Auckland aims to boost business events

Auckland plans to significantly build its visitor economy with the help of a 10-year Business Events Plan designed to grow the value of the conventions sector to a $430 million industry by 2023.

Auckland’s first Business Events Plan has been developed by Auckland Convention Bureau – part of Auckland Tourism, Event and Economic Development (ATEED).

The plan sets out four key outcomes:

• To grow the value of the business events sector;

• To grow the volume of delegate days;

• To reduce seasonality by growing demand in the tourism shoulder season; and

• To use business events to support growth and investment in key industry sectors.

Introducing the plan, ATEED Chief Executive Brett O’Riley explained “Auckland’s business events journey is at a pivotal stage.

“The Government is investing more in the sector nationally, Auckland is bidding for and securing more international conferences and plans are underway for the development of the New Zealand International Convention Centre, which will enable us to host global events of up to 3500 delegates,”

The plan’s target is to grow the value of the sector from $236 million in 2013 to $430 million annually by 2023, and grow the volume of delegate days from 1.98 million in 2013 to 2.55 million annually by 2023.

It is anticipated that growth will be strongest in the multi-day conference segment at 9% per year and in international demand at 8.5%.

Business events already play an important role in reducing tourism seasonality and the aim is to build on this, by growing the number of international business event delegates who arrive outside Auckland’s peak tourism period from 70% in 2013 to 75% in 2023.

O’Riley added “the benefits of business events are far-reaching.

“Beyond the obvious economic value, they bring people together to exchange knowledge and ideas, build business relationships and over the longer term attract investment and talent flows.”

Among the plan’s short-term actions are increasing resources in the key Australian market and developing a stronger focus on incentive activity particularly in North America and South East Asia.

7th July 2014 - SKYCITY SECURES AUCKLAND CBD LAND FOR INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE