TRENZ returning to Rotorua in May this year.

Regarded as NZ's biggest annual trade show, TRENZ has used Rotorua as a venue several times.

It will take place from May 13 to May 16 at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre.

Last year, it was held in Dunedin. Next year, it is scheduled for Christchurch.

Each year, TRENZ brings together hundreds of international travel and tourism marketers to negotiate new business deals with several hundred leading New Zealand tourism operators.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa [TIA] organises and manages TRENZ on behalf of the event owner, the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust.

TRENZ was last held in Rotorua in 2016.

'Rotorua is a fantastic host region and we are excited to be taking TRENZ back there next year. With the strong support of Destination Rotorua, we will be able to showcase some of New Zealand's most exceptional tourism experiences to our international guests,” says TIA chief executive, Chris Roberts.

Chris says TRENZ creates significant economic benefits for the host region each year, with more than 1500 people attending the four-day event.

Delegates stay with local accommodation providers, experience local tourism attractions, and many spend extended time in the region.

Stephen England-Hall, chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, says, 'Rotorua offers a unique tourism offering and a range of world-class activities that will appeal to TRENZ attendees.

'As the home of New Zealand's first tourism department in 1901, Rotorua is a fitting location, steeped in history and rich in culture to host the country's biggest travel and trade event.”

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says hosting TRENZ is a great opportunity for the district and the wider region, bringing substantial national and international exposure and benefits that will extend beyond the event itself.

'It provides an immediate economic boost during the course of the event but there's also research to show it brings increased tourism afterwards.

'We hosted this event a couple of years ago but Rotorua's story has moved on since then so this will be an opportune time to share that progression.”

Rotorua Economic Development CEO Michelle Templer says it is 'fantastic” that Rotorua will be welcoming New Zealand's largest business-to-business trade show back in 2019.

'We look forward to welcoming delegates from around the world to Rotorua and for them to be able to experience the magic of the destination and manaakitanga of our people first hand. It is also an opportunity to showcase the growth trajectory that Rotorua is on.”

Key details:

· Tourism in New Zealand is a $99 million per day industry. Tourism delivers around $40 million in foreign exchange earnings to the New Zealand economy each day of the year. Domestic tourism contributes another $59 million in economic activity every day.

· Tourism is New Zealand's biggest export earner, contributing $14.5 billion or 20.7% of New Zealand's foreign exchange earnings (year ended March 2017).

· 14.5% of the total number of people employed in New Zealand work directly or indirectly in tourism. That means 399,150 people are working in the visitor economy.

· The Tourism 2025 growth framework has a goal of growing total tourism revenue to $41 billion a year by 2025. Visit www.tia.org.nz for more information