Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s (BEIA) biggest showcase of the year, MEETINGS 2025, kicked off last night (Tuesday 10 June) with a welcome function for 700 people at Auckland’s Eden Park.
New Zealand Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Louise Upston, and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown opened MEETINGS and welcomed guests.
Their presence sent a strong signal of central and local government commitment and support for the business events sector, BEIA Chief Executive Lisa Hopkins said.
“They recognise business events as a high-value sector of the visitor economy and a key pillar for New Zealand’s growth,” she said.
“New Zealand’s business events industry is supported by world-class infrastructure including three new convention centres, Te Pae Christchurch, Tākina Wellington, and the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in Auckland opening in February. Together they are expected to create 1400 new jobs, over 300,000 room nights annually and direct spend in excess of $170M,” Hopkins says.
Delegates meetings in Auckland
Across two days at Auckland Showgrounds on 11 and 12 June, over 550 buyers will meet with exhibitors on 253 stands representing 18 regions of New Zealand, including 35 first-time exhibitors.
“We will be hosting 240 buyers and media from New Zealand, Australia, international markets, and more than 300 day buyers from Australia and New Zealand,” Hopkins says.
A record contingent of 126 buyers and media from Australia will attend MEETINGS this year, and 64 of them will stay on to deepen their experience and knowledge of regions including Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Rotorua and Waikato.
A series of knowledge and leadership events will run concurrently with the exhibition, including a half-day summit for local and global tourism and event leaders, as well as educational and knowledge sessions designed to inspire and inform event organisers.
“This year, with 250 stands representing 18 regions of New Zealand, we are delighted to welcome 35 new exhibitors to the show floor. They include venues, production and event design companies, hotels, regional convention bureaux, caterers, attractions and activities.
“Their presence is a reminder we are constantly evolving as an industry, welcoming new ideas, new ways of working, and fresh thinking,” Hopkins says.
Yesterday, hosted buyers seized the opportunity to explore Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. Attractions they explored included the All Blacks Experience and Wētā Workshop Unleashed, wine tasting on Waiheke Island, and sailing on the Waitematā Harbour.
Day Buyers can still register online or on-site on the day. Other visitors are invited to attend MEETINGS during Industry Hours from 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm, either today (Wednesday, 11 June) or Thursday, 12 June.
To find out more about the MEETINGS 2025 program, go to the MEETINGS website.
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Edited at MEETINGS in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland by Peter Needham
