Auckland and Rotorua are seeing a spike in conferences and events while Christchurch continues its earthquake recovery, according to the head of Conventions and Incentives New Zealand, who says New Zealand’s meetings industry is still going strong.
With most of Christchurch’s city centre reduced to rubble by the 6.3 magnitude earthquake last February, many hotels and conference facilities in the CBD no longer exist. Some facilities are awaiting significant repairs, but most buildings in the CBD are set to be demolished.
Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) chief executive, Alan Trotter, admits Christchurch’s conferencing capabilities have been “seriously impacted” by the February quake, noting that the city once hosted 25% of all conferences with over 250 delegates.
But with most businesses effectively relocating to other parts of New Zealand, Trotter asserted that New Zealand is still hosting a similar number of conferences and events.
“CINZ has been working closely with conference and meeting planners so as to retain the economic benefits for NZ,” he told The Nibbler. “Meeting planners have adapted well to the changed situation and have moved most conference business seemlessly to other parts of New Zealand.”
Home to the largest conference facilities in New Zealand, Auckland and Rotorua are seeing the biggest gains, Trotter said, closely followed by Queenstown in the South Island.
But Christchurch isn’t out of the picture, Trotter asserted, noting it was still hosting small to medium conferences while its existing facilities are reinstated.
With a “huge reservoir” of sympathy for the troubled city, Trotter expects the city will re-emerge stronger than before when its conference facilities are restored. “Christchurch can expect an avalanche of convention business from both New Zealand and overseas when the rebuild is complete,” he said.
