This year’s iteration of the event – now in its 28th year – is to be the largest to date, with 246 stands and 205 exhibitors. There are 36 new exhibitors this year.
The new education sessions will take place during lunch breaks, with day buyers who register before the end of the month getting priority.
Topics to be covered include risk, CSR, storytelling as a marketing tool, securing funding and cultural authenticity, all in an event context. Each session will run for 50 minutes.
“We are packing in the benefits for hosted buyers and day buyers to ensure they take as much away from this experience as possible. Anyone who organises, researches, or makes decisions on any type of business event in New Zealand – conferences, meetings, product launches, incentives, roadshows can’t afford to miss MEETINGS,” said MEETINGS event manager, Chris Peak.
With 100 Australian buyers expected to attend MEETINGS, the Tourism New Zealand Knowledge and Destination Hub will provide insights into destinations around the country, as well as offering insight into overseas markets, the latter of which will be particularly valuable to New Zealand buyers at the show. The Tourism New Zealand sessions will be greater in number and shorter in duration, with 23 presentations running for 15 minutes each throughout the show.
On the education flipside, MEETINGS will also provide real world event experience to more than 100 students studying hospitality, event management and tourism in Rotorua. Students will visit the show floor when it’s in action, assist the MEETINGS organising team and attend sessions which will develop their understanding of the business events industry and career pathways into the sector that they can follow.
