New Zealand’s first Business Events Week launches today with the Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) Annual Conference in Marlborough, followed by policy and business forums in Wellington and Auckland.
Spearheaded by BEIA, New Zealand Business Events Week has been developed as a platform to elevate the importance of the sector to New Zealand and includes five days of meetings, forums, seminars and awards attended by over 300 industry delegates.
Among the keynote conference speakers are Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), and strategic expert and former CEO of ICCA Martin Sirk.
BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins says business events are proving an economic powerhouse for New Zealand.
“The global business events industry, which is valued at US$1.6 trillion, is now in full recovery mode and New Zealand is set to attract high quality events to our shores that will benefit our economy, society, culture, and environment,” she said.
“Our industry has come of age with new world-class infrastructure including two new conventions centres, Te Pae Christchurch and Tākina Wellington, and the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland set to open in 2025.”
Business events is currently Tourism New Zealand’s fourth most valuable visitor market after Australia, the US, and the UK.
“Recent investment in new infrastructure has ensured New Zealand has a world-class business events offering,” said Tourism New Zealand chief executive René de Monchy.
“This is a great time for the business events sector to work together and achieve sustainable business events growth that will support New Zealand’s economy.”
