TRENZ tourism business event revived
Want to reconnect with international travel? Register for TRENZ Hui 2021
New Zealand’s biggest annual international tourism business event has a new name and a new format to support Kiwi tourism operators in preparing for the reopening of our borders.
TRENZ Hui 2021 will be held in Ōtautahi Christchurch on May 5-6 with a completely new programme based on three themes: Revive – Reconnect – Revitalise. To ensure cost is not a barrier to attendance, basic registration is completely free to one representative from eligible New Zealand tourism businesses, including inbound tour operators. This has been made possible through support from the Government’s Regional Events Fund. Additional delegates will pay a registration fee and all applicants will have to meet selection criteria to qualify to attend.
Traditionally, TRENZ attracts hundreds of international travel buyers to meet with New Zealand’s leading tourism operators, to build or renew relationships and negotiate business deals for the coming seasons.
With New Zealand’s borders closed and international buyers unable to attend, the 2021 event will focus on the New Zealand tourism industry working together to prepare for the return of our international visitors, and the challenges and opportunities that will be involved.
This unmissable event will be high energy, action-packed and focused on the future.
Internationally renowned facilitators will use Design Thinking tools to help delegates come up with innovative solutions to the big real-world issues we will face when the borders reopen.
“We carried out extensive research with the New Zealand tourism industry, international buyers and other stakeholders, to determine how best to deliver TRENZ in 2021. We have some exciting digital plans but there is still a strong demand to gather in person,” says Chris Roberts, Chief Executive of TIA, which manages and produces TRENZ on behalf of the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust.
We are putting on an event in Christchurch that is focused on how our international tourism sector can make the fastest possible recovery.
This will be our industry’s opportunity to work together on a way forward.
In parallel with TRENZ Hui 2021, work is underway to reconnect with the international travel trade via an interactive online platform that will enable New Zealand tourism operators to maintain relationships with international buyers. It will be ‘always on’, providing up-to-date information on New Zealand’s tourism products. The new platform will be available after the May event.
When the time is right, some special activity will happen to let international travel buyers know New Zealand is ready and keen to welcome their clients once again.
Loren Heaphy, ChristchurchNZ general manager of Destination and Attraction, says:
“We are excited to welcome New Zealand’s tourism industry to Ōtautahi Christchurch, especially as we were due to host TRENZ in 2020. This event is an amazing opportunity to come together in our revitalised city and discuss the opportunities ahead for our sector.
“Ōtautahi Christchurch has gone through huge changes and overcome significant challenges in recent years, and we’re excited to show the country what we’ve been working on.”
Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran says: “We look forward to recommencing international routes and welcoming visitors back to New Zealand as soon as we’re able to. Reconnecting with distributors of New Zealand tourism product in international markets is an essential step ahead of borders reopening, and TRENZ Hui 2021 provides a great opportunity for the industry to come together to plan New Zealand’s successful re-entry into international tourism markets.”
Registrations for TRENZ Hui 2021 will open on Thursday March 18.
What is TRENZ?
Each year, TRENZ brings hundreds of international travel buyers and media delegates together to meet with New Zealand’s leading tourism operators (sellers), to build or renew relationships and negotiate business deals for the coming seasons.
TRENZ directly helps to grow New Zealand’s tourism industry. Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) manages TRENZ on behalf of the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust. TRENZ is supported by Tourism New Zealand, Air New Zealand and host region Christchurch NZ.
The event was cancelled in 2020 for the first time ever because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why hold TRENZ in 2021?
TRENZ is part of an annual series of tourism trade shows held around the world. TRENZ has a May slot in the global calendar and is recognised by international travel buyers as one of the most productive and best run events. TRENZ needs to be run in some form in 2021, holding its place on the international calendar, because even if global tourism does not return soon to ‘normal’, New Zealand must maintain its international links and profile so that it is not forgotten as an international destination.
What is the format for TRENZ in 2021?
In 2021, TRENZ will kick off with a two-day event in Ōtautahi Christchurch on 5-6 May. It will be called TRENZ Hui 2021 and have a completely new format, based on three themes: Revive – Reconnect – Revitalise.
With New Zealand’s borders closed and international buyers unable to attend, TRENZ Hui 2021 will focus on the New Zealand tourism industry working together to prepare for the return of our international visitors, and to generate ideas and solutions for the challenges and opportunities that will be involved. They will also hear from world-class speakers.
This unmissable event will be high energy, action-packed and focused on the future.
Internationally renowned facilitators will use Design Thinking tools to help delegates come up with innovative solutions to the big real-world issues we will face when the borders reopen.
In parallel with this event, plans are underway to reconnect with international travel and tourism buyers. This will be a combination of an interactive online platform that will enable qualified international trade ready New Zealand tourism operators to easily connect with international tourism and travel buyers. It will be ‘always on’, providing up-to-date information on New Zealand’s tourism products. The new platform will be available after the May event.
When the time is right, we will welcome back our international buyers in a special way. We know that nothing can replace face-to-face interactions and real-life experience of New Zealand as a destination.
Where is TRENZ 2021 being held?
The physical part of TRENZ Hui 2021 will take place in Ōtautahi Christchurch, at the Christchurch Town Hall on 5-6 May, the traditional month for TRENZ on the global calendar.
TRENZ was set to return to Christchurch in 2020. Taking the event back there in 2021, a decade after the earthquakes changed the face of the city, means the industry can take heart from Christchurch’s experience of rebuilding.
TRENZ’s Australian equivalent, ATE, is going ahead with a more traditional format with hybrid components. Why is TRENZ Hui 2021 innovating?
Both TIA and Tourism New Zealand have done extensive research with New Zealand tourism operators, international buyers, event partners and other stakeholders. That showed a traditional TRENZ format was not appropriate in 2021. With no certainty on when New Zealand’s borders will reopen, buyers and tourism operators could not commit to their normal business negotiations.
The new digital platform will allow international travel and tourism buyers to maintain relationships with New Zealand tourism operators and keep up to date with what is happening in the New Zealand market.
When our borders reopen, we look forward to offering buyers and sellers the opportunity to meet in person.
Resuming the distribution of New Zealand tourism products in international markets and getting in front of important international buyers will be key to restarting the industry.
How is funding from the Government’s Regional Events Fund being used?
The funding support received from the Government’s Regional Events Fund has been critical in giving the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust the confidence to proceed with TRENZ Hui 2021. Tourism New Zealand is closely involved as a key partner in ensuring the event’s success.
To ensure cost is not a barrier to attendance in these difficult times, the government funding will enable TINZT to make the basic registration package completely free to eligible New Zealand tourism operators.
Tourism businesses will still have to meet selection criteria to qualify to attend. Recent TRENZ sellers will be offered priority places at the 5-6 May event.
What if COVID-19 Alert Levels change?
TIA, as manager of TRENZ Hui 2021, is developing comprehensive plans to address a range of scenarios. The health and safety of our delegates is of paramount importance.
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