People: Our Why, Our Superpower 
Speaker: Andrew Stark, Global Managing Director, Flight Centre

In a world reshaped by digitalisation and the rapid rise of AI, Andrew Stark believes the travel industry's greatest competitive advantage has never been more human. 

As Global Managing Director of FCTG's iconic Flight Centre brand, one of the world's largest travel retailers operating across five countries, Andrew leads a business built on a simple conviction: people don't just book travel, they trust people to help them experience it. 

In this talk, Andrew will share his perspective on the global trends reshaping travel demand, what it means to put people at the centre of every decision, and why the future of travel belongs to those bold enough to double down on human connection.                                                    

Beyond the Bucket List: Solving the Decision Problem
Speaker: Charles Wong, Vice President of Commercial, Traveloka

New Zealand doesn’t have a demand problem; it has a decision problem. In a 2026 travel landscape defined by high structural costs, capacity constraints, and fierce regional competition, "inspiration" is no longer enough to drive growth. 

Data from across Southeast Asia shows that thousands of travelers dream of New Zealand, yet they hesitate at the final click - and in today’s market, hesitation is the silent killer of conversion. In this session, Charles Wong, VP of Commercial at Traveloka, breaks down why the "bucket list" approach is failing and why destinations are hyperfocusing on removing friction from the planning process. 

From creating immediate urgency to navigating digital ecosystems, Charles will reveal how New Zealand operators can move travelers from admiration to action, ensuring New Zealand isn't just a place travelers imagine, but the destination they finally choose.
 

Elevating New Zealand’s Tourism offering to the World
Speaker: Edison Chen, Vice President, Destination Marketing & Strategy Alliances, Trip.com

Aotearoa New Zealand has long inspired travellers, but in the post pandemic market, inspiration alone isn’t enough. 

Edison Chen, VP of Trip.com Group will provide a valuable perspective on how data, contents, distribution, and destination storytelling must align to turn ‘someday’ into ‘book now.’ He will share what they have developed alongside Tourism New Zealand – from seasonal mega sales to converting high intent international audiences, with actionable tactics to help the destination break through the noise - without losing its soul. 

See how the partnership between a global OTA and a national tourism board is built and shaping for destination marketing.

International Media Marketplace Panel Discussion: The Global Lens: What International Media Want from New Zealand
Facilitated by: Kim Grant, Global Media Director, TravMedia
Panelists include Anthony Dennis, Travel Editor, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, Ellie Cobb, Senior Travel Journalist at BBC | Commissioning, Travel & Food Writing, and BBC Travel and Lilit Marcus, Writer and Editor, CNN Travel

Join TravMedia's Global Media Director in conversation with three of the world's most influential travel editors — from the BBC, CNN, and Australia's leading mastheads — as they offer candid, unfiltered perspective on how Aotearoa New Zealand is perceived, experienced, and covered in global media.

Reflecting the TRENZ 2026 theme, Whakapiki — to uplift and elevate, this session focuses on lifting how New Zealand is seen, talked about and chosen in global markets, and what that means in practical terms for New Zealand operators.

This 25‑minute panel cuts through the marketing narrative to explore what the destination truly excels at, where it falls short, and which untold stories deserve a bigger stage. Expect frank insight, practical takeaways, and a rare window into how the world’s leading travel media really thinks about New Zealand.

Shaping demand: shoulder season travel as a growth strategy 
Speaker: Nick Longman, Chief Executive Office, Audley Travel

Audley Travel’s Nick Longman will draw on more than two decades of experience and rich client data, as he explores how demand patterns directly affect visitor satisfaction and long‑term destination value. 

The presentation highlights Audley’s deep roots in New Zealand, the strength of its high-net-worth clients, and the opportunity to shape demand away from peak periods toward spring and autumn, where experiences are calmer, more personal, and deliver higher satisfaction. 

Through real itinerary examples, destination insights, and guest feedback data, it makes a clear case that shoulder season travel is not a compromise - but a growth strategy. The presentation also sets out Audley’s commitment to steering clients toward less travelled regions, supporting locally owned operators, and working collaboratively to deliver a more sustainable, high‑value future for New Zealand tourism.
 

Trust, tech & the shifting luxury traveller 
Speaker: Michael T. Londregan, Senior Vice President, Global Operations, Virtuoso

Global travel is being influenced by geopolitics, technology, and changing traveller expectations. Michael Londregan brings a global perspective to what these shifts mean for New Zealand’s exporters, buyers, and the luxury clients they serve.  

Drawing on Virtuoso insights and international market trends, the session explores how perceptions of value are evolving, where demand is strengthening, and why trust remains central to client decision‑making. 

It also examines how automating the predictable creates more space for insight and personalisation, helping build the trust that shapes luxury client decisions around New Zealand. 

Scaling NZ Through Smarter Distribution
Speaker: Paul Tumpowsky, Chief Revenue Officer, Fora Travel

Fora's rapid growth tells a bigger story about how emerging markets can scale through more sophisticated distribution channels. Australia and other Southeast Asian markets are validating a path forward, and the momentum is extraordinary. 

While larger bookings concentrate among Fora's top-tier X and Pro advisors, the broader advisor base represents an equally important opportunity. Intentional training and product education are proven pathways to converting advisors at every level — from seasoned experts to those newly discovering the business and destinations like New Zealand. 

Markets with higher costs, longer trip lengths, and greater distances require time and strategic investment to develop. For New Zealand, the challenge — and the opportunity — is twofold: deepening relationships with high-performing advisors while also finding efficient ways to reach and inspire a broad and growing entrepreneurial advisor base.

Before They Land: Industry's Role in Carrying the Tiaki Promise 
Speakers: Karl Burrows, General Manager – Pou Ārahi Māori, Tourism New Zealand and Anna Smith, Manager, Intrepid Travel

How do we inspire visitors to care for Aotearoa New Zealand before they even arrive? This session brings together Tourism New Zealand and an inbound tourism operator to look at how the Tiaki Promise shows up across the visitor journey, particularly before people arrive. Drawing on international market insights alongside on-the-ground experience, the speakers will look at how expectations are set through trade channels, and how Tiaki can be carried clearly and consistently through those touchpoints. The session focuses on the practical role industry plays in helping visitors understand their place as manuhiri and kaitiaki, and what it takes to reflect those values in how we present and deliver Aotearoa to the world.