Rutherford Hotel Nelson A Heritage Hotel’s new conference centre will be complete in March 2013 and already has some big conferences confirmed for the exciting venue including Conventions & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ)’s 2013 conference.

The conference centre houses 700 people theatre style or 500 for a banquet and represents one of the largest conference centres to be built recently in New Zealand.

“The scale of the conference centre will complement many of the other conference facilities that Heritage Hotels manage throughout New Zealand. Directors of the privately owned hotel have spared no expense to ensure that the conference facility will provide maximum flexibility for organisers of multi day conferences,” says Graham Yan chief executive officer of Heritage Hotel Management.

The conference centre set on the western side of the hotel on Nile Street has a total ground floor conference space of 1000sqm.

The design includes a five metre stud height ceiling in the main plenary room creating a spacious relaxing ambiance, whilst large windows allow in abundant natural light.

Adjoining is an outdoor courtyard for delegates to bask in Nelson’s famous pleasant climate on refreshment breaks or over a relaxed BBQ meal.
The venue can be divided in to two large conference rooms. The Maitai One room is 300 square metres and house 400 people theatre style and Maitai Two is 260 square metres and suitable for 300.

Event organisers have been attracted to the venue by the 338 square metres of pre-function area offering ample room for trade exhibitions and motor vehicle access, plus an outdoor courtyard for breakouts in the abundant Nelson sunshine.

The conference centre incorporates the hotel’s existing conference facilities of the Waimea (capacity 150 theatre style), Wairau (80 theatre style), Riwaka (60 theatre style) and Heaphy (capacity 50 theatre style) rooms for breakout space. Combined, the Waimea and Wairau rooms provide an ancillary conference venue for up to 300 people theatre style.

The hotel’s large scale facilities offer huge potential for Nelson according to Rutherford Hotel Nelson A Heritage Hotel’s general manager, Bevan McGillicuddy.

“The new increased capacity offers a great opportunity to host larger events in the city which will bring many delegates and their partners to Nelson providing a positive impact to the local economy. Firm interest for use of the conference facilities has already been received by our conference team, while industry (CINZ) and government (National party) conferences have been secured for 2013,” said McGillicuddy.

“Conventions & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) is delighted to have chosen Nelson as the destination for its 2013 conference. Nelson Tasman Tourism provided us with many good reasons to conference in Nelson, one being the opportunity to host the conference at The Rutherford Hotel Nelson’s new development. We felt it would be ideal to give the industry an opportunity to experience this new facility. We are looking forward to showcasing the hotel and all that it has to offer as a premium conference venue,” says Jeanette Stanton, event manager of CINZ.

Situated in the heart of Nelson’s CBD, Rutherford Hotel Nelson has 113 rooms and two popular restaurants.

Nelson is renowned for its creative arts culture, seafood and wineries and is on the doorstep of some of the most beautiful national parks and coastline in New Zealand.