Beyond The Track: Business Insights from the 2025 ITM Taupō Super 440
- Bryn Ingham
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
The 2025 ITM Taupō Super 440 once again brought national and international attention to the Taupō District, creating energy across the town and generating significant exposure for local businesses. A recent survey of the Taupō District business community captured a range of insights on the event’s impact, celebrating the successes and identifying practical ways to further increase local benefit in the future.
The majority of businesses rated the event’s influence on the district and community as positive to outstanding. Feedback highlighted the buzz and energy the event brought to town, with many noting the strong organisational delivery and the favourable weather as key enablers. The public transport to and from track was praised, and activations such as the in-town simulator and merchandise tent helped generate excitement beyond the track. Businesses also acknowledged the event’s value in raising the national profile of Taupō, with strong media coverage and promotional exposure positioning the region positively for both domestic and international audiences.
Some sectors thrived, particularly accommodation and hospitality providers who saw strong bookings and repeat stays. In contrast, other sectors experienced more mixed results. Retailers and tourism operators noted that foot traffic during race periods was often lower, and some felt the crossover from racegoers to in-town spend was limited. Compared to the same weekend in 2024, around half of respondents reported little or no change in turnover. Businesses in the hospitality sector were more likely to report an uplift, whereas a smaller group, mainly in retail, experienced decreased trade tied to reduced local visitation during race hours.
Although the event was broadly celebrated, businesses also shared ideas for enhancing its future impact. Many felt that increasing local promotion through signage, banners, and visual town dressing would help raise visibility and build anticipation in the lead-up to the event. Clearer and more proactive messaging to the community could also encourage both locals and visitors to spend time in the town centre throughout the weekend. Some businesses expressed a desire for more opportunities to get involved through themed retail activations, cross-promotional offers, or event-linked packages. There was also strong support for initiatives that keep the town alive after the races conclude, such as entertainment, dining promotions, or evening events that give visitors a reason to stay longer. These suggestions have been shared with event organisers to support continuous improvement and to strengthen the connection between the event and the wider Taupō business community.
Looking Ahead
The ITM Taupō Super 440 continues to be a standout on Taupō’s event calendar, delivering tangible benefits for the community and showcasing the district to a wide audience. With strong foundations already in place, there is clear potential to grow its impact even further by deepening local engagement and building on the momentum created each year.
Amplify would like to thank all businesses who took part in the survey. Your feedback is vital in helping us shape future event planning and advocacy, ensuring the Supercars event continues to deliver meaningful benefits for all corners of the Taupō economy.
You can read the full business survey summary here:
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