NZ tourism industry readies its welcome
Inspirational speakers line up for tourism restart focus
Following the success of the first TRENZ Connect Online events earlier this month, registrations are now open for ‘TRENZ Hui 2022 Online’ taking place on May 25 and 26.
Adapted to support the industry’s recovery from the impacts of the pandemic, the ‘Ready to Welcome’-themed event has been structured to feature an exciting line-up of inspirational speakers who will focus on the restart of tourism and look to the future offering valuable insights intended to ensure tourism businesses are ready to welcome international visitors again.
The May program includes Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) Chief Executive, Rebecca Ingram giving an update an update from Tourism New Zealand on its support for the industry’s recovery
Tourism Minister, Stuart Nash will also give an address while MC, award-winning journalist, Jehan Casinader, will present on wellness and resilience.
Program format will also include a series of TRENZ Talks including international buyer insights, innovation and trends, how to build high performance teams, and creating amazing customer experience.
TIA Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram said the event’s focus will be on updating international market-ready New Zealand tourism operators on how they can prepare for the return of international visitors.
“We anticipate arrival numbers will build up gradually over the next few months with most international visitors planning to come next summer,” she said adding that TIA forecasts that the recovery period will be two or three years,” says.
“We know that the industry is eager to reconnect in person, so we are encouraging attendees to gather at networking events in Auckland and Queenstown on the evening of 25 May.”
To date, the series of online events virtually connected 260 leading New Zealand tourism operators with 312 travel buyers from the Americas, UK/Europe and Asia/Australasia.
“The response to the virtual meetings at these events has been fantastic. Participants recorded an impressive 55,000 minutes of business talks over the course of the three events, and our operators say there is plenty of international interest in booking travel to New Zealand,” Ms Ingram said.
“The talks will continue online, as the TRENZ Connect platform is ‘always on’. It allows the international travel trade to access the details of New Zealand tourism businesses 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, no matter what time zone they are in. “
The event will be livestreamed from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
To register for TRENZ Hui 2022 Online, go to www.trenz.co.nz/register
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
