Christchurch is ready to welcome top business events professionals from across Australia and New Zealand next week at what is being touted as the country’s largest ever business events trade show, MEETINGS 2022.
The two-day event will take place on 15 and 16 June at the brand new Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, welcoming more than 500 buyers, including 100 from Australia, and 211 stands from 18 New Zealand regions.
The trade show is Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s (BEIA) flagship event, which BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins said is setting records this year and sending a powerful signal that the New Zealand business events sector is open and focusing on the future.
“The strong level of interest in MEETINGS is telling us that confidence in the sector is strong and both buyers and exhibitors have drawn a line in the sand around COVID. The perspective is very much about the future and what that can deliver,” Hopkins said.
“The MEETINGS message is New Zealand is already welcoming international events back, and there has never been a more important time for the industry to reconnect, with both domestic and international buyers.”
More than 50 Australian hosted buyers will arrive on Friday 10 June for weekend familiarisation tours of Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington, Marlborough, and Queenstown, as well as Rotorua after MEETINGS. During MEETINGS, buyers will be hosted at 15 hotels close to Te Pae Christchurch.
“In this spectacular venue in the new city of Ōtautahi Christchurch, we will be harnessing the power of face-to-face meetings. Te Pae Christchurch’s state-of-the-art exhibition halls, auditorium, and meeting rooms will be buzzing with activity, and creative energy from around New Zealand and across the Tasman,” Hopkins said.
A range of professional development sessions are also part of MEETINGS, including the Tourism New Zealand Regional Showcase and Knowledge Sessions, Celebrity Speakers Showcase, Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) Masterclass, and a breakfast to celebrate the BE Mentoring programme, which saw 23 event professionals from around New Zealand mentor 23 younger colleagues in the industry.
