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TRENZ SELLER CRITERIA 2027

The continued success of TRENZ is driven by the quality and engagement of all participants. To maintain this standard, clear criteria apply to all sellers.

Sellers at TRENZ are organisations that are delivering exceptional customer experiences in the New Zealand tourism industry. They are distinguished by their commitment to safety, authenticity, and sustainability, along with a solid reputation and professional practices. This includes:

  • Exceptional customer service: Providing outstanding, personalised service and support, ensuring a positive and memorable experience for all customers.
  • Exceptional customer experiences: Offering high-quality products and services at all times.
  • A high standard: Adhering to rigorous safety protocols and legal regulations to ensure the well-being of customers and staff (e.g. Qualmark, Adventure Activities Certification, Civil Aviation Authority Certification, Maritime New Zealand Certification).
  • Authentic and unique experiences: Offering genuine and distinctive experiences that showcase the unique aspects of New Zealand’s culture, environment, and attractions.
  • Positive reviews and reputation: Maintaining a strong reputation in the industry, supported by positive customer reviews and feedback.
  • Sustainable practices: Having a focus on regenerative tourism, incorporating environmentally and socially responsible practices into their operations, and promoting the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and cultural resources.
  • Professional and reliable: Demonstrating high levels of professionalism, reliability, and consistency in delivering their products or services.
  • Innovative: Continuously seeking to improve and innovate their products or services, staying ahead of industry trends and customer expectations.
  • Supporting local communities: Engaging with and supporting local communities, contributing to the economic and social well-being of the regions they operate in.
  •  International trade ready: currently working with or prepared to work with trade and the requirements of this sector, as detailed below.

Selection process

The TRENZ selection panel assesses applications against the criteria. Meeting the criteria does not guarantee acceptance as demand for participation may exceed availability.

Selection criteria

To be accepted as a TRENZ seller, applicants must meet the following selection criteria:

  • be a New Zealand-registered company and pay applicable taxes in New Zealand
  • sell an international trade-ready tourism product
  • offer commissionable products and provide buyers with confirmed gross/rack rates for at least 18 months after TRENZ. The industry expectation is a minimum 20% commission, supported by a structured commission plan aligned with the standard distribution chain.
  • hold all current and appropriate operating licences required for the business, such as Adventure Activity Operator Registration, Passenger Service Licence, or Department of Conservation concessions
  • maintain current, up-to-date health and safety plans
  • hold current public liability insurance
  • have a strong safety record and not be under investigation by any New Zealand or international statutory body, such as ACC, New Zealand Police, the Health and Disability Commission, Inland Revenue, Immigration New Zealand, or WorkSafe
  • have no outstanding debts with Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) or the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust
  •  be in a stable financial position.

Sellers are encouraged to hold Qualmark Accreditation, which gives buyers confidence that their product is a trusted and sustainable tourism experience. For more information, including how to apply, visit www.qualmark.co.nz.

Seller rates

To attend TRENZ at the TIA member rate, the seller and all represented products must be TIA members. Parent companies must adhere to seller criteria and normal TIA member/non-member rates apply. All subsidiaries of the parent company must be TIA members to receive the member rate.

International market ready tourism product

Products should meet high service standards for international visitors. The selection panel will consider whether there is:

  • clearly identified target international visitor markets
  • an understanding of international visitors’ needs and expectations
  • pricing set for at least 18 months, with a clear understanding of net rates and commission structures
  • a high standard of service that meets the expectations of international visitors, including trained staff, strong safety standards, sound operational and crisis plans, and visitor experiences that encourage learning and engagement
  • booking systems that make it easy for international markets to book
  • confidence that the product meets the requirements of wholesalers and inbound tour operators
  • evidence that the product is well established in the domestic market (where relevant).

Additional criteria

New sellers

To qualify as a new seller, the seller must be international market ready and have not attended any previous TRENZ trade events.

Organisations that are not yet operational may be considered for TRENZ attendance if they are scheduled to become fully operational within 12–18 months of the TRENZ event date.

