The delegate numbers, which total 204,420, exceed expectations for Te Pae’s opening years.
A flagship project of the city’s regeneration after a 2011 earthquake devastated the destination, the Christchurch convention centre has hosted 458 events since opening on May 2, 2022. The mix of business has included 146 multi-day conferences – 29 of which were international – 19 exhibitions, 131 banquets, 157 meetings and five live performances.
“We’ve far outstripped all expectations for our initial operating period,” said Te Pae Christchurch’s general manager, Ross Steele, who micenet profiled in March.
“That’s not only testament to how hard our team has worked to welcome so many people to our region. It also reflects the integral role the entire local events infrastructure – from the council and ChristchurchNZ, to our local suppliers and the city’s hotel and hospitality sectors – has played in putting Christchurch and Canterbury back on the map for business events.
“The direct economic impacts of business events – each of which can bring hundreds of people into the city to stay for several nights – has been well researched,” said Steele.
“What are perhaps less well recognised are the broader impacts of a successful business events infrastructure for our community. Whether it’s the opportunity to learn from the best in your field or network with industry leaders, or the chance for local businesses to demonstrate their capabilities in front of a huge audience, the wider impacts of a successful convention programme are incalculable.”
ASM Global, which manages the centre, has received a glowing endorsement from Rau Paenga Limited, the Crown infrastructure agency which built the venue and owns it.
“The goal was to catalyse spending and social activity in the central city for decades to come with an international standard convention centre within walking distance of hotels, shops and restaurants,” said Rau Paenga’s general manager, John O’Hagan.
“We are delighted with the number and quality of events that our operator ASM Global has been able to attract in the first two years.”
The centre’s calendar for the first month of its third year, is packed, with five international and 10 national conferences, concerts and events scheduled to take place. More than 8,200 delegates are expected to attend events at the convention centre this month, with 2,650 travelling from overseas and a further 3,135 travelling to Christchurch from around New Zealand to attend events at Te Pae.
