New director of sales for Christchurch’s Te Pae

Gillian Officer has been appointed the director of sales for Te Pae, Christchurch Convention Centre. Starting this week, her new role will be to secure events for the opening of Te Pae from late 2020 onwards. Ōtākaro Limited strategy and property opportunities general manager Keith Beal says Ms Officer is an established figure in the sector and a welcome addition to the Te Pae team: “Gillian has significant experience in sales and marketing within leading convention centres,” he said. She was previously the director of sales – conventions and outcatering at SkyCity based in Auckland, and has held similar roles with the Wellington Convention Centre and The Edge, Auckland Convention Centre. Te Pae, which means gathering place, is on track for opening in the second half of 2020. It will be able to host up to 2000 delegates for a variety of national and international events. The prime central city venue includes a divisible auditorium, 200-booth exhibition hall, banquet hall and 24 meeting rooms overlooking the picturesque Victoria Square and Ōtākaro/Avon River. Construction is well underway with 20 per cent of the venue now complete. On site, the roof is going on the 1400-seat auditorium this month.