MEETINGS, New Zealand's national business events trade expo, is set to take place next month. With last year's expo generating more than $50 million in business for New Zealand industry suppliers, this year is expected to be no different.
Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ), who run the annual event, say over 190 exhibitors will be in attendance and ready to do business with more than 500 local and international event organisers.
"The business end of New Zealand's tourism industry is high value with huge growth potential," said CINZ Chief Executive Sue Sullivan. "International convention delegates spend an estimated $350 per night, twice as much as other visitors to New Zealand."
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler added: "International conference and incentive delegates bring significant value to the country with the potential to extend the summer peak season and enhance employment opportunities."
More than two million delegates attended over 36,000 events for around three million delegate days for the year ending March 2016. Multi-day conventions alone were worth $472 million to New Zealand last year, while the average per night delegate spend was up 15 per cent from 2014.
"This can only grow as our value proposition strengthens, and we gear up for major new convention centre and hotel infrastructure to cater for much larger conventions," Sullivan said.