New Zealand will celebrate an inaugural Business Events Week in September spearheaded by Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) and supported by Tourism New Zealand Business Events.
Business Events Week will run from September 18-22, starting in Marlborough, incorporating BEIA’s annual conference, before moving on to Wellington for a policy forum, and Auckland for the Tourism New Zealand Business Events National Awards and workshop events.
International speakers, local experts and sector leaders will join with members of the wider business events industry to present, discuss, and plan strategies for growth and ensure there is a greater understanding of the role business events can play in New Zealand in the future.
Pre-covid, the business events industry was worth NZ$1.48 billion to New Zealand’s economy, supporting 8,200 jobs. Now, as the industry recovers strongly, Tourism New Zealand’s Business Events team will target its highest ever number of international conference bids in the 2024 financial year.
BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins says it will be the first time the industry’s two-day annual conference will be integrated into an expanded event.
“Our business events industry has come of age with investment in world-class infrastructure and the opening of two new convention centres in Christchurch and Wellington, and the soon to open New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland,” Hopkins said.
“Together we are working to ensure New Zealand is recognised on the international stage as a destination for business events that contribute across the four capitals: nature, culture, social and economy.
“Collectively under one strong New Zealand banner, the Business Events Week platform gives us a huge opportunity to exchange experiences and share the latest global thinking with the industry, developing ideas that can help set our destination apart.”
Bjoern Spreitzer, Tourism New Zealand’s general manager NZ & Business Events, said business events are an important part of how they deliver on its strategy to encourage high quality visitors to New Zealand.
“Business Events Week will be a great opportunity to recognise the sector’s successes and build on them for future sustainable growth,” he said.
