TRENZ Unpacked: Why Food Is Becoming One of New Zealand’s Biggest Travel Motivators
Food is no longer just something visitors enjoy while they’re here - it’s increasingly the reason they choose a destination in the first place. In this episode of TRENZ Unpacked, Michelle catches up with Elle Armon-Jones from The Big Foody, who has spent the past 15 years introducing visitors to New Zealand through curated culinary experiences across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and cruise ports around the country. They explore how food tours help visitors understand the deeper story of a destination, why Auckland’s dining scene is having a real moment right now, and what international travellers are increasingly looking for when they book culinary experiences in New Zealand. Elle shares insights into emerging trends in food tourism, the growing demand for hands-on experiences like markets and cooking sessions, and why storytelling and human connection are still the most powerful ingredients in any visitor experience. They also talk about what buyers attending TRENZ should notice about Auckland this year - and why the city deserves more than just a gateway stop on a New Zealand itinerary. Plus, Ellie shares her top Auckland recommendations for delegates with a free evening between appointments. If you’re heading to TRENZ - or simply interested in how food is shaping the future of visitor experiences in New Zealand - this episode is packed with inspiration. ______________________________________________ Powered by https://www.destinatenz.com If you, or someone you work with has a great tourism story to share, and would like to come onto the show, please get in touch! This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support The Tourism Chat Show is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that! 🥰 Today's Guest Elle Armon-Jones - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebigfoody/ For more info on TRENZ: https://www.trenz.co.nz/ Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ Share you thoughts and say hi to us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourismchatshow Michelle Caldwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellekcaldwell/ Website: www.destinatenz.com If you'd like to advertise or feature on the show, please check out our media kit - https://www.destinatenz.com/podcast