The largest international tourism trade event will be hosted in the Bay of Plenty in 2015.

TRENZ will be at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre in May and will focus on showcasing the best of what New Zealand has to offer to domestic and international buyers.

Rhys Arrowsmith meeting with Prime Minister John Key.

Associate Tourism Minister and Rotorua MP Todd McClay met with Bay of Plenty vendors at the annual TRENZ industry showcase in Auckland yesterday to try and drum up support for the event.

'It was great to be able to meet with vendors who'd travelled from the across the wider Bay of Plenty to showcase our district at the country's largest annual international business event,” says Todd.

'I had a chance to sit down with Tourism Bay of Plenty as well as the Famously Rotorua crew, Volcanic Air and many other local and national tourism industry representatives.”

Todd says TRENZ is New Zealand's largest tourism trade show with more than 1000 people from around the globe attending.

'During TRENZ, exhibitors and buyers connect over targeted 15-minute business-focused appointments. Approximately 250 buyers are at TRENZ 2014 including buyers from New Zealand's major and emerging visitor markets.”

The last event was in Rotorua in 2008.

'Since 2008 the Government has invested an unprecedented $600 million in tourism and promotion.

'Tourism is worth half a billion dollars to the local economy with visitors being directly responsible for the creation of local jobs,” says Todd.

'I'll continue to work closely with local tourism operators and representatives to enhance our attractiveness as a tourist destination.”

Tourism BOP general manager Rhys Arrowsmith is delighted Rotorua will host the next event.

'I'm very much looking forward to working collectively with the other Central North Island regions to produce an unforgettable event for 2015.”

'This year's event attracted almost 300 international buyers and media, and the economic boost will be significant for the Central North Island with the influx of visitors who will be attending, staying and playing in one of New Zealand's most popular tourism destinations.”