Travel Agent recently attended two of New Zealand's top travel trade shows: Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand, or TRENZ, the country's largest annual international tourism event; and the private Pure Luxury New Zealand 2007, held at Treetops Luxury Lodge and Estate,which focused on the country's upscale travel offerings.
TRENZ was held at the new Energy Events Centre in Rotorua, mid-North Island. The city is New Zealand's first real visitor destination with an enthralling 160-year history, 14 nearby lakes and blue-green mountains.
An event of the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA), with support from Tourism New Zealand and premier sponsor, Air New Zealand, TRENZ was billed as the first tourism trade show to be carbon neutral, an effort that shakes hands with New Zealand's pristine and idyllic green image.
Environmentaly
Friendly Travel "We wanted to prove to our
international guests
Hon. Damien O'Connor, minister of tourism, noted that
"over the eight-year term of the plan, the world and
Trends in Travel
She noted "significant investments" being made by
major lodge developers and owners, a growth in top-class self-contained
apartments and holiday homes and a trend toward spa inclusion by
Food and wine vacations capture a large market share, she said. (The country now has more than 500 vineyards.) Need-to-Know Numbers
Acknowledging that many vacationers worldwide tend to spend
longer weekends at closer-by destinations, she feels the market for those who
"collect" or bank their vacation days for longer trips is still
extremely viable for
Pure Luxury New Zealand 2007
The larger TRENZ show was preceded by the private Pure Luxury New Zealand 2007, held at nearby Treetops Luxury Lodge and Estate, renowned for its commitment to ecology and its superior level of service. It's also famous for its driveway, which climbs, dips and turns through representative native forest. Exhibitors and buyers were urged on by road signs reading, "Keep Going."
Those in attendance ultimately enjoyed excellent company in the world-class lodge on 2,500 secluded acres. Artful cuisine provided fuel for energetic 20-minute talks hosted by 42 previously selected providers in categories of luxury accommodation, transport, activities and marketing groups. Post Pure Luxury, word on the Rotorua streets was that the inaugural outing was a smashing success.
New Zealand and the Luxury Market
Luxury travel was also a subject at TRENZ, hosted by a panel
of
Family travel is also a growing luxury segment. Emms cautioned that it's impossible to ignore the trend of luxury accommodations catering to families—often three generations—that choose a trip to celebrate a special occasion and don't have a problem with "indulgence."
He answered the question, "What is a lodge?" by specifying it as a property with more than four rooms but less than 20, set in a unique location and serving up some iteration of MAP: pre-dinner drinks and hors d'oeuvres, dinner and/or breakfast.
Could the luxury market be over-saturated? No signs of that,
answered Emms, who pronounced it robustly healthy. "We should be chasing
high yield versus numbers, though." He added that "one percent of
traveling Americans visit
Smythe reminded attendees that it's a big world out there for luxury: "Competition is worldwide." And he noted the luxury trend of properties having a private residence concept, such as Huka's Owner's Cottage. He said this trend is gathering momentum, and "we can't keep up with the demand."
Luxury clients are well informed, so providers must deliver
the (luxury) goods, he warned. "Friends of friends are a point of contact
for many in this demographic. They do business deals as they go around the
world."