About 60 Wakatipu, national and international media delegates will bolster exposure of the Southern Lakes and New Zealand tourism when Trenz is held in Queenstown in six weeks' time.
The Tourism Industry Association, organiser of the annual travel trade expo, said about 30 journalists from throughout the country and about 30 from overseas would cover the event, which will see operators broker deals with 300 international buyers looking to purchase New Zealand tourism products to sell to international consumers.
Journalists are scheduled to experience Southern Lakes tourism products at first hand on May 9.
"Media attending this year's Trenz work for news outlets and publications that are very influential in terms of promoting travel experiences and destinations to international consumers and the travel trade, such as Lonely Planet, Japan's Globe Trotter Guide, China's official news agency Xinhua and United Kingdom luxury travel magazine TTG Luxury," association communications manager Ann-Marie Johnson, of Wellington, said.
Tourism New Zealand brand and international public relations general manager Catherine Bates said the team at Tourism New Zealand worked hard, together with Air New Zealand and Qantas, to make sure a good international spread of media was present at Trenz and there was plenty of tourism news for them to cover.
"This year we have representatives from all of our priority markets - Australia, China, the UK, Germany and the United States," Ms Bates said.
"Trenz provides a fantastic opportunity for us to get international media down to the Southern Lakes region to experience New Zealand first hand and talk with the people who are at the heart of the industry.
"As a result, we know that when media go home again, they will be well placed to sell the unique story of New Zealand to their readers."
Southern Lakes chairman Jeff Staniland said the region was gearing up for another great Trenz with the significant opportunities hosting an event such as this brings.
"We are particularly delighted to be welcoming a number of the world's leading travel media along with a large number of domestic media.
With representatives from Thailand, China, Taiwan, Australia, South Korea, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Canada and the USA, this allows us to showcase the Southern Lakes' spectacular landscapes, varied activities and award-winning food and wine to the world.
"Together with our world-class tourism operators we will be working hard to ensure they get the most out of their stay in this memorable part of the world."
• Trenz 2012 runs in the Queenstown Events Centre from May 7 to 10.
