Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) has confirmed its support for a regional accommodation levy and the creation of a national short-term rental register, arguing both measures are essential to sustaining New Zealand’s events and tourism infrastructure.
Speaking to TTGmice at Meetings 2026, chief executive Lisa Hopkins said BEIA supports a hypothecated levy model, whereby revenue collected in a region is returned to that same region for investment in tourism, hospitality, events and related infrastructure.
The proposed levy would come on top of New Zealand’s existing NZ$100 (US$56.60) International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, which applies to most international visitors entering the country.
“We know the value that events bring to a region,” Hopkins said. “But we also know the reality around funding. There isn’t an endless pot of money, so we have to find a way to continue to develop and enhance our infrastructure for visitors.”
Hopkins noted that similar levies are commonplace globally, pointing to Las Vegas and Singapore as destinations that layer additional accommodation charges onto visitor stays without deterring demand. She added that any New Zealand levy would likely be modest at below double-digit figures.
While no specific percentage has been set, Hopkins confirmed the government has indicated it will not progress the levy until after the country’s general election in November this year.
She added that the business events sector would seek a fair share of any levy revenue, reflecting its contribution to accommodation demand.
While acknowledging concerns that additional charges could affect New Zealand’s competitiveness, Hopkins assured the country remained attractive due to favourable exchange rates and strong value propositions for both leisure and business travellers.
BEIA is also supporting calls from the hotel sector for a register of short-term rental accommodation providers such as Airbnb.
Currently, short-term rental operators are not subject to the same reporting requirements as traditional accommodation providers, creating an uneven playing field when it comes to local government rates.
“It’s about being fair,” Hopkins said.”If we’ve got a healthy region, we’ve got a healthy industry. If we’ve got a healthy industry, we’ve got a fantastic proposition for any of our visitors.”
