More than 40 tourism operators from the Southern Lakes are bound for Trenz 2014, but it is not known yet if New Zealand's biggest travel trade show will be held in Queenstown next year.
Wakatipu, Wanaka and Fiordland delegates will be among 260 of the country's leading operators in Auckland from May 18-21.
They will showcase new and existing products to 300 influential buyers from 30 countries, to stoke New Zealand's $24 billion tourism industry.
Buyers are coming from traditional visitor markets, such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as newer markets where New Zealand tourism is targeting high-value visitors, including Brazil and Indonesia.
A total of 70 buyers will attend from China, including Hong Kong, up from 53 last year.
Indian buyers attending have also increased 14, up from 10 at last year's event.
Destination Queenstown chief executive Graham Budd and three staff will work with media delegates and two fully booked appointment streams in a double booth at Trenz.
''These are appointments requested of us by travel buyers from around the world,'' Mr Budd said.
''What that represents is the continued strength of Queenstown as a destination, alongside our operators, of course, many of whom have appointments with the same people.
''I'm really optimistic that we're seeing no let up whatsoever in the demand for Queenstown as a destination through the travel trade, who put itineraries together for our long-haul and Australian visitors, and that will translate into future business.''
With Auckland hosting Trenz last year and this year, there is speculation Trenz could return to Queenstown in 2015, which hosted popular expos in 2011 and 2012, although the Trenz-owning Tourism Industry Association has not yet announced its choice of venue for next year.
''After the huge success of the two years, where we did have Trenz here, we would be very keen to hold it again in Queenstown,'' Mr Budd said.
