Industry leaders have said that although The New Zealand tourism industry has enjoyed a solid summer season, it must continue to build momentum.
Hosted in Wellington, over one thousand delegates across New Zealand and internationally attended TRENZ. Among the hundreds of attendees were Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Matt Doocey, minister of tourism and hospitality.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Rebecca Ingram delivered a speech on the first day of TRENZ, the New Zealand industry's most significant business gathering.
"TRENZ is a happy reunion for many of our buyers who have existing relationships with New Zealand tourism operators, and it's an amazing opportunity to see what's new with new businesses and experiences on show," said Ingram.
"Seeing is understanding; TRENZ is especially valuable for buyers who have never visited here."
During the two core days of TRENZ, over 330 buyers from 25 countries networked and negotiated business ventures with 313 top New Zealand tourism operators.
Delegates were allowed to attend appointments, presentations and networking functions. Buyers and other visitors could visit a variety of Wellington's best visitor experiences.
Before the event, TRENZ was expected to result in at least NZD 4 million of new spending within Wellington.
"Most operators had a buoyant summer, and 80 percent of tourism employers in a recent survey have told us that they are feeling optimistic about the next 12 months," she said.
"We should never underestimate our place in the world. Tourism is a competitive global market, and events like TRENZ are critical for cementing our position and building long-term sustainable business networks."
TRENZ is delivered by Tourism Industry Aotearoa on behalf of the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust, with assistance from its main sponsor, Air New Zealand.
Read more about events here.
