Delegates outside the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, a popular convention and events space. Photo Credit: ChristchurchNZ Business Events
Christchurch will be hosting seven large conferences from late August
to late September, welcoming more than 2,600 delegates with an
estimated economic impact of over NZ$3 million (US$1.9 million).
These delegates include 1,200 health professionals for three
different conferences – paediatricians, physiotherapists, and
aeromedical specialists – as well as local and international groups of
engineers, and aerospace experts.
In July, Christchurch hosted one of the world's biggest communication
conferences, the International Association for Media and Communication
Research (IAMCR) 2024 Conference, bringing in 1,300 international
delegates from 61 different countries together for five days in the
city, worth an estimated NZ$2.8 million.
Aeromed Conference 2024 will bring 250 air retrieval service
specialists from many parts of the world to Christchurch from 24 to 26
September. In the same week, Christchurch will be hosting New Zealand
Aerospace Summit with 700 delegates representing the New Zealand and
international aerospace industry.
Through the winter period, the ChristchurchNZ Business Events team
has helped to secure 20 large business events with 9,000 delegates from
April to September, valued at NZ$16 million – keeping the city’s
business events industry bustling during off-peak period.
Conferences drive off-peal visitation
Conferences play an important role in driving off-peak visitation,
says Kath Low, ChristchurchNZ’s head of visitor economy. In 2023, 83% of
international delegate arrivals to New Zealand came off-peak, between
March and November, compared to 62% of holidaymakers.
Tourism New Zealand says the business events sector was worth NZ$403
million to the country in 2023. Business events attendees are New
Zealand's fourth largest market by visitor spend, with an average spend
of NZ$426 per day compared to NZ$304 for holidaymakers.
Kath Low, ChristchurchNZ head of visitor economy, says that
conferences have an “incalculable” impact in driving off-peak
visitation: “As well as providing a major boost to the regional economy
and increasing off-peak visitation, it gives locals an opportunity to
participate in world class events, share knowledge with industry leaders
and promote their products and services to a national and international
market.”