Auckland Convention Bureau has a won the bid to host the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Annual Conference and Exhibition, taking place in 2021 and expected to attract more than 1,700 delegates and 200 exhibitors.

The three-day conference will take place at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) and early predictions are that the event will bring 8,700 visitor nights and contribute an estimated spend of $3.3 million to the region.

Auckland Convention Bureau (ACB) secured the winning bid in partnership with Education New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand and a consortium of the country’s leading universities, led by Auckland University.

Mayor of Auckland, Phil Goff, said: “International education is a valuable contributor to the Auckland economy and the country’s fourth largest export industry.

“It is great news that Auckland will play host to such a major international education conference. It will showcase our region and illustrate the value of this important sector to New Zealand.

“Auckland attracts more than 80,000 international students each year. Beyond the economic value of the sector, these students improve our connections to the world, bring vibrancy and diversity to our city, and fill skills shortages in areas of high demand.”

The APAIE 2021 will bring together international educators, universities and related organisations active in Asia-Pacific higher education to promote communication, networking, professional development and learn about new developments in international education.

Head of ACB Anna Hayward says 2021 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Auckland, with a number of major convention wins, along with the city hosting the America’s Cup.

“This is a fantastic result for Auckland and New Zealand and is another example of how Auckland is able to compete for events like APAIE at this larger scale with the additional capacity that the NZICC brings,” Hayward said.

“International and domestic business events play an important role in fueling the value of Auckland, and New Zealand’s visitor economy as well as being valuable contributors to growing the region’s knowledge economy.”