With the association’s annual general meeting taking place virtually last week, chief executive Lisa Hopkins told members it was New Zealand’s time to make its mark on the global business events stage.
“At this year’s BEIA conference, international speaker Martin Sirk reminded us New Zealand is the last developed country to have a suite of purpose-built venues. This is our time to shine, and stand tall on a global stage,” said Hopkins.
“When we look around the country, we offer customers so much choice, from smaller venues at the heart of communities, through to regional spaces with capacity to accommodate some of the largest events.
“New venues, airport developments, roading, transportation, new hotels, new hospitality precincts – all these things are what makes a destination a desirable place to hold a business event,” she said.
“Our National Strategy will be ambitious. It needs to be – as the world evolves, so does our sector.”
The strategy, set to drop in the first quarter of next year is designed to chart a path to a more sustainable and more aligned model for business events in New Zealand.
No new board members were elected at the AGM, with all board members either in the middle of their terms or taking on another term.
The board chair position remains vacant for now, with a new chair set to be appointed soon, following the departure of Steve Armitage, who has taken up a position as head of Hospitality New Zealand, one of the nation’s largest associations.
