GNZTR - Great New Zealand Touring Route

eXplore Show 2025 – Exhibitor Edition – ONE

Kia Ora all eXplore Show 2025 Exhibitors!

Hey Auckland – here we come! In this edition:

• Buyers
• Show Stuff
• Video
• Event Programme – NEW for 2025 – Exhibitor Business Session
• To Do List
• Operator online Briefing
• FAQ’s

Thank you for your eXplore Show registration to exhibit with your RTO and Explore Central North Island. Welcome new exhibitors, and welcome back to our many returnees. With over  100 exhibitors, it again delivers a super message to trade that we mean business and will bring the Grand Hall at Eden Park alive! April will be upon us soon so it’s time to start thinking about what is ahead and continue your preparations. 

Buyers

Who is invited?  We have sent out two calls for Buyer registrations, and will chase further registrations between now and April 29th.
We already have over  200 Buyers registered from 71 different companies – and some quality signups offering you excellent connections. I also have secured event stories in Trade publications.  On the invite list includes ‘Inbounds’ from across NZ, i-SITE staff in upper North Island, Tourism NZ Staff from the trade, media, online, International Media Programme teams, as well as Tourism Industry media.  I have also been actively targeting Buyers we know are coming for TRENZ the following week. ECNI has been successful to secure a few who will go on to famil in the regions enroute to Rotorua. So far – so good for registrations, but the pressure remains on to maximise this event for you with a great buyer turnout – this is a key focus for me from now to the show!

Exhibitors – What can you do to help?  If you have Travel Buyers or trade you’re already working with that you would like to invite along, please do invite ! Here’s the Buyer Registration Link.   What a great excuse to reach out to your key business partners (buyers) ‘hey – we are in Auckland at the eXplore Show – we’d love to see you, come and say Hi!’ Note – they must register to attend. 

Show Stuff:

Programme: We have commenced construction of the booklet and will print in early April for the event. FYI – this is based on the information you supplied on registration and any amendments you have directly advised since.  Floor plan will be constructed with

Show Banners for your stand:  If you are bringing your 2024 banners – if you haven’t already – PLEASE GO AND CHECK THEM NOW. Where is your banner – is it in good repair – will it look awesome at the event, or does it need refreshing or updating? Reach out now to Vanessa if you have concluded you need new content or banner entirely so we can get you sorted.

If you are getting ‘new’ banner, or ‘reskinning’ your banner you should have heard from me by now re your content and in most cases these are now underway or complete.  These new or reskinned banners will be at the venue in April on arrival. After the show – please take the banners home with you to use again. You own these banners and can do with them what you wish. These can be ‘reskinned’ should you want to change out the banner making them ‘reusable’, and we are looking at being able to reuse them eXplore Show 2026.

TO DO: Big Screen Video. Supply by end business Friday 4TH APRIL. As per the prospectus – you are able to submit a 30 second video for the 2 big screens I have hired at the venue and the reception TV.   Each 30 sec submission will get over 10 plays over the course of the event. Note: there is NO audio. Videos with people talking to camera won’t work – it’s all about the pictures moving or graphics, so ask yourself, will my video still get my message over with no audio?  No video – no panic! You don’t have to miss out. You can easily make a 30 second slideshow video of your product photos and logo yourself using Power Point or Canva at no cost.  See the link below to the 2024 Videos, check out: 65 Private Tours Loop it’s a good example!  There is some great ‘How Too’ instructions to be found online and remember less is more (recommend no more than 17 slides) ! If you are really struggling (and even the tech savvy kids can’t help over the school holidays) – give me an email I may be able to assist.

Do you want to check or use last years video again?  – Find your 2024 video here  (view only – use ‘search feature’ to find your video), check it and email me:’Video REPEAT’ and your business name.

Your Video Delivery or Confirmation Deadline – FRIDAY 4TH APRIL

A strict cut-off applies for these videos so no late submissions accepted as it goes into production for checking and looping.  Please supply a standard 15- 30 second 16:9 aspect video file– just like the telly at home  – preferably a MP4 file.  Send it to me as you can via any file sharing source – drop box / google drive / wetransfer.com etc.  I will confirm receipt – if you don’t hear from me within 24 hours of sending  – CHECK in case it got lost!   Send to me: [email protected].

 

Exhibitor Programme – add to your Diary

Tuesday 29th April

12.45 – Arrive at Eden Park (Bring your banners and marketing material with you at this time)  Parking details etc to come.

1.00- 5.15 pm Exhibitor Business Session Starts (Afternoon tea will be served around 3)

• Chat GP and AI – Mosaic Swift will run an ‘Intro to Impacts’ 90 min session with a tourism lens – what can it mean for your business and practical applications
• ECNI UPDATE – what have we been doing in the international trade marketing space in the last year to bring more visitors to the Central North Island
• Navigating Staff – top HR tips for small business and when to call ‘HELP!’ Presented by the Employers and Manufacturers Association
• Zero to Hero – a couple of exhibitors tell their growth stories – the wipe-outs and the wins along the way
• OTA’s (Online Travel Agents) – The Good, the Bad, the Ugly – what do you need to know!  Presented by Sophie Byrne (Formerly of Get Your Guide)

5.20 – 5.30 pm Exhibitor and Venue Briefing  PLEASE BE SURE TO ATTEND
This short meeting will go through the mechanics of the Breakfast Session, the eXplore Show, and health and safety of the venue and a Team Photo. No briefing is given Wednesday morning.

