Following days of pre-famils, industry professionals are ready to learn all about New Zealand’s MICE sector at CINZ MEETINGS 2015.
Officially kicking off tomorrow in Auckland, the two-day business event will put New Zealand’s high-value industry under the spotlight.
This year, the event will showcase 18 regions and 190 exhibitors to over 600 conference, event and incentive organisers at ASB Showgrounds.
MICE professionals on a pre-famil at Fly fishing and Brunch at Peppers Clearwater in Christchurch.
Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) Chief Executive Sue Sullivan said globally the meetings industry has come of age, and New Zealand is well positioned as a world-class conference, incentive and event destination.
He said it ‘must’ be recognised as an important generator of income for the country.
Great Lake Taupo turned it on for Australian guests.
“Internationally our industry has firmly placed itself at the centre of high-value tourism, as one of the key drivers of the sector’s development.”
Sue Sullivan, Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) Chief Executive
“With plans for a state-of-the-art International Convention Centre for Auckland, and a boutique-style, purpose-built central facility in Christchurch, New Zealand is set to capture its share of this growing market.”
Professionals exploring Queenstown days before the conference.
Convention Delegate Survey results from MBIE for the year to December 2014 show international conference visitors stayed an average of 6.5 nights in New Zealand, spending an estimated $304 per night, double the average spend for all international visitors.
Multi-day conventions generated 895,000 visitor nights in New Zealand with delegates spending an estimated $476 million in 2014. On average each international delegate spent a total of $1,991 in New Zealand.
Australian hosted buyers on a pre-famil at the Transitional Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch
This year MEETINGS has attracted record numbers of international conference and incentive organisers, brought here with support from Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) and Air New Zealand.
They include more than 50 hosted buyers and industry media from the growing markets of China, India, South-East Asia and North America, and 97 from Australia.