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Destination Marlborough and 26 of the region’s tourism representatives and business events partners brought the spirit, flavours and experiences of Marlborough to Auckland last week.
The Marlborough Showcase was held at The Cloud on Wednesday September 2nd for more than 75 travel trade professionals, wholesalers, and business events planners.
The event provided an opportunity for buyers to discover the latest developments, investment and experiences shaping one of New Zealand’s most sought-after destinations for leisure travel, incentives, conferences and corporate events.
From world-renowned wine and culinary experiences to unique venues, luxury accommodation and memorable incentive activities, the showcase highlighted the depth and diversity of Marlborough’s visitor offering and reinforced the region’s growing appeal within the business events sector.
“Marlborough has real momentum, and the market is taking notice,” says Destination Marlborough general manager Tracey Green.
“Marlborough delivers a powerful combination with its extraordinary landscapes, world-class food and wine, authentic people and experiences, and the ability to host world-class business events.”
The response from buyers was a clear signal of Marlborough’s pull in the market.
“This showcase demonstrated how our operators can inspire future itineraries, incentives, conferences and client experiences,” says Tracey.
A highlight of the showcase was the involvement of Marlborough Ambassadors chef Edward Drury, owner of Oak & Ivy, and sommelier Neil Kapadia, owner of Fidelio Café & Wine Bar, who brought the region’s food, wine and hospitality story to life for guests.
Drury created a spectacular food showcase celebrating Marlborough’s diverse food producers, from the Marlborough Sounds to the high-country farms, vineyards, orchards and gardens that contribute to the region’s renowned culinary reputation.
Premium produce from Marlborough Oysters, New Zealand King Salmon, Mills Bay Mussels and Middlehurst Station Lamb sat alongside a carefully selected collection of local breads, olive oils, black garlic, honey, nuts and handcrafted condiments. Guests enjoyed barrel oak-smoked salmon with pickled fennel, gravlax, salmon tartare, miso butter baked mussels, freshly shucked oysters with local accompaniments, and Middlehurst lamb croquettes, all designed to showcase the provenance and quality of Marlborough ingredients.
“My aim was to tell The Marlborough Food Story and give guests a genuine sense of place through the food,” says Edward.
“Marlborough is much more than world-class seafood. It’s the produce from the Sounds, the plains, the valleys and the high country, along with the growers, farmers and artisan producers behind it. We wanted the experience to feel like a piece of the Marlborough landscape and celebrate everything that makes the region unique.”
Complementing the food experience was the presentation of wine from the region by sommelier Neil Kapadia, recognised amongst New Zealand’s Top 30 Sommeliers for 2026.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with people as well as generate leads and interest for Fidelio,” says Neil.
Together, Drury and Kapadia showcased the depth and authenticity of Marlborough’s food and wine offering.
The showcase also highlighted innovation, with attendees engaging with CrowdJoin, an interactive event engagement platform developed by MC and technology entrepreneur Greg Ward. The tool enhanced appointment streams, creative prize draws and networking opportunities throughout the event while demonstrating how technology can elevate delegate and attendee experiences.
The event generated strong engagement between suppliers and buyers, with operators reporting productive conversations leading to new opportunities.
“It was an incredible event and an amazing day connecting with buyers interested in the beautiful Marlborough region,” says Michelle Geale, cluster director of sales, CPG Hotels, representing Edit Hotel Picton.
Destination Marlborough also used the showcase to highlight significant investment and development taking place across the region, including the future opening of The Alfred Hotel, the expansion of the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, and the refurbishment of the iconic Furneaux Lodge.
The Marlborough Showcase forms part of Destination Marlborough’s ongoing commitment to strengthening industry relationships, creating new business opportunities for regional operators and positioning Marlborough as a leading destination for both domestic and international visitors.
