On Sunday, more than 30 Australian buyers will touch down in New Zealand ahead of a visit to the new Bagshot Row attraction at Hobbiton, the movie set experience from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. Bagshot Row allows visitors to step inside the cozy houses where the Hobbits from the films live – known as Hobbit Holes.
“We really appreciate the opportunity to showcase our piece of Middle-earth and to host buyers in our brand new Bagshot Row interior Hobbit Holes,” said Shayne Forrest, general manager of tourism at the Hobbiton Movie Set.
“These only opened to the public six months ago and the feedback has been incredible, with people blown away with the attention to detail that has brought these spaces to life, we think it’s going to be very popular in the business events and incentive space.”
With a full day famil of Rotorua on Tuesday and a special Matariki dinner celebrating the Māori New Year on Wednesday, MEETINGS 2024 is shaping up to be a multi-faceted experience of New Zealand and its culture.
“MEETINGS is so much more than a two-day trade show,” said Lisa Hopkins, chief executive of Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), the association that owns and delivers MEETINGS.
“It’s going to be a multi-sensory set of experiences that will leave guests with long-lasting memories.
“Our visitors to MEETINGS 2024 can expect a full immersion into Aotearoa New Zealand’s rich culture, and an extremely warm welcome in the heart of the North Island.”
During the trade show, attendees will also have the opportunity to learn more about destinations all over New Zealand through the Tourism New Zealand Knowledge and Destination Hub while other industry insights are scheduled for consumption during lunch breaks.
The team behind MEETINGS are also working towards making the show net carbon neutral again this year.