New products

Established sellers may apply to showcase new products at TRENZ, such as a new tour option or a significant investment or renovation. The selection panel will review all new product applications, and applicants will be notified of the outcome.

To qualify to showcase a new product, this product needs to:

  • have launched since 1 May 2026
  • not have been promoted at a TRENZ event previously
  • be an international market ready product.

A new product may include a significant refurbishment, upgrade, or addition to an existing product, provided the selection panel considers the change substantial. Evidence of the upgrade’s scope may be requested. Repackaged existing products, name changes, new ownership, or private versions of current products do not qualify as new products.

If a product is still under development and scheduled to launch in the coming year, applicants may be asked to provide:

  • references from their Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO)
  • information such as the launch or planned launch date, the product’s rationale or point of difference, marketing plan details, expected visitor numbers.

Applicants are required to detail if they are a new seller or a new product at the time of registration.

Operators that meet the luxury operator criteria may apply to be highlighted as a luxury operator.

Luxury operators deliver premium experiences for high-net-worth travellers. To qualify, they must:

  • provide bespoke, exclusive, and exceptionally high-quality experiences
  • prioritise personalised service, privacy, and meticulous attention to detail
  • consistently exceed expectations and create once-in-a-lifetime experiences
  • set pricing that reflects the rarity, exclusivity, and premium quality of their offering
  • operate as a luxury business overall, rather than offering only selected luxury products.

Luxury operators are encouraged to hold Qualmark Gold Accreditation. Accommodation providers are encouraged to hold a Qualmark 5-star rating or higher.

The selection panel will assess each application and decide whether the operator meets the threshold to be highlighted as a luxury operator. Previous recognition as a luxury operator at TRENZ does not automatically qualify an operator for this status in a future year.

Applicants must indicate at registration if they wish to be considered as a luxury operator.

A marketing cluster or marketing organisation is a company that represents and markets one or more New Zealand tourism operators and/or products internationally but does not contract product directly.

In addition to all represented operators/products meeting the TRENZ seller criteria, the marketing cluster or marketing organisation also needs to:

  • formally represent at least two international market-ready operators/products
  • represent operators/products that are not already represented at TRENZ independently
  • show a history of other international marketing initiatives
  • not be directly contracting rates with buyers. You will only be recognised as a marketing cluster or marketing organisation if you are not directly contracting rates with buyers and only acting to provide promotion. If you are contracting directly with buyers, normal seller criteria and rates apply.

A full list of all operators/products being represented must be provided at the time of registration.

Rates

  • To attend TRENZ at the TIA member rate, the marketing cluster or marketing organisation must be a TIA member in its own right, and all represented operators/products must also be TIA members.
  • If one or more represented products is not a TIA member, the marketing cluster will be invoiced at the non-member rate. Additional discounts may apply.

 

Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) and Economic Development Agencies (EDAs)

To attend TRENZ in this product category, RTOs and EDAs must be officially recognised by their peak bodies, Regional Tourism New Zealand and EDNZ, and be TIA members.

These organisations must:

  • showcase at least five market-ready products
  • represent international trade-ready tourism products that are commissionable and have confirmed rates for at least 18 months after TRENZ
  • represent the region or association group, rather than individual products
  • demonstrate a history of international marketing initiatives.

Other regional groupings

Other regional groupings, including District Tourism Organisations (DTOs), Māori Regional Tourism Organisations (MRTOs) and Major Regional Initiatives (MRIs) – may be considered for attendance with an appointment schedule.

Regional groupings should outline in their biography, a full list of the products they will be representing at TRENZ.

To participate in TRENZ at the TIA member rate, the regional grouping must be a TIA member in its own right, and all represented organisations must also be TIA members, otherwise the non-member rate will apply.

Terms and conditions

Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust, as the organiser of TRENZ, may approve or decline applications in accordance with the TRENZ terms and conditions.

View full event terms and conditions.

Contact us

Please email info@trenz.co.nz with any questions on attending TRENZ or the seller criteria.