When expansion to Rotorua’s runway is completed in the first quarter of 2009 the stage will be set for the airport to accommodate Airbus A320s, potentially meaning more visitors and plenty more conference business.
Already the powers that be are in negotiations across the ditch, hoping to bring in trans-Tasman services as early as May 2009. This will alleviate the need for Australian travellers connecting to Rotorua via Auckland or even Hamilton Airport. As any experienced meeting and incentive travel planner knows, one of the hardest sells for any destination has a lot to do with good access. Direct flights, especially for big-city dwellers in hubs like Sydney, Auckland and Melbourne, are often on top of the list when planners are choosing where they are taking their groups.
This would explain why Rotorua has been performing so well as a convention destination on the domestic front, particularly from Auckland and Christchurch-based groups.
And, while Rotorua has seen good business from Australia in recent times, access is an issue. Anecdotal evidence says that Australian convention and incentive planners are looking forward to direct flights to Rotorua in 2009 to reduce the time their delegates spend travelling. Indeed, this is especially important with current figures that show the length of conventions and especially incentive-style business has reduced considerably in recent years. Conferences that were once five or six days in length have been shortened to three or four, meaning that if travel can be limited to a half day or less the result is considerably better for the group, the event planner, and perhaps more importantly, the destination as a whole.
Be that as it may, Rotorua is still performing admirably in the competitive meetings and incentives market. Part of its appeal more recently has been the opening in 2007 of the state-of-the-art Energy Events Centre which in May this year played host to Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (TRENZ) for the second time in a row.
By all accounts this was another success, with the venue and the destination as a whole wooing and wowing delegates from around the world.
To perhaps recognise the value of the Energy Events Centre to New Zealand as a whole, organisers of New Zealand’s largest tourism exhibition – TRENZ – took what some may say was a bold step by shaking off tradition and having the event hosted at the venue and in Rotorua in 2007. And on the strength and success of that event, they decided to do it all again in May this year.
TRENZ (Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand) is New Zealand’s largest international tourism business event. It features New Zealand’s leading providers of visitor accommodation, transport, activities and attractions, as well as destination marketers.
Managed by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) on behalf of the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust, TRENZ brings together New Zealand tourism businesses (sellers or exhibitors) and buyers from New Zealand’s major and emerging visitor markets who come to purchase accommodation, transport and activities at wholesale rates. As well as being “the” place to conduct business
it also results in substantial national and international publicity for the host destination, courtesy of the large number of invited media.
This year’s event was held from May 26 to 29 with total attendees in the vicinity of 1200 which included 21 New Zealand media representatives and 25 international media. Early indications were favourable on the venue and the quality of the destination for an event of this kind.
It is the success of these types of events that is painting Rotorua in a positive light both here and internationally. Also recently, Rotorua was named as one of the top 25 destinations in the South Pacific, as voted by users of TripAdvisor, one of the world’s biggest travel websites.
Rotorua won a Destination Award in the TripAdvisor 2008 Travellers’ Choice Awards, described by TripAdvisor members as being “a place of extraordinary natural beauty.”
Now in their sixth year, the Travellers’ Choice Awards are judged entirely by TripAdvisor members – all travellers themselves – and, according to the website, are among the most coveted awards in the tourism industry.
Rotorua was number 13 in a list of the top 25 South Pacific destinations which obviously pleased Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing’s general manager, Don Gunn, who said it was wonderful “to see such positive feedback, and it shows that travellers to Rotorua are enjoying their time here and obviously taking advantage of the wide range of activities available.”
And indeed they are. What’s more, Rotorua continues to develop a growing inventory of attractions well-suited to the convention and incentive travel market.
TOP: Sunset, Pohutu Geyser, Rotorua.
ABOVE RIGHT: Sprint car racing at Off Road NZ.
The centrally located Millennium Hotel Rotorua overlooks Lake Rotorua and is adjacent to the famous Polynesian Spa. A four-and-a-half star deluxe property, it has 227 rooms, and meeting facilities for up to 350 theatre-style. The largest room, the Mokoia Room, can seat 160 for a banquet. The hotel also has spa facilities, offering a full range of massage and pamper treatments provided by qualified beauty technicians. Restaurant Nikau has set standards in innovative cuisine with dinner menus that endorse the uniqueness of New Zealand produce. For details telephone (07) 347 1234, email millennium.rotorua@mckhotels.co.nz or visit www.millenniumrotorua.co.nz.
The Novotel Rotorua Lakeside offers commanding views over Lake Rotorua. With 199 rooms, including a stunning penthouse, the hotel is 10 minutes’ walk from the city centre, Energy Event Centre and Rotorua Convention Centre. Features include an indoor spa and fitness centre, restaurant, bar, seven conference rooms (the largest of which can hold 410 theatre-style) and a Maori cultural centre with a nightly hangi and concert show. For more information on the two hotels telephone (07) 346 3888 or visit www.accorhotels.co.nz.
