New Zealand’s largest business events exhibition set to host 6,000 meetings

Exhibitors from 17 regions will meet with buyers from eight countries when New Zealand’s biggest business events industry showcase, CINZ MEETINGS 2019, starts in host city Auckland tomorrow.

Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) Chief Executive, Sue Sullivan says New Zealand’s premier business events exhibition brings together over 190 suppliers and 500 conference, event and incentive organisers to meet under one roof for two days at ASB Showgrounds.

Sullivan explains “exhibitors and buyers will hold more than 6,000 meetings during our two days of pre-scheduled appointments and social networking events. With the support of key regional convention bureaux and Air New Zealand, we have hosted 32 Australian buyers and media on four different regional weekend tours, another 20 will visit Christchurch after MEETINGS.

“Visiting Northland, Rotorua, Wellington and Queenstown this weekend, our Australian buyers and media have experienced the incredible depth of experiences across our regions."

MEETINGS attracts international conference and incentive organisers, brought to New Zealand with support from Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) and Air New Zealand. This year they include 30 hosted buyers and media from China, South-East Asia, Japan and North America, plus 90 buyers and media from Australia.

Last year MEETINGS generated more than $60 million of signed business across the two days at ASB Showgrounds.

Sullivan explains that New Zealand is a sought-after conference, incentive and event destination, adding “we are friendly, hospitable, innovative and great to do business with. This makes our industry a significant generator of income, employment, investment and knowledge-sharing for New Zealand.

“With the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland and Te Pae Christchurch to open in 2020, and Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre now in the planning, New Zealand is ready to take on a bigger share of the international multi-day convention market. Regional New Zealand will also benefit from these new venues, as large conferences book to take their sub-conferences to venues outside of the main centres.”

Click here for event details on CINZ MEETINGS 2019 in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Images: Australian hosted buyers with WellingtonNZ Convention Bureau's Siobhan Tanoa (far right) at Boomrock Wellington (top) and Australian hosted buyers checking out Wellington harbourside venues on one of four regional weekend famils before MEETINGS (below).