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Winning the bid to host America’s top travel writers
for their annual conference in 2011 is a major coup for New Zealand’s
tourism industry.
Around 350 travel media from the Society
of American Travel Writers will spend a week or more in New
Zealand in November 2011, with coverage expected to reach
millions.
"This represents an enormous strategic
opportunity for New Zealand. With this event due to take place
immediately after the 2011 Rugby World Cup, it will see the
momentum continue in what is already expected to be a huge year
for New Zealand’s international profile," said Associate Minister of
Tourism Dr Jonathan Coleman.
"To win this
bid against competition from other countries is a credit to the
tourism experiences we offer and the strength of New Zealand as a
destination."
The bid to host the conference was a
joint-bid between Tourism New Zealand, Air New Zealand and
Positively Wellington Tourism, with support from Conventions and
Incentives New Zealand.
New Zealand won the bid because of
the range and variety of story angles on offer to writers, as well
as the country’s ability to hold a well-organised and appealing
convention. The selection panel also commended the strong
relationship between Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand.
"Many of these delegates will take time while they are here to
write about New Zealand as well as to attend the meetings. This is
a fantastic opportunity to raise New Zealand’s profile in the US
travel media."
Wellington will host the main convention
programme, with meetings scheduled over five days. However,
convention delegates will have the opportunity to participate in
pre and post-convention tours in various parts of the country. A
Board of Directors Meeting will also be held at Sky City in
Auckland.
It is expected that writers from across the US
and Canada will attend, representing publications potentially
including National Geographic Traveller, the New York Times, Los
Angeles Times, Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveller, Elite
Traveller and the New Yorker, as well as various travel guides and
news websites.
The last time the convention was held
outside the US was in Chile in 2006. Media coverage of Chile
following the event was seen by around 21.5 million readers.
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