Delegates Discover New Zealand (DDNZ) is a new online booking platform that simplifies travel planning for conference attendees, offering pre-packaged itineraries seamlessly integrated with major conferences, allowing delegates to explore destinations around New Zealand before or after their business commitments.
DDNZ currently offers 10 3D2N regional itineraries. All land transport and rail journeys are included in the packaged deal, except flights. From Auckland, delegates can choose to explore the Bay of Islands or Rotorua, while from Christchurch, they can opt for Kaikoura or Franz Josef Glacier.
“We soft-launched in February this year and started with three itineraries. By the end of July, we aim to have 20 itineraries ready to go from Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington,” Ali Smith, head of product & innovation of DDNZ, and respected veteran in the New Zealand business events industry, told TTGmice at the Meetings 2024 tradeshow in Rotorua last week.
Most of the itineraries are 3D2N, but delegates can also opt for longer itineraries if they have more time. These itineraries were created by Mitchell Corp, a marketing company that represents 500 hotels, and derived from FIT programmes.
“For the time-poor delegate, such as doctors who need to attend conferences as part of their accreditation and choose to fly to New Zealand for it, DDNZ encourages them to stay on to explore the country while saving them research time. DDNZ is part of the conference code so it’s easy to book, and itineraries are specifically designed for these professionals,” Smith elaborated.
Aside from enhancing a delegate’s experience, DDNZ also serves as a revenue-generating tool for PCOs. The tours will also generate tourism dollars during the off-peak season, as the off-peak travel season in New Zealand is mainly supported by business events. Moreover, PCOs will be able to tailor the itineraries to the topic of the conference or association meeting.
“For example, for a fishing conference, PCOs can build itineraries around visiting fishing spots in New Zealand,” Smith elaborated.
Smith shared that DDNZ is currently “live at nine conferences”, and reception from PCOs has been “excellent”, so much so she keeps getting constantly “stopped during the show”.
One of DDNZ’s partners from the get-go is Development West Coast, the regional economic development agency for the West Coast region on South Island.
Development West Coast’s destination and tourism manager, Patrick Dault, told TTGmice: “We don’t have a CVB, so we need to work with companies like DDNZ to connect with conference delegates.”
Prior to Covid, the West Coast received 2.8 million visitors. This year, with the help of DDNZ, Dault is aiming to welcome three million visitors.
He added that DDNZ also helps event organisers “focus on delivering the content of the conference, and finding the right speakers, accommodation, and venues”, and not having to provide recommendations on what to do pre- or post-trip to delegates.
Dault pointed out: “We find that one of the main drivers of conference delegates to New Zealand is because the country is a bucket list destination. DDNZ is how we can fully tap into this market.”
