Members of the Auckland travel trade were treated to a special screening of the new Elvis movie last week, with the message that it is likely to fuel interest in USA – Memphis in particular.

Chris Ingram, director Australia - New Zealand of Memphis Tourism, says figures show that some 20,000 Australians travelled to the US in May alone, compared with 12,500 Kiwis who have headed to the destination year to date.

‘I think the New Zealand market will take off now and Memphis is well poised to take advantage of that.’

He says a lot of people are looking beyond gateway cities in America and the Baz Luhrmann directed Elvis highlights not only rock ‘n’ roll but also the soul and blues that have come out of Memphis.

‘Although the movie was actually filmed in the Gold Coast, Memphis looms large. Places like Beale Street and Graceland feature strongly.’

The event was sponsored by Memphis Tourism with airline partner Delta Air Lines.

• At the travel trade screening of Elvis late last week… Chris Ingram, Memphis Tourism; Leena Bhikaridas, Rachel Thomas, both Aspire Travel Group
• Kim Mildon, Theresa Brooking and Sue Mist, all Travel Managers Group
• Stephen Tanner, Delta Air Lines; Malcolm MacLeod, First Travel Group
• Natalie Archer, Shelley Edwards, both helloworld St Heliers

Tourism Ireland took the opportunity to incorporate rugby when it launched its Press the Green Button campaign in Auckland early July.

• Megan Singleton, Blogger at Large; Mary Galway, Tourism Ireland
• Dave Nicholson, World Travellers; Sofia Hansson, Tourism Ireland; Allen Bell, Global Travel Network
• Paul Smith, First Travel Group; Brett Simon, Globus
• Chris Paykel, Qatar Airways; Robyn Galloway, Innovative Travel; Brett Simon, Globus family of brands
• Davina Bennetto (second from left) World Journeys; with Sofia Hansson, Darragh Walshe and Alison Metcalfe, all Tourism Ireland
• At the Ireland vs All Blacks rugby test in Auckland, Darragh Walshe, Tourism Ireland; Phil Goad, Corporate Travel Management (CTM)
• Rachel Pedder, Air New Zealand; Louise Sutton, Flight Centre
• Dave Fordyce, House of Travel; Jono Norton, Flight Centre
• Sarah MacLeod, Marriott; Vanessa Traille, Cathay Pacific

The Gold Coast held a successful three-city New Zealand this week. The GC’s message revolved around its reinvigoration the over the past two years, with new attractions and experiences that Kiwi clients have not seen before.

Product and destination updates designed to equip agents with the latest information to sell the Gold Coast came from 11 suppliers: Dreamworld & SkyPoint; The Breakers Absolute Beachfront Apartments; The Star Gold Coast; Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary; Dorsett Gold Coast; Village Roadshow Theme Parks; Gold Coast Watersports; Dreamtime Resorts; Tours & Attractions Group, Aquaduck & Southern Cross Tours; Harbour Town Premium Outlets Gold Coast; Accor; along with hosts Destination Gold Coast.

Each event included a major prize draw for a trip to Gold Coast, with two return airfares provided by airline partner Air New Zealand. The Christchurch winner was Flight Centre broker Ellie van der Leij. Man Nghi Luong of Aspire Travel Group won in Auckland and Kylie Wright of Travel Associates was the winner at the Wellington event.

• Hayley Price, Air New Zealand; Kate Fulton, Destination Gold Coast
• With Shirley Dodt, Aquaduck and Southern Cross Tours (standing) are Mitchell Holland, Sarah Clarke both Holland Clarke and Beatson; Tess Fisher, Ellie van der Leij, both Flight Centre brokers
• Mandy Veale, Tourism and Events Queensland, Adele Barker, Air New Zealand
• Abbie Sander,s Dreamtime Resorts and Jolene John, High Street Lanes
• Julia Bozich, House of Travel; Lisa Walsh from Dreamworld
• Janine Thompson, The Travel Brokers; Megan Pechey, The Star Gold Coast; Neroli Sail, World Travellers
• Dalwyn Sinclair, House of Travel Riccarton; Tiffany Callaghan, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
• Gordon Bayne, Showponi (second from left) with Destinaton Gold Coast’s Rachel Hancock, Patricia O’Callaghan and Kate Fulton
• Amanda Southon, Sarah Hannah, both House of Travel Product with Anthea Vickers, Village Roadshow Theme Parks
• Auckland winner Man Nghi Luong of Aspire Travel

Close to 1,000 members of the incentive, conference and corporate meetings community have been mixing, mingling and doing business at the new Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre this week.

Attendees at MEETINGS 2022 (organised by Business Events Industry Aotearoa) included about 100 delegates from Australia as well as conference and event organisers, suppliers and media from all over New Zealand.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive René de Monchy notes that business events will play a crucial role in tourism’s future. ‘Both conference and incentive delegates are among the highest quality visitors New Zealand can attract.'

This year is the first time in 14 years that the event has been held in Christchurch.

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