Top visitor destinations to host travel events

Media Release
31 October 2007

Top visitor destinations to host major travel events

Influential international travel agents will descend on New Zealand’s premier visitor destinations for two major tourism events in 2008.

The Tourism Industry Association (TIA) is pleased to announce that PURE LUXURY New Zealand 2008 will be held at the brand-new Commonage Villas, Queenstown, on 21-23 May. PURE LUXURY New Zealand showcases the very best luxury products and experiences New Zealand has to offer discerning international travellers.

This event will be followed by TRENZ 2008 – New Zealand’s largest annual international tourism business event – at the Energy Events Centre, Rotorua, on 26-29 May.

Applications for New Zealand tourism operators to participate as Exhibitors in both events open today – visit www.trenz.co.nz or www.pureluxury.co.nz for details.

“Queenstown and Rotorua are New Zealand’s most internationally renowned visitor destinations, and inviting international travel and tourism buyers to experience them firsthand can only benefit our entire tourism industry,” TIA Chief Executive Fiona Luhrs says.

A total of 45 Buyers specialising in luxury travel will attend PURE LUXURY New Zealand 2008 in Queenstown, where they will meet with the same number of New Zealand’s best accommodation, transport and activity operators.

The world-class quality of the Commonage Villas www.commonagevillas.com, a premium development managed by the team from Queenstown’s exclusive Eichardt’s Private Hotel, will help demonstrate to Buyers that New Zealand’s luxury tourism sector is constantly developing, Ms Luhrs says.

“PURE LUXURY New Zealand aims to highlight all that is new and truly
luxurious, as this is what Buyers are most interested in learning about. The event is dedicated to growing New Zealand’s multi-million dollar luxury tourism market, and Buyers are always on the lookout for products that are fresh and compelling that they can recommend to their clients.”

New Zealand’s growing international reputation as a luxury destination is confirmed by the latest edition of Vogue Entertaining + Travel which says: “New Zealand’s lodges are in a class of their own, with their heaven-on-earth settings, six-star service and sensational food”.

Meanwhile, TRENZ 2008 will bring about 320 international travel and tourism Buyers to Rotorua, to meet 331 New Zealand tourism operators. The Buyers will be looking to purchase accommodation, transport, attractions and activities at wholesale rates, and include them in holiday brochures and itineraries for forthcoming seasons.

Competition for space at TRENZ 2008 will be strong, as the number of New Zealand Exhibitors is being reduced from previous years, Ms Luhrs says. About 50 fewer operators will be accepted, in order to improve the ratio between Exhibitors and Buyers, and ensure Exhibitors get a high number of business appointments with Buyers.

Holding the two events in different locations will mean international luxury Buyers see as much of New Zealand as possible while they are here, Ms Luhrs says. While the size of TRENZ restricts it to venues large enough to cater for its 1300 delegates, PURE LUXURY is smaller and thus more mobile.

“These two locations will allow Buyers to see why New Zealand is one of the world’s best visitor destinations.”

TRENZ and PURE LUXURY New Zealand are managed by TIA as agent of the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust and in partnership with Tourism New Zealand and other industry supporters. For more information, visit www.trenz.co.nz and www.pureluxury.co.nz

Key statistics about tourism:

 Tourism is the world's fastest growing industry

 New Zealand tourism arrivals have increased by 61% since 1999 to 2.4 million

 Forecast annual growth is 4% on average for at least the next five years

 Tourism is New Zealand's single largest export sector and contributed $8.3 billion dollars to the economy in the year ended March 2006. That is 19.2% of exports

 Domestic tourism contributes $10.3 billion to the economy each year

 Tourism directly and indirectly employs 10 percent of the work force. That is one in 10 jobs in New Zealand.

 Tourism represents 8.9% ($12.8 billion) of gross domestic product and generates $531 million in GST returns from international visitors each year. Tourism is the only export sector whose international clients pay GST.

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