Tourism conference $10.3 million boost
AN extra $10 million was spent in Otago and Southland after a major tourism conference in Dunedin last year.
An economic study of the fourday annual Trenz conference found an estimated $10.3 million of additional business was booked in Dunedin, Waitaki and Southland after the event, in the past year.
A report on the conference was presented to the Dunedin City Council on Tuesday.
More than 1400 national and international delegates attended the event, hosted by Enterprise Dunedin in partnership with Tourism Waitaki, Venture Southland and Dunedin Airport.
Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie said he was delighted the economic impact had been so strong and was expected to continue for at least another year.
As well as its economic impact, the event also put Dunedin on the map in terms of media coverage, Mr Christie said.
More than 220 media articles, with an estimated advertising value of $1.56 million, were created from the conference including a story on Dunedin published by CN Traveller which had an estimated advertising value of $687,000.
‘‘It’s often hard to get a lot of those national and international media players to Dunedin and Trenz was a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the city and wider region,’’ he said.
The city would be quick to put its ‘‘hand up’’ to host the conference again.
Otago Peninsula Trust marketing manager Sophie Barker said there had been a noticeable lift in bookings at the The Royal Albatross Centre.
As someone who had attended 20 Trenz conferences, Ms Barker said holding the event in Dunedin made a large difference to city’s saleability as a destination.
‘‘Actually being able to have buyers live and breathe our experiences made it a breeze to sell the destination, we’re so much more than people think,’’ she said.
Asked by Cr Christine Garey when the conference might return to Dunedin, Tourism Aotearoa marketing, partnership and event director Emily Byrne said potentially between 2022 and 2024.