Conference Legacy Project to reveal the impact of business events on Christchurch and New Zealand

At AIME 2024 in Melbourne, Business Events Christchurch announced the launch of a pioneering research endeavour – The Conference Legacy Project, powered by ChristchurchNZ. Spearheaded by Professor Carmel Foley (pictured), and Dr Anja Hergesell from the University of Technology Sydney, in partnership with ChristchurchNZ and Tourism New Zealand, this initiative aims to unravel the lasting effects of business events in Ōtautahi Christchurch and Aotearoa New Zealand as a whole. Renowned for her expertise in the field of business events, Foley leads this transformative project. With a track record of influential research projects and publications, including ‘The Power of Conferences: Stories of serendipity, innovation, and driving social change,’ Foley is poised to redefine how the legacy impacts of business events are valued and measured globally. “We are really excited to be working with Megan Crum and the ChristchurchNZ team as well as Tourism New Zealand to advance the methodology for defining and measuring conference impacts,” says Foley. “Reporting on impacts is vital for understanding the full range of benefits that conferences are catalysing for knowledge economies, key industry sectors, and communities.” With over 14 years of research experience, honed through collaborations with industry giants like BESydney and the International Convention Centre Sydney, Foley and her team are poised to delve into uncharted territory with a mission to evaluate the legacy impacts of business events, moving beyond mere economic benefits to explore their profound and multifaceted influences. While the economic benefits of hosting business events are well-documented, their long-term impacts extend far beyond direct tourism spending. The Conference Legacy Project seeks to quantify and understand these broader impacts, such as scientific advancement, industry innovation, attraction of global talent, improved social policy, community well-being, cultural initiatives, and trade and investment. Three-year study This ambitious project spans three years, during which up to 60 international conferences will be evaluated. While some events will take place in other New Zealand cities, the majority will be hosted in Christchurch, making it a focal point for the study. Business events from sectors crucial to the growth and development of both Christchurch and New Zealand will be scrutinised. These sectors include aerospace, future transport, clean tech, health tech, resilient communities, high tech services, Antarctic research, and more. “Understanding the full range of impacts gives stakeholders (governments, associations, industry sectors, community organisations) opportunities to target key areas for greater leverage of benefits,” says Foley. “The aim of the research is to support the business events sector to leverage more benefits from conferences for their industries and communities.” Data will be collected through an online survey distributed to delegates, sponsors, exhibitors, and organisers of each conference. Throughout the project, high-level insights will be shared, with detailed findings reserved for conference organisers who demonstrate significant participation. The Conference Legacy Project represents a significant step forward in understanding the profound and lasting effects of business events. As Christchurch and New Zealand embark on this journey of exploration, the insights gained promise to shape future strategies and elevate the understanding of business events’ legacy impacts on a global scale. For further information, visit https://www.christchurchnz.com/meet/how-we-can-help/the-conference-legacy-project