Destination Queenstown says it has three full days of appointments lined up with domestic and international tourism agents at Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (Trenz) later this month.
DQ chief executive Tony Everitt, convention bureau manager Kylie Brittain and marketing executive Kate Dear are preparing to promote the resort at the annual trade expo, which will be held at the Auckland Showgrounds, from May 24 to 27.
Marketing general manager Graham Budd will attend marketing activities on one of the days.
Mr Budd this week said participating in Trenz was "a very significant part of what we do" as it was the single most important and largest travel showcase in the country.
DQ's confirmed appointments include Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) offshore tourism managers and House of Travel, of New Zealand; Anzcro, Lonely Planet and Wotif.com, all of Australia; JTB World Vacations, of Japan; Beacon Holidays, of India, and Kiwi Tours, of Germany.
Trenz will host more than 270 travel and tourism buyers from around the world, representing up to 75% of international tourism business to New Zealand.
Buyers purchase accommodation, transport and activities to feature in brochures, websites and itineraries for the coming seasons.
Mr Budd said there were more buyers this year, from the established markets of Australia, the United States, China and the United Kingdom, plus "good representations" from the emerging markets of South America and Eastern Europe.
About 250 exhibitors, tourism organisations and operators, as well as 60 domestic and international media will attend this year.
Between 800 and 1000 industry stakeholders were expected, Mr Budd said.
"Last year [at Trenz] was quite hard work because no-one knew where the economic situation was going," Mr Budd said.
"This year, most people have weathered the storm and are looking forward to things improving.
"I think there is likely to be a positive outlook from most attendees."
DQ would have its own stand, but would not work in isolation, he said.
"We attend in our own right, but also [as] part of a Southern Lakes collective, with Lake Wanaka and Destination Fiordland, to all long-haul markets.
"We're also linking and supporting our operators. We're pounding the destination messages ..."
Twenty Queenstown tourism operators will have stands at the expo, including three by Ngai Tahu Tourism for Shotover Jet, Dart River Safaris and Hollyford Track.
Skyline, Kawarau Jet and Totally Tourism are also going to Auckland, as is Ziptrek Ecotours for the first time.
The cost of DQ attending was shared with Southern Lakes tourism organisations and operators and there was an all-inclusive budget of $15,000 to $20,000, Mr Budd said.
The fund would also stretch to cover three pre-Trenz familiarisation trips to Queenstown for tourism agents, plus eight "famils" after the expo and one for TNZ staff.
Trenz 2010 will be the last chance to book products for Rugby World Cup 2011, which is expected to attract an extra 85,000 international visitors to New Zealand.
