The skies are clear for New Zealand's business events sector to soar once again, as MEETINGS 2022 takes place in Christchurch. Photo Credit: Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA)
Ōtautahi Christchurch is playing host to Australasia’s business events
industry as MEETINGS 2022 kicks off 15 June at Te Pae Christchurch
Convention Centre.
MEETINGS
is New Zealand’s only national tradeshow for business events. The
two-day annual event, which connects qualified buyers with exhibitors,
is being held in Christchurch for the first time in 14 years.
Over 100 hosted buyers from Australia arrived in New Zealand over the
weekend and participated in tours of five different regions - Auckland,
Wellington, Marlborough, Queenstown, and host city Christchurch. They
are set to join over 300 New Zealand buyers for pre-scheduled
appointments with exhibitors from 18 regions on 211 different stands.
According to Lisa Hopkins, chief executive of Business Events
Industry Aotearoa, this year's MEETINGS will see a record number of
buyers and exhibitors.
Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) chief executive Lisa Hopkins says MEETINGS 2022 is the "single most important event in the industry’s calendar." Photo Credit: Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA)“This two-day event alone generates millions of dollars of business
for an industry previously worth NZ$1.5 billion (US$940 million) each
year," she says.
In 2019 in New Zealand, prior to the pandemic, the business events
industry was valued at NZ$1.45 billion per annum, with over 3.6 million
attendees both domestic and international, employing 22,000 people.
According to Hopkins, sustainability goals will be top of mind for MEETINGS organisers, exhibitors, and buyers this year.
Megan Crum, head of ChristchurchNZ Business Events says, as host
city, Christchurch is leading the way in sustainability initiatives.
“Christchurch is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and
has a goal of net zero emissions by 2045. The city is walkable making
for a smaller delegate carbon footprint, and transport options include
electric car shares, e-scooters and e-bikes, and electric public buses
to and from the airport. The city’s key venues have sustainability at
their core,” she says.