The Trenz tourism industry trade show's inaugural Queenstown outing last year has been highly rated by delegates and preparations are falling into place for its return this year.
Almost 300 exhibitors, including Tourism New Zealand, Air New Zealand, Qantas, and host region Southern Lakes have registered to exhibit at the show in May.
Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (Trenz) is the largest annual international trade event on the New Zealand tourism industry calendar.
The event helps to develop New Zealand's tourism industry, worth $9.5 billion in foreign exchange annually.
Communications manager Ann-Marie Johnson, of Wellington, said a range of "new elements" for Trenz this year were being developed and would be revealed closer to the event.
"Delegates at Trenz 2011 rated it 'the best Trenz yet'," Ms Johnson said.
"We aim to do even better in 2012, with exciting innovations that will help showcase the very best New Zealand has to offer our visitors."
Organisers were not ready to announce their guest speakers yet, but had invited Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key, who they hoped would "be able to fit Trenz into his busy schedule".
Applications from international travel and tourism buyers and media are now being accepted.
"To date, there has been a good level of interest from New Zealand's major visitor markets, including Australia, UK, US, China, Japan and Germany," Ms Johnson said.
Trenz 2012 will be held at the Queenstown Events Centre from May 7 to 10 .
