Leanne Douglass will be the new in-market contact for Australian event organisers considering Wellington for future events.
Douglass joins Business Events Wellington from the City of Newcastle where she was a business events specialist. She has also worked in retail and corporate travel and visitor economy roles for the likes of Flight Centre Travel Group and Tamworth Regional Council.
“Having someone dedicated to Australia in-market is of strategic importance and reflects our commitment to this market,” said Business Events Wellington manager Irette Ferreira.
Douglass is joining the Business Events Wellington team in Rotorua this week for MEETINGS – wasting no time in meeting the considerable number of Australian buyers at the show. Show organiser Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) is providing a fully hosted experience to around 100 Australian buyers at MEETINGS, with others welcome to attend as day buyers.
Over 1,100 event professionals are expected to gather in Rotorua this week, with a famil of host city Rotorua kicking things off in a big way on Tuesday.
“I’m excited to begin my new role and start developing business opportunities that support the visitor economy and create positive impacts for Wellington,” said Douglass of her new role.
Australia is Wellington’s most important international market for business events and business from Australia is growing for New Zealand’s capital, following the debut of the city’s first purpose-built convention centre, Tākina, in June 2023.
In October, Wellington will host its largest Australian event to date, when the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Annual Scientific Meeting takes place at Tākina with 900 delegates expected.
Business Events Wellington’s former Australian BDM, Tania Barnes, has moved on to a role with Business Events Sydney.
