New Zealand’s tourism industry is ready to come together and welcome back international visitors, with registrations to TRENZ Hui 2022 Online now open.

Traditionally New Zealand’s premier international tourism business event, TRENZ has adapted to support the industry’s recovery from the impacts of the pandemic and will take place online 25-26 May.

Based on the theme of ‘Ready to Welcome’, the event will feature line-up of inspirational speakers who will focus on the restart of tourism and offer valuable insights to ensure businesses are ready to welcome visitors again.

“Our focus is on updating international market-ready New Zealand tourism operators on how they can prepare for the return of international visitors,” Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Rebecca Ingram said.

“We anticipate arrival numbers will build up gradually over the next few months with most international visitors planning to come next summer. TIA forecasts that the recovery period will be two or three years.”

The program will be supported by live networking events in Auckland and Queenstown.

“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.”

TRENZ Hui 2022 follows the first TRENZ Connect Online events, which 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, with participants recording 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,” Ingram said.

The talks will continue online, as the TRENZ Connect platform is ‘always on’, allowing the international travel trade to access the details of New Zealand tourism businesses anytime, from anywhere.

In 2023, TRENZ will move to Christchurch on 9-11 May.