From 2027, the North Island iteration of GPCME will be held at Claudelands in Hamilton.
“Rotorua has played an important part in the development and success of the conference,” said Leon Olsen, director of Conference Matters, the event’s PCO.
“Over time, however, the conference has grown considerably. We now run a large number of concurrent educational sessions, workshops and exhibition activities, and increasingly we need purpose-built, acoustically separated meeting rooms and a venue that allows the programme, exhibition and delegate catering to operate cohesively under one roof.
“Claudelands gives us that infrastructure and, importantly, room to continue growing.”
Olsen also highlighted the accessibility and accommodation inventory in Hamilton as key for the medical meeting.
“A conference of GPCME’s size creates significant accommodation demand, so hotel capacity and transport links are important considerations,” he said.
“Hamilton is accessible by road from a very large population catchment, while Hamilton Airport provides another option for delegates travelling from further afield.”
As Hamilton’s health sector expands – there’s a new Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Waikato, Olsen wants to see the medical community in Hamilton consider the event theirs.
“We would like GPCME to become something the local health community feels some ownership of rather than simply being a conference that arrives in Hamilton once a year.”
For H3 Group, which operates Claudelands, hosting the conference is a win for the broader region.
“Events like GPCME bring benefits that extend well beyond the venue itself,” said H3’s national business growth and development lead, Melissa Williams.
“Delegates stay in local accommodation, dine in our cafés and restaurants, use local services and often spend additional time exploring Hamilton and the wider Waikato.
“That’s good for local businesses, good for our visitor economy and good for the ongoing vibrancy of our region.
“These industry events bring together leaders, practitioners, educators and innovators from across the country to share ideas, explore challenges and shape the future of their profession.
“Many of the conversations, connections and collaborations that begin during conference sessions and networking events continue long after delegates return home. New priorities, partnerships and initiatives often emerge from these gatherings, and that creates lasting benefits for both the sector and the communities it serves.”
Williams also believes Hamilton is a “compelling” proposition for both event organisers and their delegates.
“More organisations are recognising the advantages of hosting events in regional centres, and we’re seeing increasing confidence in Hamilton as a place where major events can thrive,” she said.
Claudelands features a variety of spaces, including an arena for up to 6,000 pax, more than 7,000m2 of indoor exhibition space and a further 4,125m2 outdoors.
There is a separate South Island iteration of GPCME.
