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Twenty-one senior New Zealand travel trade journeyed to the Marlborough Sounds recently to talk tourism with Marlborough operators.
Destination Marlborough’s annual Big Day Out 2025 was hosted for the first time at Portage Resort in Kenepuru Sound. This provided a uniquely Marlborough backdrop for the inbound tour operators and industry representatives from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to meet with 25 trade ready local tourism operators.
Destination Marlborough acting general manager Tracey Green says she believed it was the first time that the Big Day Out had been held in the Marlborough Sounds.
“The choice for this year’s trade day was strategic by hosting in the Marlborough Sounds. The team at Portage Resort did not disappoint – now under Capstone Hotel Management – they put on a spectacular showcase for our visiting agents showing off newly refurbished rooms, along with outstanding food offerings” she says.
She says the Big Day Out provided operators with a unique opportunity to connect one to one with trade and experience all that was special about Marlborough first hand.
“Agents were encouraged to dig a little deeper when talking to operators at this year’s event. We are fortunate that travel trade can either meet the business owners or senior staff at an event like this and in turn this means our operators can be flexible and fast when responding to the agents’ needs.”
“When we have agents better equipped to sell Marlborough, it drives visitor numbers, increases overnight stays, and supports jobs across the accommodation, hospitality, activity and transport sectors,” she says.
Destination Marlborough trade marketing manager Adelyne Britto says the event took place over three days and included site visits, hosted experiences, and a dedicated trade day with one-on-one appointments between operators and agents to “strengthen existing partnerships and spark new ones”.
“The event offered agents first-hand knowledge and authentic experiences to better sell Marlborough as a destination to their clients. It also reinforced the region’s unique value in New Zealand itineraries,” Adelyne says.
A key strategic event for Destination Marlborough, the Big Day Out remains an iconic event for the region hosted every year in June. While in town, most agents took part in two post-event itinerary options providing an invaluable opportunity to experience first-hand Marlborough’s tourism offering.
Marlborough tourism equates to $440.4M for the year end 2025 and employs more than 2500 people.
