The association made the announcement on Tuesday during its sold-out 2024 conference at The Star Brisbane.
The PCOA conference has only been held in New Zealand once before. In 2025, it will be held at Te Pae Christchurch, the city’s young convention centre, between December 7 and 9.
ChristchurchNZ, Te Pae and Christchurch Airport were all part of the bid to bring the conference to New Zealand’s second largest city.
“Christchurch is in the midst of an exciting time in its history,” said ChristchurchNZ chief executive, Ali Adams.
“It is a brand-new city, with an eye on the future.
“It is also home to Aotearoa New Zealand’s oldest collection of heritage buildings.
“The city is enriched with culture, inspired by our tangata whenua (indigenous people).
“It is a place full of balance, with space to gather, connect with nature and experience many unique attractions.
“Our business events community is a powerhouse, full of support and expertise, and because of its boutique size, our close-knit industry goes above and beyond for our conference organisers and delegates.
“We can’t wait to showcase our conference-ready city to the people who know best — this prestigious group of professional conference organisers, in-house event planners and meeting industry professionals,” she said.
As the association looks forward to its jaunt in New Zealand, PCOA president Barry Neame praised Christchurch’s “dynamic energy and innovative spirit”.
“Returning to New Zealand is always a privilege,” said Neame.
“This decision reflects our dedication to celebrating the PCOA’s commitment to the growth and success of the business events industry in New Zealand and Australia by providing another platform for professional and skill development of practitioners in our industry sector.”
“Te Pae Christchurch is a world-class facility, with spectacular surroundings and the promise to deliver an unforgettable experience for attendees, sponsors and exhibitors alike.
“We look forward to collaborating with our Kiwi friends and the Christchurch community to create a conference that will inspire, connect and strengthen our industry.”
The PCOA bolstered its ties with New Zealand’s business events industry this year, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with New Zealand association Business Events Industry Aotearoa. PCOA also has New Zealand members.
The PCOA’s Brisbane conference this week was the association’s largest annual conference to date, with 550 delegates and 60 exhibitors.
