A new study from Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) and Fresh Info, released at the official opening of the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), revealed that multi-day business events contributed NZ$925 million (US$558 million) to the national economy in 2025.
Despite a softer year shaped by global uncertainty, the sector generated approximately 1.5 million visitor nights. Total expenditure included NZ$412 million in delegate spending, NZ$433 million in event operations – such as sponsorship and registration – and NZ$80 million from accompanying companions.
The data highlights the high value of these visitors, with international delegates spending an average of NZ$645 per day while in conference, significantly outpacing the average holiday tourist.
BEIA Chief Executive Lisa Hopkins noted that while international visitors are high-value, domestic delegates provide critical resilience when global travel fluctuates. Average total spend per delegate reached NZ$3,726 for international visitors, NZ$2,118 for domestic travellers, and NZ$999 for local attendees.
Hopkins emphasised that business events are “highly investable” contributors to New Zealand’s economic aspirations, delivering long-term returns through knowledge exchange and international connectivity that support productivity well beyond the events themselves.
This research framework is designed to be scalable and repeatable, enabling future updates at regular intervals and supporting ongoing improvements to New Zealand’s tourism data system.
With the NZICC now open and hosting events, New Zealand’s national network of purpose-built convention centres, alongside Takina in Wellington and Te Pae in Christchurch, is now complete, according to BEIA’s press release.
He has also held the role of general manager, Asia at Norwegian Cruise Line, and has extensive experience building and expanding travel brands across the Asian market.
