Big benefits are set to come to Hamilton Waikato after it was announced the region will host the 2014 Tourism Export Council Conference.

A review of the annual tourism conference format was announced at the Tourism Conference in Masterton in August with the format proposed being shorter, snappier and destination more accessible for tour operators. A survey from the previous year indicated that members enjoyed attending the conference but some of the regions were costly in time and in dollars to access. Traditionally the conference delegates have chosen the next hosted region with alternate North and South Island options but the new format has the Export Council Board making the decision after receiving expressions of interest from different tourism organisations. There were four outstanding bid proposals with all destinations receiving votes and Hamilton winning by majority ahead of Rotorua, Dunedin and Nelson.

Hamilton Waikato Chief Executive Kiri Goulter says the team who put in the joint bid to host the conference are rapt.  “This is fantastic.  It will bring the top New Zealand inbound holiday destination decision makers to Hamilton Waikato and give us and every tour operator in the region a real vehicle to promote the region,” she says. “We have never hosted the Tourism Conference and with new developments at Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton taking off with the last movie released in 2014, the timing couldn’t be better”.

Ms Goulter says being awarded the conference was the culmination of years of hard work by the regional tourism organisation of working closely with inbound operators and educating them about the region. “We can’t underestimate how much value this conference means to us. It is an exciting opportunity to showcase the Hamilton Waikato region and over the coming months we will be calling on other tourism operators in the region to be involved.”

Mrs Immink says that getting tourism operators to different parts of the country is a key part in educating them on the attractions and activities on offer. “Hamilton Waikato has a growing reputation as a visitor destination and we know that Hamilton Waikato Tourism will do a great job in ensuring that delegates from around New Zealand and overseas will see it at its very best.”

The dates for the August 2014 conference will be announced in the next few weeks but likely to be the 3rd week of August.