5.30-5.45 pm Exhibitor Event Access
You have access to the event floor to view your stand and drop any small items you might need for the following day. Your name badges, drink tickets and programmes will be on your stand.

5.45-7.00pm Exhibitor Networking Function – venue foyer – Eden Park
This is a great opportunity to rub shoulders and connect with other operators from your region and within the Central North Island Group. A drink token and light eats are provided – cash bar thereafter. 

Show Day – Wednesday 30^th April
The venue will be open from 7.00am.
7am – Barista(s) commence their Caffeine magic for Exhibitors (both in the foyer and at the top end of the show space) and registration open for Buyers for the Breakfast Session.
7.10 – Working Breakfast available.
7.30 – 9.30 Breakfast Session  11 x 10 minutes SCHEDULED appointments. (At Buyer request)
9am eXplore Show officially opens however we have seen guests arrive from 8.30 previously.
3pm Show Finishes Buyers and Exhibitors depart – please plan to be there until 3.30pm. We request exhibitors to refrain from packing up and depart with buyers still in the room.
4pm Venue closed to all.

Other Stuff…

Breakfast Session: Now that all exhibitors are confirmed I will seek Buyers request for their top 15-20 Exhibitors and will set about scheduling their 11 x 10 min appointments for the Breakfast Session. From experience I expect there may be some operators (either because they are very new to trade or because are regulars in the trade space) may get few if any scheduled requests.  Your Breakfast Session schedule will be confirmed by Thursday 24th April to allow you some time to do some prep for your meeting.

Online eXplore Show Briefing, Q & A , Working with Trade Friday 4th April  9-10.15am:  I will start with a 15 min event briefing as well as a Q&A – I can guarantee if you want to know the answer there will be others seeking the same so all questions are welcome! We will also include getting ready and working with Trade tips – I will send out a calendar event with Teams link for this in the coming days. If you can’t make it – no panic – I will add recording link in a future Exhibitor Information newsletter for you to catchup.

Your Exhibit Space: It’s about 1.5 M square and small. Consists of your banner (your 2024 banner you will bring, or your new banner we have developed for you), a green plant, a power source shared with the next booth, bar leaner and two stools/chairs. No other banners, props or furniture are needed.

What to Bring: Your laptop (or SMALL monitor) if you want to have a slide show or presentation at the ready to share with buyers, your trade rate sheet,  and perhaps a brochure if you have some.  You don’t have a lot of space on the table – so bear that in mind when considering items to have to hand.  You are able to stash handbags behind your banner. You may also want to bring a ‘keep cup’ and water bottle.

Want to register another delegate?  WAIT! Space is limited so MAX 2 people on your stand from your company at any one time please, otherwise you crowd the neighbors.  Additional delegate fee of $120+gst per person applies, and you will be invoiced after the event for this. I will reach out to you just prior to the event to check your delegates – PLEASE advise then.

First Time at a Trade Event? If this is your first time representing your company at a Trade event or want to brush up on your trade knowledge a little, there is some very useful information and tips about working with trade on the Tourism Export Council Website – The video is great!! More Info on working with Trade.  Also look up their ‘Members section for profiles on some of the buyers who will be attending or who you should be working with.   Be sure to prepare any presentation tools or information you want to share for the day,  and practice your ‘elevator sales pitch’!

Serving of Food/Beverages – If you wish to bring to share food or beverages other than a sweet treat on your stand this is not always possible due to the catering contractor and restrictions of Health and Safety.  Please contact Vanessa to check as we need to authorise with the venue.

Invoicing for the Show. Invoices will be out to most of you shortly direct from YOUR RTO, and may include additional RTO activation costs. Your RTO will have already been talking to you about this if it applies. Your payment is required prior to exhibiting and is due before March 20^th.  This invoice will include any banner costs. Additional delegate costs will be invoiced after the event.

Couriers – If you wish to send items or deliveries direct to the venue – contact Vanessa.

USEFUL LINKS:
See HERE who else is exhibiting at eXplore to showcase the Central North Island
eXplore Show 2025 Exhibitor Prospectus
Buyer Registration

TO DO LIST – HOW MANY CAN YOU TICK?

* Put the event (with deadlines and online briefing) into your calendar!
* Check your existing 2024 Banner if you are returning again this year.
* Finalise your new or reskin banner (we are almost there – a few stragglers – please send your images ASAP)
* Send or confirm your 30 sec Video to me (Vanessa) – Deadline April 4th – information follows.
* Book your accommodation
* Complete your Trade Rate Sheet – at least for summer 26/26, and to May 2027 if you can.
* Plan and prepare any presentation material

IMPORTANT DATES: