ChristchurchNZ will undertake a three-year project – The Conference Legacy Project – to evaluate the legacy impacts of business events on Christchurch and the broader New Zealand landscape.
Announced at Asia Pacific Incentives & Meetings Event, the New Zealand project will gather evidence-based information to quantify the value of hosting conferences. Key focus areas will include the impact of hosting business events on scientific advancement, industry innovation, the attraction of global talent, improved social policy, community well-being, cultural and regenerative initiatives, and trade and investment.
Business events researcher professor Carmel Foley from the University of Technology Sydney will lead the study, and inspiration will be drawn from Sydney’s successful eight-year evaluation model.
Large international events in Christchurch, including the 1,100-delegate Asian Seed Congress, supported by ChristchurchNZ and held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, will be among the first of the targeted studies.
Megan Crum, ChristchurchNZ’s head of business events,l said: “We recognise the impact of conferences extends well beyond tourism and should not be measured merely by direct financial contribution.
“Christchurch has matured into a premier destination for business events, and the city recognises the importance of assessing the lasting and long-tail impacts of these events. The insights we gain will play a pivotal role in shaping future strategies and identifying funding opportunities.”
