The opening of Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s landmark MEETINGS 2023 trade exhibition last night saw over 1000 business events industry professionals gather at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand.
New Zealand’s two-day annual industry trade exhibition is being held in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington (the full name of the city, incorporating the Māori name) for the first time in the event’s 27-year history – signalling a new era for the sector.
BEIA Chief Executive Lisa Hopkins says this year’s MEETINGS will be a landmark event for the industry with a record number of buyers and exhibitors. International buyers have also been represented for the first time in four years.
“MEETINGS ” is the most crucial event in New Zealand’s industry calendar. Last year’s event in Christchurch generated $107.5 million.
“Experiencing Aotearoa New Zealand under one roof means bringing real business opportunities to the business events sector which is on a trajectory to recover quickly,” Hopkins said.
GTM managing editor Australasia, Peter Needham, on the Wellington waterfront yesterday.
Tourism New Zealand is hosting high-end senior incentive and meetings planners from North America visiting Auckland and Queenstown before and after MEETINGS in Wellington. BEIA also hosts international buyers and media from Singapore, who visited Auckland and Christchurch during the weekend.
“MEETINGS is giving them first-hand insights into our ability to deliver well-designed and seamlessly executed events. They are experiencing for themselves New Zealand’s world-class cities, venues, accommodation, transportation hubs, and most importantly, our manaakitanga, how we take care of our visitors, so they arrive as strangers but leave as champions,” Hopkins said.
David Perks, General Manager – Tākina Commercial Development, Wellington City Council, says they are thrilled to welcome buyers and industry colleagues from around the country and abroad to Wellington this week.
“Hosting MEETINGS for the first time, at our brand-new venue, Tākina, is such an important moment for our city and local partners as we show Wellington off to the world,” he told delegates yesterday.
“The support from all our stakeholders to host a record number of Australian buyers over the weekend, more than 160 buyers at the city familiarisation day and at the show itself, has been immense. We trust every buyer and industry friend will experience Wellington’s manaakitanga from when they arrive until they head home and enjoy a taste of Wellington like never before.
“As we enter this new era for our city, we are excited about the future of business events in Wellington,” Perks said.
Written by: Peter Needham in Wellington, New Zealand
