Officials scout alternatives for Trenz site

The main venue for Trenz, New Zealand's largest tourism industry event is now a guessing game after a pencil booking for Coronet Peak's base building was cancelled.

NZSki chief executive James Coddington said the news was broken to him at a brief meeting with Tourism Association chief executive Tim Cossar yesterday.

"We have been told Coronet Peak will not be the venue for (Trenz)," he said.

"We're disappointed, but philosophical about it and we'll live with Mr Cossar's decision."

At this year's conference in Auckland last week, the association announced Trenz 2011 would be held in May in Queenstown.

The association's communications manager Ann-Marie Johnson yesterday said venues would be announced later, but next year's conference would change to suit Queenstown.

"The whole event will be a different format because of the availability of venues in Queenstown. We're exploring the options with some of the venues and we've got 12 months to come up with something fabulous so it'll be a matter of working with Southern Lakes venues and operators to see what we can come up with," she said. Mr Cossar had a site tour of Lakes Leisure events centre on Tuesday.

Lakes Leisure events manager JD Marrable yesterday said the centre was set up to cope with large conferences.

"Mr Cossar was very impressed with the facilities, but was in no position to say that one of the Lakes Leisure venues would be used for Trenz," he said.

Trenz has been held at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland for the past two years. In 2008 and 2007 the event was held at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua. Both venues were also supplemented by smaller venues in the host cities.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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