Influential American travel writers set to share their NZ experiences

The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) will hold their annual convention in Wellington 7-12 November, where around 450 North American travel writers, PR professionals and associates, and their partners, will experience attractions and activities around New Zealand.

The convention is supported jointly by Positively Wellington Tourism, Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand.

SATW's board meeting will also be held at Sky City in Auckland before the Wellington convention, and will prove another opportunity for board members to experience tourism activities around Auckland.

Tourism New Zealand General Manager Brand & International PR Catherine Bates welcomes this opportunity to showcase the New Zealand holiday experience to one of its key markets.

"North America is a key visitor market for New Zealand and this is a great way to share our holiday experience with potential visitors. Delegates will travel the length and breadth of the country through pre and post tours, and will be writing about their experiences in a huge variety of publications across the US and Canada.

The tours have been carefully tailored to show the fun and accessible nature of New Zealand's tourism offering, and we're confident that these writers will produce many positive stories that appeal to our target audience."

The writers will be exposed to day tours in Wellington including boutique beer tasting and Middle Earth filming locations.

Positively Wellington Tourism Chief Executive David Perks said the convention is perfectly timed for boosting the 'coolest little capital in the world's' profile in North America and beyond.

"Wellington and New Zealand are very much on the world's radar courtesy of Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2011, Rugby World Cup and filming of The Hobbit. The release of The Hobbit will see that interest peak later next year, particularly in America, so we're not only telling Wellington's stories now, we're setting a platform and establishing relationships on which we can continue to build and leverage."

24 different pre and post tours are on offer around the rest of New Zealand, including activities such as hiking and cycling in Tongariro and a sightseeing journey around the lakes, mountains and glaciers of the South Island.

Society of American Travel Writers is a significant professional association which represents about 1200 professional journalists, photographers, and media relations professionals and associates in North America.