excellent so far with a mixture of appointments with buyers from Singapore, the UK, the US and Australia.

"At the moment we are concentrating on the new launch of our waka (canoe) experience and looking at advertising our overnight stays over the winter season," she said.

Buyers come to Trenz to buy accommodation, transport and activities at wholesale rates to include in their brochures, websites and itineraries for the coming international holiday seasons.