NEW ZEALAND
International focus
New-build convention centres, increased air capacity, and a marketing focus highlighting regional strengths,
such as agribusiness, high value foods, health science, marine industries and engineering, are combining to
pique worldwide interest in business events in New Zealand, writes Kathy Ombler.
“Australian business event
organisers now consider New
Zealand a domestic destination,”
says Lisa Gardiner, manager
business events and premium,
Tourism New Zealand.
“This, along with favourable
exchange rates and increased
air capacity has led to recent
growth in the Australian market.
“Holding an event in New
Zealand can be as cost effective
as in other locations in Australia.
For eastern seaboard areas
like Victoria, this is especially
the case with recent figures
showing a 47 per cent increase
in business arrivals.”
Conference and Incentives New
Zealand (CINZ) aims to capitalise
on increased trans-Tasman
air capacity and to target
“untapped markets” Adelaide
and Perth, says CINZ Australia
manager, Sharon Auld.
which measures the number of
international association events
held around the world.
“With an increase in direct
air capacity to Auckland and
Christchurch and a 14 per cent
increase in arrivals to year-end
June 2016, we are focusing on
building relationships and shortterm business opportunities with
the PCO, event management and
corporate markets in Australia.
This highlights just how popular
we are as a destination for
business events, says Auckland
Convention Bureau manager
Anna Hayward.
“CINZ, in conjunction with
Air New Zealand, is visiting
Adelaide and Perth in November
to explore what has been a
largely untapped market for
business events,” she adds.
Auckland has moved into the
International Convention and
Congress Association (ICCA)
top 100 City Ranking index,
“There is also a lot of interest
internationally in the new
New Zealand International
Convention Centre (NZICC) and
we are working together on
a number of promising leads.
We’re continuing to see good
growth out of the Australian
market,” she adds.
Auckland hotel development
includes New Zealand’s first
Grand Millennium Hotel,
which opened in September
in what was formerly the
16 Convention & Incentive Marketing, Issue 7, 2016 www.cimmagazine.com
Rendezvous Grand Hotel. The
ASB Waterfront Theatre, a
purpose-built performing art and
convention facility encompassing
a 600-seat theatre, bar, café,
gallery space and meeting
rooms, has also opened in the
city’s Wynyard Quarter.
Business events are tracking well
for Hamilton & Waikato, with
the region now ranked fourth in
terms of national market share
for delegate days, says Hamilton
& Waikato Convention Bureau
manager Amanda Graham.
Major international conferences
are booking to take advantage
of the region’s strengths, for
example Waikato is one of the
country’s most productive farming
regions, along with special off-site
attractions such as the Hobbiton
Movie Set and Waitomo Caves.