On September 26, 2024, Tourism New Zealand honoured 40 top conference champions – who have successfully bid for and secured high-profile events in the past year – at a ceremony held at Mantells Tāmaki Drive in Auckland.
The 31 international conferences won through Tourism New Zealand’s Conference Assistance Programme are expected to attract more than 19,500 delegates and deliver an estimated NZ$48.7 million (US$30.6 million) to New Zealand’s economy.
Tourism New Zealand’s chief executive, René de Monchy, said: “The knowledge, influence and passion of these people play an integral part in attracting events to our shores. These conferences not only enrich our visitor economy, but our universities, our innovation hubs, our key sectors, and our communities…
“Through these events, we’ll hold important conversations at a global level about the treatment of cancer in indigenous communities, the protection of native plant species, and the application of remote sensing technologies to benefit society. New Zealand will play a leading role in shaping the future of these industries, thanks to these conferences and their champions.
He added: “We hope more conference champions are inspired to step up and help build this pipeline of valuable events.”
Business events and international conference delegates play an important role in supporting Tourism New Zealand’s four-year strategy of growing international tourism by NZ$5 billion, with 70 per cent (NZ$3.5 billion) of that coming from visitors in the off-peak.
Business events are heavily weighted towards the off-peak, with 83 per cent of international delegates arriving between March and November last year, compared to 62 per cent of holidaymakers, de Monchy said.
