17 October 2008 Media Release
Changes planned for tourism industry events
Tourism industry events run by the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust and Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) are being refreshed to ensure they continue to be relevant and innovative. The Trust has completed a comprehensive review of its events – TRENZ, PURE LUXURY New Zealand, Tourism Industry Conference and Tourism Industry Awards. The review looked at ways to improve the relevance and delivery of the events as well as the benefits they deliver to sponsors, stakeholders and the wider industry. The events are managed by TIA for the Trust. The review involved extensive consultation with interested organisations and individuals. It also looked at what was happening with trade fairs and other tourism events internationally. “The Trust, in consultation with TIA‟s board of directors, has now agreed a set of outcomes we believe will benefit TIA members and help our tourism industry better meet the market opportunities ahead,” TIA Chief Executive Tim Cossar says. TRENZ 2009 will proceed as planned at Auckland‟s ASB Showgrounds, 8-11 June 2009. “TRENZ continues to be a flagship event for the tourism industry. Keeping New Zealand‟s tourism industry on the world stage and offering tourism businesses the opportunity to promote their product at TRENZ was seen as a top priority, particularly in the current global economic climate,” Mr Cossar says. Consideration was given to running TRENZ biennially but the consultation confirmed that the industry wants it to be an annual event timed to align with its Australian equivalent, ATE. The Trust and TIA have committed to this for the next five years to give certainty to participants. The Trust‟s other events will undergo a period of further review in 2009 with the aim of bringing them back as stronger industry leadership events in 2010.
1
“The consultation gave us a clear mandate for change in relation to the Tourism Industry Conference and Tourism Industry Awards. We want to make both Conference and Awards more appealing to a broader cross-section of the industry.” The Trust and TIA are exploring the idea of running a „Tourism Week‟ event, which would align key industry conferences and the Tourism Industry Awards in 2010, and create a significant leadership event for the entire industry, Mr Cossar says. The Trust and TIA have agreed that an industry working group will be formed to develop the „Tourism Week‟ concept for 2010. Whatever the outcome, the Trust and TIA are committed to running the Tourism Industry Awards in 2010, either as part of a „Tourism Week‟ or matched to another suitable industry event. The Trust and TIA will work with the luxury tourism sector and other stakeholders to consider options for running PURE LUXURY New Zealand in 2010. While stakeholders were keen for the PURE LUXURY New Zealand brand to continue, feedback from the 2008 participants suggested it might be better positioned as a biennial event. “For 2009, TRENZ will recognise and celebrate New Zealand‟s luxury product by giving it prominence in the event‟s theming. Our luxury sector is relatively small but high value and an important part of New Zealand‟s tourism offer,” Mr Cossar says. “We are confident that the outcomes of the events review will result in stronger, widely supported events that will help New Zealand‟s multi-billion dollar tourism industry grow and prosper,” Mr Cossar says. For more information on TIA and the events, go to www.tianz.org.nz
For further information, please contact: Ann-Marie Johnson Senior Communications Advisor Tourism Industry Association Phone: 04 496 5001 Mobile: 027 600 4565 Email: ann-marie.johnson@tianz.org.nz
2
Top priorities in the Tourism Industry Election Manifesto
The tourism industry is calling for the incoming government to: 1. Recognise tourism as a bedrock of New Zealand’s economy - Establish a Tourism Industry Taskforce to drive a whole-of-government approach to issues affecting the industry and ensure the tourism portfolio is managed by a top ranking Minister. 2. Market Destination New Zealand - Increase public sector investment for targeted offshore promotions to markets of strategic importance to New Zealand and for improved marketing efforts in the domestic market. 3. Invest in vital infrastructure - Invest in a national convention centre, cruise ship port facilities and other infrastructure improvements required to reduce seasonality and increase spending from visitors to New Zealand. 4. Improve New Zealand’s environmental performance - Enhance New Zealand‟s environmental performance and the capabilities of its tourism industry to deliver on the 100% Pure New Zealand brand promise. 5. Invest in training and work skills initiatives - Ensure New Zealand‟s tourism businesses have the people they need to do business and to deliver a high quality visitor experience. 6. Boost the return from major events - Maximise the return to New Zealand of the Rugby World Cup 2011 and other major event opportunities. Read the Tourism Industry Election Manifesto at www.tianz.org.nz
3