“To me, there’s nothing that beats the vibe of a hotel with a big, busy conference in it,” says Bonner, as leader of New Zealand’s largest hotel and its considerable event space.
“The rooms are full, the restaurants and bars are pumping, every little corner is full of people having coffee…with leisure guests, it’s a different feel, and even with corporate guests, there’s less engagement,” he explains.
“So to me, MICE is a very special part of the hotel experience because it’s only through business events that we get to activate every part of our spaces and feel that energy and vibe.”
While Cordis, Auckland might boast 18 event spaces, 640 rooms and plenty of extra spots for smaller meetings and dining events, Bonner says “it’s the people that deliver successful events, not the facilities. And it’s not just people, but it’s passionate and committed people.
“When your back’s up against the wall, that’s when we do our best work in this business.
“That’s why it’s not about facilities, why it’s about people, because it’s only the grit of a determined and passionate person, no matter what part of the ecosystem they’re in, that’s going to be able to pull things through.”
Grit and vibe included, Bonner says Auckland is bursting with opportunity for planners, particularly with the recent announcement by the New Zealand Government around changes in legislation regarding medical advertising, a hurdle that directly impacts the business events industry.
“For the longest time, New Zealand has prevented any promotion of medicines or drugs in New Zealand that aren’t already approved by Medsafe, which is the local approval regime here,” he says.
“So that meant that if there was a pharmaceutical or medical conference, there’s a whole bunch of exhibitors that couldn’t benefit in coming… but [soon they will benefit].
“That changes the economics…for medical conferences going forward, there’s a whole bunch more exhibitors that can come and start to educate New Zealand doctors and nurses about new drugs and treatment protocols that they couldn’t previously do.
“So that means that for conference organisers, the numbers stack up so much better.”
Bonner adds that over the past nearly two decades, Auckland has further elevated its position as a business events destination with major infrastructure investment.
“It kind of went from a big country town that was a bit shy and unsure of its identity to a very vibrant city with lots of little precincts,” he says.
“There are lots of cafes, bars and restaurants …down the road further, there’s Queen Street, which is mainly retail, then you hit the waterfront. So lots of different precincts have developed, which makes it a really exciting city to have an event in.”
Bonner adds that the addition of the new City Rail Link with a station just 200m from the Cordis will be a big benefit. And of course, Auckland will also welcome the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) early next year.
“We’d be naïve to think there’ll be no impact for the first few years,” he admits of the coming convention centre.
“Some of the business will come from our hotel, but ultimately, the benefits over the years far outweigh that. It’s going to attract a whole bunch of international events that we could never have attracted to Auckland without that. So it’s going to be really good for Auckland and we can’t wait. Bring it on.”
The Cordis specifically, he says, is also ever-improving and raising the bar on its offerings for events, in particular with environmental impact.
With 17 years of EarthCheck certification, the hotel is at Master Certification. With environmental impact at the forefront for businesses and individual travellers, he says it’s essential to continually find ways to minimise impact.
“Not just because we want to, but because our survival depends on it, because our customers expect it and the local community expects it and we have to answer to them ultimately.”
Their premium business events offering, the Pinnacle Tower, opened in 2021, and their existing tower together boast plentiful event spaces including a pillarless ballroom, which can banquet 800, smaller bespoke spaces, ample accommodation rooms, dining facilities, a full-service spa, a rooftop pool with its own bar and a Kiwi themed bar where everything served (food and signature cocktails) is made with only New Zealand products and produce.
While it has a super-sized footprint, Bonner says it’s the hotel’s adaptability the team takes pride in.
A team with passion and grit, working without rigid boundaries to deliver the best possible events.
