Tourism New Zealand recognises conference champions

At its inaugural New Zealand Business Events Week, Tourism New Zealand recognised the experts who successfully secured international conferences for New Zealand over the past year. The conferences won in the last financial year are estimated to deliver NZ $63.8m (USD $38m) to the economy, leading to the event recognising the contribution of 45 successful teams from across New Zealand. Tourism New Zealand chief executive René de Monchy says: “Tourism is one of New Zealand’s biggest export earners and will be a significant contributor as we face tough global economic conditions. “In the last financial year alone, New Zealand won 54 international conferences. Working in sectors ranging from indigenous education to green infrastructure, virtual reality to public health, these New Zealand industry leaders and academics worked alongside Tourism New Zealand and its convention bureau partners to bid for and secure high-profile conference wins for the country.” This year, the event has been incorporated into the inaugural New Zealand Business Events Week, spearheaded by peak industry body Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) to elevate the importance of business events in New Zealand.