New Zealand’s MICE industry is eagerly awaiting further announcements on the Christchurch convention centre, but remain confident the re-development will put Christchurch back on the map.
Christchurch has struggled to capture MICE business in the past 12 months after the city’s only convention centre was destroyed in a devastating earthquake in February last year.
However, following extensive discussions the government is due to announce where the new convention centre will be developed in the coming weeks.
With initial plans indicating the new facility will be superior to the previous centre, Christchurch & Canterbury Convention Bureau manager Caroline Blanchfield expects the re-development will open new opportunities for business tourism in the region.
“All indications suggest this new convention centre will be bigger and better than the one before, and that means we will be able to bid for bigger international conferences and events,” she said. “Add in our regional venues and the choices for conferences and event organisers become endless.”
The International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) Working Week in 2016 is the first event signposted for the new centre. However, alternatives have already been allocated if it is still under construction. Final plans for the new centre, including an estimated completion date, are yet to be released. Details will be revealed in the coming weeks.