With 135 guest rooms including 90 deluxe rooms and five luxury suites, Rydges Rotorua can cater for up to 350 delegates in five fully-equipped meeting rooms. The award-winning Atrium Restaurant features modern and classic cuisine. Before dinner (or your event) why not relax in the Mezz Bar with a drink overlooking the Atrium Restaurant. For further information telephone 0800 446 187, email reservations_rotorua@rydges.com or visit www.rydges.com.
Just 15 minutes from the city centre, Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay Resort is idyllically set on the shores of Lake Rotoiti. Each of its 44 newly-refurbished rooms and suites are superbly appointed and the hotel has plenty of outdoor activities including a marina with private boat ramp, private beach and a helipad. The hotel offers two meeting rooms which can comfortably accommodate up to 40 delegates each. For more information telephone (07) 362 4599, email res@rotorua.duxton.co.nz or visit www.amorahotels.com/rotorua. />
Overlooking the famous Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and Historic Village, the Heritage Rotorua, formerly the Park Heritage Rotorua, features 203 rooms following a refurbishment in 2004 resulting in the new Whaka Wing with an extra 75 rooms. The hotel has six conference rooms, the largest being the Pohutu Cultural Theatre, capable of holding 300 banquet-style and 500 theatre-style. The stunning room incorporates unique Maori art and designs with state-of-the-art lighting and sound. For more information telephone (07) 348 1189, email reservations@heritagerotorua.co.nz or visit www.heritagehotels.co.nz/rotorua. />
Event Venues Rotorua manages a portfolio of versatile event venues including the Rotorua Convention Centre, the Rotorua Civic Centre, the Southern Trust Sportsdrome, Rotorua International Sports & Events Stadium, Te Runanga Tea House, the Rotorua Sound Shell and the Energy Events Centre. The Rotorua Convention Centre is in the heart of the city, within close proximity to all major hotels, and can hold up to 800 delegates theatre-style. Meanwhile the new Energy Events Centre is open for business and doing extremely well. The Energy Events Centre can hold up to 3000 for a conference. For details telephone (07) 349 5141, email event.venues@rdc.govt.nz or visit www.eventvenues.co.nz.
 
The NZ Riverjet jet boating experience is just one of the activities under the Action New Zealand, Corporate Adventures umbrella. The riverjet activity is based half-way between Rotorua and Taupo on Halcrow Rd. The sleek black boats journey up the Mighty Waikato, where some of New Zealand’s most beautiful and unspoilt native bush can be seen, through the Tutukau Gorge to Orakei Korako, a hidden valley of geothermal springs, caves, boiling mud and steaming cliffs. Participants can explore the natural geothermal park, and have lunch before making the return trip. The jet boats can be hired by groups while Action New Zealand offers a number of daring team-building exercises based out of Rotorua. For more information telephone (07) 350 1533, email team@action-nz.co.nz or visit www.action-nz.co.nz.
Skyline Skyrides is set into the side of Mt Ngongotaha with spectacular views of Rotorua city and its surrounds. This licensed venue can cater for up to 550 delegates at the Cableway Restaurant & Bar. Not only are there breathtaking views from the gondolas but plenty of great team-building style activities including the 5km luge track, the 120kph sky swing, and clay target shooting. For more information telephone (07) 347 0027, email sales@skylinesskyrides.co.nz or visit www.skylineskyrides.co.nz.
Based on the Rotorua lakefront, Volcanic Air Safaris operates a diverse fleet of aircraft including a number of floatplanes and helicopters. In total the company has 29 seats available at any one time in Rotorua. Options include tours over Mt Tarawera, White Island or a helicopter landing at Hell’s Gate. There are also links by floatplane to the Rangitaiki River for jet-boating excursions. For more information telephone (07) 348 4069, email info@volcanicair.co.nz or visit www.volcanicair.co.nz.
The iconic tudor-style Rotorua Museum of Art and History is located in Rotorua’s Government Gardens and tells the story of Rotorua and its surrounds through various permanent and temporary exhibitions. The museum is also used as a venue and can seat 150 for dinner. The venue requires little theming, making it a great off-site dining and entertainment option. For more information telephone (07) 349, 4350, email rotoruamuseum@rdc.govt.nz or visit www.rotoruamuseum.co.nz.
Located in a picturesque rural environment about 10 minutes from the city, the Agrodome is home to a host of activities. There’s Agrojet jetboating, the Swoop which flies at 130kph, Zorb, described as being “the ultimate spherical challenge”, bungy jumping, and Freefall Xtreme, a body flying experience. There’s also a world-famous sheep show and plenty of souvenir shopping, plus a cafe. For more information on this exciting adventure park telephone (07) 357 1050, email marketing@agrodome.co.nz or visit www.agrodome.co.nz.
Te Puia is an excellent introduction to the Maori culture, even for New Zealanders, and also has a bit of geothermal action to check out. Guides share intimate and inspiring stories of the people, the land, arts, and crafts of the Maori culture. For information telephone (07) 348 9047 or visit www.nzmaori.co.nz.
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