Queenstown incorporated will set up shop at Meetings 2013 this week, where record numbers of buyers and exhibitors are scheduled to attend New Zealand's largest business tourism industry trade show.
More than 20 Wakatipu operators, including for the first time, Art Adventures, Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters, luxury charter boat Pacific Jemm and Skippers Canyon Jet, will send delegates to the expo in Auckland.
During the two-day event, each operator will have up to 35 scheduled appointments and additional walk-up business from the 320 international buyers attending the show.
Operators will aim to create new business leads and bolster relationships.
A total of 180 exhibitors from New Zealand's business tourism industry will promote their products and services to more than 400 day buyers and 185 hosted buyers.
Chinese and southeast Asian buyers are attending Meetings with the assistance of Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand.
A group of Australian and American media representatives is also attending, as well as key New Zealand media.
The expo is organised by Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) in SkyCity Convention Centre, Auckland, tomorrow and Thursday. Art Adventures owner Alice Blakely said she was looking forward to showing buyers at Meetings there was more to Queenstown than adrenaline-pumping adventure.
''We specialise in partner programmes. There are a lot of partners who would like to do something different from the action-packed adventure on offer.
''Our art experiences leave them entertained, stimulated, educated and immersed in the landscape.''
Marketing manager Mathew Rhodes said Skippers Canyon Jet would be offering ''conference and incentive groups something different - a unique chance to get right into the heart of New Zealand and relive our pioneering days''.
Destination Queenstown's convention bureau team of Tracey Maclaren, Louise Jennis and Jana Kingston, DQ's Australia-based business development manager, will arrive a day early and meet buyers and media delegates to promote the resort as a top conference and incentive destination.
''Meetings is New Zealand's premier C and I [conventions and incentives] show which attracts hosted buyers from New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Asia,'' Ms Maclaren said.
''It is very valuable to Queenstown operators and a `must attend' event.''
CINZ chief executive Alan Trotter, of Auckland, said millions of dollars worth of new business leads were generated as a result of the connections made at the annual event.
''If we want to compete on the international stage we have to show these buyers that not only do we have stand-out destinations but that we also offer great value for money,'' Mr Trotter said.
''Meetings give us an opportunity to do just that.''
Consultation on a proposed Queenstown convention centre, which would be large enough to host expos such as Meetings, will begin in early August, the Queenstown Lakes District Council announced last week.
• The Wakatipu operators bound for Meetings 2013 are AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand, Arrowmark Ltd, Art Adventures, Crowne Plaza Queenstown, Dart River Jet Safaris, Gibbston Valley Wines Ltd, Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters, Heritage Queenstown, Hotel St Moritz, KJet, Millbrook Resort, Millennium Hotel Queenstown, Moonlight Country Ltd, Nomad Safaris, Pacific Jemm Luxury Charters, QT Event Management, Queenstown Convention Bureau, Real Journeys, Rydges Lakeland Resort Queenstown, Shotover Jet, Skippers Canyon Jet, Skyline Queenstown, Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa and The Rees Hotel & Luxury Apartments.
