The New Zealand launch for HeadBox is centred on Auckland, with 120 venues already signed up to the platform including the just-opened New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), the Viaduct Events Centre and the luxurious Hotel Britomart.
“New Zealand is a key part of HeadBox’s APAC expansion, following its successful scaling across Australia and its launch into the US earlier this year,” said HeadBox’s CEO for Australia and New Zealand, Ali Lord.
“We are a trailblazing events platform for the AI generation backed by a highly experienced team of event professionals.”
Over recent years, HeadBox has been amping up its tech and AI capabilities, with Lord asserting AI can do much of the work for event planners.
“But AI needs to be thought of as a tool to add to your toolbox, not a replacement for the person using the tools. It won’t replace the human expertise of negotiations, creativity and relationships.
“Many of the first roles to be cut during periods of change are in marketing and events, yet the work still needs to be done. Companies are increasingly leaning on HeadBox to fill those gaps, with the platform acting as an extension of their own team.”
Alongside venue-finding services, HeadBox also offers end-to-end event management services for corporate clients. The expansion into New Zealand was partly driven by demand from multinational clients already using HeadBox, says Lord, with six of those large corporates already signed up to host events in New Zealand managed by HeadBox.
HeadBox’s presence in New Zealand will be expanded further, with Wellington and Christchurch the next cities to be added while there is capability to quickly add smaller regional destinations around the country.
The New Zealand offering is also the first destination globally to be built on a new platform for HeadBox, which is optimised so artificial intelligence tools including large language models can draw on its content.
Further expansion into Asia, via Southeast Asia, is on the cards for HeadBox, possibly as soon as this year.
