Speakers to kickstart Trenz days

Chris Roberts. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Tourism operators attending Trenz 2016 in Rotorua next week will get international expert insight into the latest digital trends and tactics to drive visitor bookings.

The presentation by Florida-based Kim Matlock is part of the Trenz 2016 Auckland Airport Breakfast Speaker Series.

Ms Matlock is currently the chief marketing officer of Cool Blue Media which publishes digital magazines for social media professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and virtual reality communities. She has held similar roles for the iconic Hard Rock brand and Microsoft.

This year's topics also include a deep dive into the fast-growing China market and how tourism operators can use digital channels to get their business noticed by free independent Chinese travellers, and a review of the industry's Tourism 2025 growth framework which aspires to grow annual tourism revenue to $41 billion.

Auckland Airport will present a session on its tactics and strategies for successful route development - 99 per cent of international visitors to New Zealand arrive by air, so developing sustainable air connectivity is vital to industry growth.

"The early morning Auckland Airport Speaker Series is designed to kick-start the Trenz day with stimulating presenters providing fresh insight on a range of relevant topics, with time for networking over breakfast," said Chris Roberts, chief executive of the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand which manages Trenz.

"It's a great opportunity for the 300 New Zealand tourism operators exhibiting at Trenz to maximise the value they get out of the four-day event."

Norris Carter, Auckland Airport's general manager aeronautical commercial, said the Speaker Series would once again bring together a range of international and New Zealand speakers.

"The breakfasts are a great way to start each day at the conference. We hope they will inspire and inform attendees, and enable them to be better equipped to sell their tourism products and services."

Trenz takes place at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre from May 10-13. For details go to http://www.trenz.co.nz/.
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Breakfast speakers

Wednesday May 11
Using digital channels to get your business noticed by Chinese FITs
Louise Beard of Forward Insight & Strategy has more than 20 years of experience in research and strategic planning across a range of sectors. She has extensive involvement in the tourism sector, understanding the needs of visitors from multiple markets throughout Asia, with particular focus on China.

Thursday May 12:
Tourism 2025 - Two Years On
Chris Roberts, chief executive of the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand, will be presenting Tourism 2025 - Two Years On - looking at the progress the industry has made, current challenges and opportunities over the next two years.

Growing travel markets - capacity, connectivity and demand
Norris Carter, general manager Aeronautical Commercial, Auckland Airport is responsible for the sustainable growth of the vital air services and markets that fuel New Zealand tourism and trade. He will share the work that Auckland Airport has been doing to understand passenger traffic flows to/from New Zealand and how this underlies the airport's strategy to target sensible and sustainable improvements in airline connectivity and capacity.

Friday May 13
Social media strategies for tourism in 2016
Florida-based Kim Matlock of Cool Blue Media will be talking about the latest digital trends, strategies and practical tactics New Zealand tourism operators can use to drive their business forward and win high-value digitally savvy customers.