In this episode of The Tourism Chat Show, host Michelle Caldwell interviews Henry Horne from Hobbiton Movie Set and Tours. Celebrating the second episode of 2025, the discussion dives into the transformative journey of Hobbiton from its inception in 2002 to becoming a leading attraction today. Henry shares insights on the importance of trade relationships, the impact of the Tourism Industry event TRENZ, and strategies for launching new tourism products. He also provides valuable advice for smaller operators looking to enhance their trade presence. Listeners are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at Hobbiton's growth, the challenges they faced, and their new offerings, including the premium 'Behind the Scenes Tour.'    00:00 Welcome to the Tourism Chat Show 00:32 Introduction to TRENZ Unpacked 00:55 Interview with Henry Horne from Hobbiton 03:10 The Early Days of Hobbiton 04:28 Building Trade Relationships 11:52 Unexpected Successes and Partnerships 14:34 Strategies for Trade Show Success 18:53 Advice for Smaller Tourism Businesses 21:34 Measuring Success at Trade Shows 24:49 Future of TRENZ and Hobbiton 27:56 New Product Launches at Hobbiton 38:24 Final Thoughts and Farewell   _______________________________________   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: Henry Horne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-horne-17921bb1/  Resources and Links to connect with us: Love the show? You can support us by buying a coffee ☕️ here — https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DestinateNZ 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