The Business Events Week will take place from September 18 to 22, the same week as BEIA’s annual conference, and is being supported by Tourism New Zealand’s business events team.
The week will begin in Marlborough at the conference, before relocating to Wellington for a policy forum and concluding in Auckland with workshop events and the Tourism New Zealand Business Events National Awards.
The travelling event will include international speakers, as well as local industry experts and leaders.
“Collectively under one strong New Zealand banner, the Business Events Week platform gives us a huge opportunity to exchange experiences and share the latest global thinking with the industry, developing ideas that can help set our destination apart,” said BEIA’s chief executive Lisa Hopkins.
“Our business events industry has come of age with investment in world-class infrastructure and the opening of two new convention centres in Christchurch and Wellington, and the soon to open New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland.
“Together we are working to ensure New Zealand is recognised on the international stage as a destination for business events that contribute across the four capitals: nature, culture, social and economy.”
Before the pandemic, New Zealand’s business events sector contributed $1.48bn to the national economy and was responsible for 8,200 jobs.
The Business Events Week will provide a platform to present, discuss and plan strategies for growing business events in New Zealand, as well as helping to boost understanding of the value of the sector to New Zealand.
“Business events are an important part of how we deliver on our strategy to encourage high quality visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand,” said Tourism New Zealand’s general manager of New Zealand and business events, Bjoern Spreitzer.
“Business events deliver knowledge, business and economic benefits and positive social legacies.
“Business Events Week will be a great opportunity to recognise the sector’s successes and build on them for future sustainable growth.”
