30 June, 2016

Christchurch brings back business events

Nighttime view of Cathedral Square in Christchurch, New Zealand

The opening of the new convention centre in late 2019 will bring Christchurch’s status back as one of New Zealand’s top business events hubs, say tourism leaders.

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism Chief Executive, Vic Allen says the new Convention and Exhibition Centre will make large international conferences possible again for Christchurch.

“Already we have significant interest in larger conferences wanting to come back to Christchurch. Now we have certainty around the project we can ramp up our conference marketing activity again,” Allen added.

Prior to the Christchurch earthquakes, the city held 23 percent of the multi-day convention market in New Zealand and conferences were pumping around $100m a year into the Canterbury economy. In recent years its market share has recovered to nine percent.

“Event organisers in Australia and around the world are ready and waiting to come back to Christchurch. Our strong working relationship with Conventions and Incentives New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand Business Events teams is helping drive conference and incentive business to the city and the wider Canterbury region,” Allen said.

The purpose-designed venue will also be an economic boost for the city and an investment catalyst for new tourism development.

Convention Bureau manager Caroline Blanchfield says the new venue will provide a massive boost for the local knowledge economy too.

“Many conferences are initiated by thought leaders in our universities, hospitals, research institutes and Canterbury’s specialist business sectors like engineering, agriculture and food production. These academics and business leaders want to bring specialist global audiences to conference here. It helps build their organisation’s reputation, speeds up creation of global networks and sparks new business opportunities,” Blanchfield added.

Business tourism is a major growth sector for New Zealand with international convention delegates spending an estimated $350 per night, almost twice as much as other international visitors to New Zealand.

International conference delegates also have an average stay of four nights in the conference city, which increases the delegates’ opportunity to spend more while they are here.

Last month Christchurch was named a Top 10 International Destination by influential US business events industry magazine, Smart Meetings.

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