Tourism New Zealand’s business events team will aim to submit 110 bids in the 2025-2026 financial year, with a combined potential value to New Zealand of NZ$185 million.
While the number of bids targeted is the same as the current financial year, the value being pursued is NZ$15 million higher than the target for this year.
The number of bids – and the associated value – for the 2024-2025 year received a late boost in March, with the announcement of NZ$3 million in extra government funding for Tourism New Zealand’s business events activities, resulting in the agency chasing an additional 20 bids and $30 million of delegate spending.
The 110-bid target is the highest number Tourism New Zealand has reached for in a single year to date.
“The additional Tourism Boost funding for business events was a strong vote of confidence in the work we do at Tourism New Zealand, highlighting the vital role this activity plays in growing the New Zealand economy. This investment allowed us to do more and go faster,” said Tourism New Zealand’s chief executive, René de Monchy.
“We’re looking to accelerate this momentum and retain that stretch target into the next year. In addition, with a full year to target higher value and larger scale conferences, we aim to build on the value that business events deliver to New Zealand and New Zealanders.”
The target for next financial year will be helped along by the Tuesday evening announcement of another NZ$3 million in funding from the national government to support Tourism New Zealand’s event attraction activities.
The agency will also be drawing on new research, to be released next week, to hit its targets for 2025-2026.
