eXplore Show 2025 – Exhibitor Edition – Two and Final
Kia Ora all eXplore Show 2025 Exhibitors – just under 2 weeks to go!
- See links below to Buyer list, the Pre event online briefing material if you missed it, and the Eden Park Stadium Map
Buyers Registered as at today – 245
I am fielding LOADS of Buyer corrections at the moment (New regos and apologies) – I will take registrations/corrections up to and including on the day. All the key companies are coming, all markets covered, a few newbies, and many bringing their reservations team. Latest Buyer List and TECNZ Member link in Useful Links below. TIP: REMEMBER – BUYERS WEAR LANYARDS
VIP’s – every-one who takes the time to attend is important, however we have the following who will need some extra Central North Island ‘Aroha’:
- Lynda Keene – Chief Executive – Tourism Export Council of NZ
- Rene de Monchy – Chief Executive, and Anna Smith – Experience New Zealand Manager from Tourism New Zealand
- Sabine Schamburger Boomerang Reisen GmbH – Traveling from Germany
- SPONSOR – Your Coffee cup will be filled by Maverick Digital this year – the team will be in attendance and connecting with you all!
Suppliers – you will see on the list I have indicated there are a few suppliers attending. They have made a special plea to be able to visit as many of you are their clients already. I have made it very clear to them they are there as your guests and must not restrict or distract you from being able to talk to Buyer delegates.
Exhibitor Programme
Tuesday 29th April – The Business Session, Set up, Operator Function
Tuesday Parking – there are a number of parks within the stadium grounds you can use – see Map below.
1245 Arrival – bring your 2024 banner and stand stuff with you for later. Parking/Gate – will send out a map
1300 Business session gets under way in the Foyer of eXplore. A great lineup of presentations for Exhibitors!
ECNI activity Round Up
ChatGPT – Tourism Industry. An Intro, Impacts and practical uses! Jeremy Suisted & Jamie Moore – Mosaic Partners
Operator Case Study – Gannets Safaris, Hawke’s Bay – Sophie Phillips
1500 Afternoon Tea
Navigating Staff – Employers and Manufacturers Association – Chris Longman
OTA’s – Online Travel Agents – What you need to know – Sophia Byrne – Optimised Consulting
Operator Case Study – Rotorua Canopy Tours – Paul Button
1720 Event Briefing, Show H&S, Buyer Update
1730 Event Hall open for set-up – Any new banners, plants, furniture and power access will be on your stand ready to go. Your name badges, drink tickets and programmes will be on your stand.
1745-1900 Operator Function – Eastern end of the event hall. Rub shoulders and connect with other operators within the Central North Island Group. A drink token and light eats are provided – cash bar thereafter.
Show Day – Wednesday 30th April
Show Day Parking – please DO NOT park in the venue – save these for our guests. Park in the streets around the stadium taking care to leave access for residents to their driveways please – you don’t want to get towed!
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 for participating Exhibitors and Buyers.
7.30 SHARP – Breakfast Session Commences 11 x 10 minutes SCHEDULED appointments. (At Buyer request). Buyer comes to your stand. Runs to 9.30
8.30 – ALL Exhibitors on site please
9am eXplore Show officially opens however we have seen guests arrive from 8.30 previously.
3pm Show Finishes Buyers depart – please plan to be there until 3.30pm with buyers still in the room.
4pm Venue closed to Exhibitors.
Note: Morning traditionally is busier than the afternoon
Breakfast Session: We had 35 Buyers indicate their interest in the breakfast session, with 20 appointment requests (to date) completed. I hope to get a few late ones next week. I will be scheduling the appointments shortly and sending them Wednesday to the Buyers and yourselves. You will all get an individual email from me re your requests. Note that not all of you were requested nor have appointments – buyers were requested to ask for up to 20 operators only. Buyers can catch up with Appointments they don’t get from 9.30am.
A reminder to be courteous to your fellow exhibitors – if you have an appointment be sure to wrap it up on the Bell and dispatch the Buyer to their next appointment in a timely manner – I have allowed 2 minutes to change to the next appointment.
If you do not get appointments, you don’t need to be onsite till 8.30 latest on Tuesday so you can grab a cuppa and be ready to go for 9am. Please be mindful not to distract others who may in meetings.
Your Space
Your space will be ready to go for you on Tuesday – remember – very limited space on your stand (60CM tabletop) so think carefully about what you bring. Power supplied (you may choose to pack a short extension chord). Floor plan and stand number links follows in the show Programme.
Banners
If you have a NEW eXplore Banner for 2025 – These will be at the venue waiting for you.
Bringing yours from 2024? CHECK – it is the 2024 banner with the Coloured top and tail – not the white top and tail from 2023.
Hospitality and Hosting
These buyers are there as your guests and we are all hosts for this event. We have hospitality zones top and tail of the room for Buyers or yourselves to have a break from the conversation or take a call. During morning tea and lunch service please invite the Buyers to join you for refreshments, taking them to the tables at the front or rear of the room – whichever is closest to you.
Hostpo and Dietaries
Food and Coffee is served at both ends of the event hall. There will be a special table for GF and Vegan at reception on show day. Vegetarian food will be included on the main tables. There will be water, fruit and sweets to hand as well as the baristas on tap for the day.
WiFi – This is free for the event. TIP:Download any videos or presentation you may want to use. I will have WiFI loging details on arrival.
eXplore Photo Booth – This is new for 2025 – we have a Green Screen set up at the Eastern end of the room for Buyers to have a photo momento from attending the show – grab some of the buddies from your region and get one too – Please let the buyers go first!
Photographer – I have commissioned a photographer 11am-1pm to capture the event. These will be available to view after the event.
Useful Links
2025 Buyer List – company and names as at 17 April (Download)
Eden Park Map – parking and access (Download)
2025 Event Programme with operator profiles – includes floor plan and exhibitor stand numbers (Download)
2025 Event Briefing Video Here (Quite watchable at 1.25-1.5 speed)
2025 ECNI Slides for Vanessa (eXplore Show) and Michelle (Getting Ready) HERE
A big shout out to the wonderful bunch of Trade Managers at our 8 partner RTO’s who have been working super hard and committed to getting you all to this event – it’s going to be awesome!
As always – please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you need anything or have any questions – happy to help if I can.
Safe travels everyone – see you at Eden Park on the 29th!
Cheers – Vanessa
eXplore Show Coordinator
021 1653 547
[email protected]
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