Bjoern Spreitzer, general manager of NZ and Business Events, speaking at the recent MEETINGS 2024 trade show. Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand
International conference delegates will play a key role in helping
New Zealand meet its ambitious targets of growing international tourism
by NZ$5 billion (US$3.1 billion) over the next four years – of which 70%
is expected to come from off-peak visitation.
Bjoern Spreitzer, general manager of NZ and Business Events, told
attendees at New Zealand business events trade show MEETINGS 2024:
“Business events will play an important role in growing off-peak
visitation. In 2023, 83% of international delegate arrivals came
off-peak, between March and November, compared to 62% of holidaymakers.”
Spreitzer said that 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.
Tourism New Zealand aims to grow the value of the international conference bids supported by targeting larger, high impact conferences that support the country’s growth sectors.
Spreitzer observed that New Zealand’s business events sector had
bounced back well considering that the country had held a grand total of
10 and five international conferences in 2020 and 2021 respectively,
due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The latest ICCA Country and City Rankings
show the country ranked 43rd in the world in 2023 with 56 eligible
conferences, up from 56th place in 2022 with 28 conferences,” he said.
“And there’s potential for even stronger growth going forward with our three new convention centres
driving more and larger conference business to New Zealand. Combined
with increased air connectivity and new hotel capacity, New Zealand has
the potential to attract even more off-peak and significant events.”