Conference confidence coming back to Christchurch

Interest in Christchurch as a rejuvenated conference destination is rising following last week’s Meetings 2014.

Christchurch & Canterbury Convention Bureau (CCCB) Manager Caroline Blanchfield says the Bureau team were delighted at the positive response they received event organisers and buyers at the MEETINGS 2014 trade exhibition.

CCCB was exhibiting with nine of its partner venues and suppliers at the New Zealand’s key annual business events expo in Auckland.

Prior to the MEETINGS event, CCCB and its partners hosted eight influential Australian event organisers plus a key industry journalist on a familiarisation tour to Christchurch and Hanmer Springs.

Blanchfield explains those on the fam tour “were impressed by what they saw and heard from us. There is a positive attitude from the Australians we saw emerging last year. This year it has stepped up a gear and there is real business to secure.”

The familiarisation tour participants were selected for their potential to bring conferences to Christchurch. Their clients included urban design, health, agriculture and education conferences and this was a chance to update them on all the conferencing and touring options the region had to offer.

CCCB was joined at the two-day MEETINGS exhibition by Vbase, Continental, Hotel Ashburton, and Heritage Hanmer Springs.

Also joining the Canterbury delegation were new exhibitors Rydges Latimer Hotel, Moveable Feasts, Mashina Functions and Entertainment venue, Sensational Selwyn, and Hurunui Tourism.

The Sensational Selwyn team, representing the diverse conferencing and group touring options of the district, not only fielded many conference enquiries but also booked business during the event.

Centre Manager Ginny Bowden added “as a result of our participation at MEETINGS we secured one conference in October for a national company for 350 delegates and have at least six leads for New Zealand and Australian conference and event opportunities which are a great fit for the Lincoln Event Centre.”

Christchurch Casino joined CCCB to showcase its new entertainment and functions venue Mashina at MEETINGS.

For more information go to www.christchurchconventions.com.

3rd June 2014 - MEETINGS SET TO SHOWCASE NEW CHRISTCHURCH EVENT OPPORTUNITIES