Tourism New Zealand (TNZ), the country's promotional organisation, is targeting a record $135m worth of international
conferences in a bid to support economic recovery.
The organisation has set itself a target of bidding for 90 international conferences
in the next financial year, after it made 84 successful bids worth $120m this time round.
TNZ chief executive René de Monchy said the business events industry was now in full recovery mode and there were 'good opportunities to attract high
quality events to our shores that will benefit our economy, society, culture,
and environment'.
She said: “Whether its conferences that aim to improve equity for women and girls
in sport, or will grow New Zealand’s sustainable
agri-food-tech sector, business events contribute to our country in many ways,
both tangible and intangible.
“In FY24 Tourism New Zealand will work hard to support New Zealand’s
business events sector to attract business that will also grow knowledge and
collaboration across many of society’s important subjects and industries. This
target is reflective of the recovery of the business events sector and our
aspiration for success in this market, which is New Zealand’s fourth most
valuable.”
The economic value of business events in New Zealand was estimated at $1.48 billion in the year ending June 2019, the most
recent year there is full data for before New Zealand’s border closed.
New Zealand has two new purpose-built convention centres
in Christchurch and Wellington, and another to come in Auckland in 2025.
The number of conference bids has grown consistently year on
year from seven in 2012 to 89 in 2019, before the global COVID pandemic led to
a drop.
Despite New Zealand’s borders being closed, bid activity continued,
building a pipeline of conference business through to 2028.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
