Southland is setting the tourism scene

A Southland presence at the 2009 Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (TRENZ) trade event in Auckland was vital to attracting new visitors to the region.

The trade event brings together tourism operators and regional tourism organisations from throughout New Zealand with international travel buyers and national inbound tour operators. Venture Southland was joined at the event by Ascot Park Hotel of Invercargill and Bay Motel of Stewart Island. Both Ascot Park Hotel and Bay Motel commented on the good quality of the appointments each held.

TRENZ 2009 attracted 270 exhibitors, 260 travel and tourism buyers, 30 international media representatives and it is estimated around $2 billion worth of business was done during the event. TRENZ offered Southland the opportunity to showcase product offerings from throughout the region to key wholesalers in targeted markets. Southland’s key markets include the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, USA and Australia. In addition to meeting with wholesalers from traditionally strong Southland markets, Bay Motel in Stewart Island is set to host visitors from as far afield as Rio De Janeiro as a result of the event.

Jenny Twaddle of Bay Motel said it was great to see other countries becoming possible visitors to the island. “It was a wonderful experience to see industry operators all together and to meet local operators and overseas buyers. I was so impressed at how it was all put together, which heightened my enthusiasm for promoting Stewart Island,” Mrs Twaddle said. Bay Motel has gained at least one potential contract from the event and said the experience and contacts she gained at the event were priceless. She has since received emails from people she met at TRENZ asking about the effect of the earthquake on Stewart Island. “It was great having Venture Southland there to show me the ropes. Lisa and Kerryn were wonderful in taking care of me and ensuring that I got the most out of the experience.” 

While TRENZ is New Zealand’s major trade event on the tourism calendar, there are several other events held throughout the year that also target trade. In May Lisa Buckingham and Kerryn Smith from Venture Southland attended an Inbound Tour Operator Council (ITOC) Trade Day in Auckland. Twenty Regional Tourism Offices from around New Zealand attended the event, and met with product managers, wholesalers and frontline staff over two days. It was an excellent opportunity to meet with key inbound agents and to also get their input on how the industry was looking. Interest in Southland was good, with particular interest in what was new in the province. 

Trade events provide opportunities to market and promote new and existing products and services available in Southland and to promote the region as a whole. Follow up with those met at the various events is crucial so Venture Southland also invests time back in the office sending out specialised itineraries, trade manuals and image CDs as well as encouraging buyers to consider more Southland product in their brochures.