NZ TO RIVAL AUSTRALIA FOR EVENTS
NEW ZEALAND is gearing up to aggressively compete with Australia for future events, with several developments and initiatives underway.
Speaking at Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) MEETINGS in June, chief executive Sue Sullivan said this year’s show involved a strong contingent of overseas buyers and media.
“They were very interested in New Zealand’s growing potential for large events, as well as bespoke incentive travel,” Sullivan said.
The NZICC will be situated in the heart of Auckland city and is five times larger than the current largest convention facilities in NZ.
Featuring 24 meeting rooms, the NZICC will have the capability to host conferences of over 3,100 people, and one-off events for up to 4,000 people. When open, the NZICC is expected to attract 33,000 new international visitors, generate 101,000 additional visitor nights and $90 million in economic benefits to New Zealand annually.
“We’re taking New Zealand to the market for that larger end convention, the ones that don’t presently come here”, said group general manager NZICC development and tourism Simon Jamieson.
“Infrastructure is also key to our success and our future growth,” said Sullivan.
Updating the industry on developments in the sector, she revealed that Queenstown’s revised conference centre at Remarkable Park is expected to open in 2018, while Wellington is also in the final stages of signing off on a combined convention centre and movie museum site set to open in 2019.
Construction on the new Christchurch Convention Centre accommodating up to 1,500 guests is also earmarked for completion in 2019.
We are committed to further growing incentive and convention travel, and to ensuring that all of NZ benefits...’ shares in the
“With the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland and this premium boutique centre in Christchurch we can now compete on the world stage, challenging Australia and South East Asia for high-value convention business,” said Sullivan.
Furthermore, Air New Zealand announced their new partnership with the New Zealand Convention Bureau to enable convention bureaux across the country to work with the airline and boost conference business to regional NZ centres.
Air New Zealand will invest over NZD$100,000 to regional convention bureaux in 2016, that will allow them to invite key decision makers to their regions for site inspections and explore event hosting opportunities. “We are committed to further growing incentive and convention travel, and to ensuring that all of New Zealand shares in the benefits this growth brings”, commente Air New Zealand regional general manager for distribution and corporate, Leanne Geraghty at CINZ MEETINGS.
Additionally, facilities targeting conference groups such as the new Vector Wero Whitewater Park in South Auckland, and most recently news that Tourism New Zealand is on the hunt for a Business Events Bid Manager in Sydney, are key to New Zealand’s strategy to acquiring larger events.
“We can offer the whole package, with great venues, exciting activities, unique culture, service, food and wine,” said Sullivan.