New Zealand’s high-value business events industry is under the spotlight this at CINZ MEETINGS 2015 in Auckland.
The two-day exhibition, showcasing 18 regions and 190 exhibitors to over 600 conference, event and incentive organisers starts today (June 10) at ASB Showgrounds.
Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) Chief Executive Sue Sullivan says globally the meetings industry has come of age, and New Zealand is well positioned as a world-class conference, incentive and event destination.
“Internationally our industry has firmly placed itself at the centre of high-value tourism, as one of the key drivers of the sector’s development. It must be recognised as an important generator of income, employment, investment and knowledge-sharing,” she says.
“With plans for a state-of-the-art International Convention Centre for Auckland, and a boutique-style, purpose-built central facility in Christchurch, New Zealand is set to capture its share of this growing market.”
Convention Delegate Survey results from MBIE for the year to December 2014 show international conference visitors stayed an average of 6.5 nights in New Zealand, spending an estimated $304 per night, double the average spend for all international visitors.
Multi-day conventions generated 895,000 visitor nights in New Zealand with delegates spending an estimated NZD$476 million in 2014. On average each international delegate spent a total of $1,991 in New Zealand.
This year MEETINGS has attracted record numbers of international conference and incentive organisers, brought here with support from Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) and Air New Zealand. They include more than 50 hosted buyers and industry media from the growing markets of China, India, South-East Asia and North America, and 97 from Australia.
Air New Zealand is principal sponsor of MEETINGS 2015, and major sponsors are ASB Showgrounds, Peek Exhibition and Centium Software.