Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s (BEIA) MEETINGS 2022 will unveil a new host city, a brand new venue and a host of new exhibitors when it kicks off in just three months’ time.

Taking place at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre on 15 and 16 June, the 26th MEETINGS exhibition is expected to signal the start of a new era for business events in New Zealand in 2022, which BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins said promises to be a landmark year for the country’s premier business events tradeshow.

“As part of New Zealand’s reconnection to the world strategy, we will be showcasing how much we have to offer in our beautiful, friendly and safe destination,” Hopkins said.

In addition to the highlight of meeting at New Zealand’s first new-generation gathering place, Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, hosted buyers will also have the opportunity to experience one of 10 different regions on a pre-famil from 11 to 13 June. To name just a few, options include Christchurch, Northland, Auckland, Wellington, and Queenstown, and will be hosted by the local convention bureau.

“We are excited to see so many Australian hosted buyers signed up for the opportunity to experience our regions prior to attending MEETINGS,” Hopkins said.

“We are also keen for them to stay on after MEETINGS and discover more. In partnership with Air New Zealand, we are offering them the option to extend their stay to explore 18 regions at their leisure, and we can offer date flexibility with trans-Tasman travel to assist with this extension.”

More than 150 exhibitors are expected at MEETINGS and with many of them exhibiting for the first time, attendees can expect the show floor to be full of excitement, activity and creative energy.

“Our exhibitors are telling us MEETINGS will be the single most important opportunity for them to connect with a highly-engaged group of buyers and to sign new business for the coming year,” Hopkins said.

The new exhibitors include the Marlborough region’s five-star lodge Bay of Many Coves in Queen Charlotte Sound, which is one of New Zealand’s most sought-after locations for corporate retreats and exclusive incentives, Marlborough Events Centre, and QT Event Collective.

After attending last year as a buyer, QT Event Collective managing director, Sarah Dunan-Hale said MEETINGS was the premier business events gathering in New Zealand, and it just made sense to be involved at this level.

“Not only are the team at BEIA an amazing support to members, but their ability to improve MEETINGS year on year is what convinced us to invest in this opportunity,” Dunan-Hale said.

“Along with the many networking opportunities with other regions, suppliers and like-minded businesses, coming from Queenstown, it’s great for us to experience and engage with the host region and event venues for further inspirations for the year ahead.”