Rotorua to host Business Events Industry Aotearoa's MEETINGS 2024

Rotorua has been named the host city for New Zealand’s 28th national business events showcase, MEETINGS, to be held at the Energy Events Centre 19 – 20 June 2024. Following MEETINGS 2023 in Wellington in June, MEETINGS is heading to regional New Zealand to highlight experiences on offer outside the country’s three main centres. Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) chief executive, Lisa Hopkins, says “Rotorua is a magnificent city, the birthplace of the visitor economy for New Zealand, where business events, tourism and hospitality hold a sacred place.” “Our intent is to amplify the taonga (cultural treasures) of the city by bringing MEETINGS back to where it all began for New Zealand tourism. Its people, manaakitanga (welcome), excellent infrastructure, accessible North Island location, unique landscapes, and rich Māori culture all make it an exceptional meeting place,” Hopkins adds. Andrew Wilson, chief executive of RotoruaNZ says that it is important that manuhiri (visitors) also immerse themselves in a region which built its reputation on manaakitanga when tourism first began in New Zealand: “Recent investment into some of our signature spaces, such as the Sir Howard Morrison Centre and the Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, makes Rotorua the ideal place to mix business with pleasure and we look forward to sharing our home and our manaakitanga with buyers and sellers alike.” Rotorua has recently been hosting a number of large, high-profile events at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre, which will also house MEETINGS 2024, as well as at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre. Vanessa Wallace, RotoruaNZ business events manager says that MEETINGS offers an exceptional opportunity to showcase the entire country under the one roof. “Rotorua is renowned for its strong sense of community and identity, which makes us ideally placed to help organisations deliver authentic and meaningful experiences that will elevate and enhance their conference, meeting or incentive programme,” Wallace says. MEETINGS was last held in Rotorua in 2011 and attracted 400 delegates from New Zealand, Australia and key international markets, and over 170 exhibitors.