The Western Sydney Convention Centre (WSCC) at the Panthers Precinct, has announced a new partnership with event technology and creative production company Encore, as its official in-house event production partner.
This collaboration follows WSCC’s recent expansion, which now incorporates the broader Panthers Precinct, offering over 4,000m2 of event space. This enhanced capacity aims to position Western Sydney and Penrith as a premier business and tourism hub in Australia, attracting national and international delegates in anticipation of the Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) opening next year.
WSCC’s Conference Room banquet-style
While the WSCC already boasts a state-of-the-art 1,000-seat capacity, significant upgrades to audiovisual and production equipment have been implemented across select event spaces within the precinct. With Encore’s integration, clients will now have access to seamless technical delivery, unparalleled creative and production resources, and the latest innovations in event technology.
The partnership also promises bespoke production services, curated audiovisual packages, access to the Asia-Pacific region’s largest inventory of LED displays, and AI-powered event technologies, ensuring impactful events. Encore’s team will work closely with WSCC’s event planning and management teams to provide a fully integrated planning and execution process.
The Great Room at Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre
Pro-invests’ three New Zealand hotels – voco Auckland City Centre, Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre, and Holiday Inn Express and Suites Queenstown – have launched exclusive offers for corporate events.
For a limited time, IHG Business Rewards members can enjoy 10 per cent off the master bill, while non-members receive five per cent off on all events booked at the voco and Holiday Inn Express hotels by August 31, 2025, and held by March 30, 2026.
The Great Room at Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre
Event planners looking to maximise their loyalty benefits can take advantage of triple points with IHG Business Rewards plus two bonus Elite Night credits for events booked by June 30, 2025, and held by November 30, 2025.
Located in the city’s cultural and commercial heart, voco Auckland City Centre offers five versatile meeting rooms from an executive boardroom to three flexible spaces with natural light that can be connected for larger functions. Italian-inspired trattoria, Mozzarella & Co. and level 38 spaces including the Waitematā Suite, Wyndham Room, and Bar Albert rooftop bar with open-air terrace caters to cocktail functions and special celebrations, of eight to 73 guests.
Event organisers and guests at voco also enjoy convenient self-parking, all-day dining options, and the ability to combine venues or secure full-floor buyouts for tailored experiences. Event spaces come equipped with free Wi-Fi and state-of-the-art AV equipment, including 65″ LED screens with Chromecast, data integration, and sound bars. Additional amenities include individual stationery for each conference delegate and personalised event signage.
Over at Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre, three light-filled and flexible meeting spaces can accommodate up to 40 people.
Lastly, the two modern and flexible meetings spaces at Holiday Inn Express and Suites Queenstown can cater between four and 60 people. Bathed in natural light with floor to ceiling windows overlooking landscaped gardens, these modern spaces have seamless technology and fast Wi-Fi connectivity.
Go Park Sports, a sprawling 120,770m2 facility opened earlier this year in Sai Sha, offering 10 sports amenities including football, lacrosse, tennis, a golf driving range, a running/cycling track, and pickleball.
Targeting the business events sector, its expansive 8,360m2 outdoor football pitch can be converted into convention and exhibition space for sports, health, and wellness-related events.
Aerial view of Go Park Sports
Go Park Sports also offers customised team-building programmes focused on teamwork and communication. Corporations can also utilise the facility and do buyouts for private events, leveraging its location for nearby island hopping to Three Fathoms Cove, and hiking excursions to Ma On Shan, Lai Chi Chong and Sham Chung. Health and wellness retreats centred around sports and fitness programmes to help promote employee well-being are also a focus.
Adding to its offerings, the adjacent Go Park Aqua launched earlier in May 2025, providing a range of water activities such as stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, and wing foiling for all skill levels.
Go Park Sports has partnered with ALVA Hotel and Royal Park Hotel to offer Sportscation Packages. These packages combine accommodation and sports activities for corporate events, and cater to groups of 20 to 100 participants with programme durations ranging from two to four hours.
Host a stylish soiree in the award-winning Majestic at Mayfair Café, which was named Best Café of the Year at the Hospitality New Zealand Business Awards 2024.
The boutique café, located within The Mayfair luxury hotel in Christchurch, New Zealand, serves beautifully-plated all day breakfast and lunch and transforms into an elegant venue for cocktails when the sun sets.
Majestic at Mayfair Café welcomes private dining events
Majestic at Mayfair Café is ideal for networking functions with up to 40 guests. The dining experience will be a highlight, as guests will enjoy dishes featuring locally sourced seasonal produce.
The Mayfair, which was bought over and now managed by Millennium and Copthorne Hotels New Zealand in October 2024, also offers dedicated venues for meetings and events.
The Boardroom on the ground floor welcomes intimate meetings for up to eight guests, and is equipped by a 165cm screen and video conferencing facilities. Up on the first floor stands the Dorset Room, a flexible space for up to 40 guests and is perfect for presentations, planning sessions and conferences. This venue features an abundant natural light, individually controlled air conditioning, and in-built audio-visual technology.
Radisson Hotel Group will open Radisson Blu Hotel, Shanghai Stadium, a new addition to its upper-upscale brand in the city. Located in Xujiahui Sports Park, a key hub for sports and cultural activities, the hotel is positioned to serve event attendees, sports fans, business travellers, and tourists alike.
The hotel occupies floors six to 12 of Shanghai Stadium and offers 208 rooms and suites ranging from 38m² to 200m². Guests can choose between stadium-facing rooms with direct views of live events or park-facing rooms overlooking the greenery of Xujiahui Sports Park.
Radisson Blu opens at Shanghai Stadium, offering views of live events and direct access to Xujiahui Sports Park
The property includes nearly 1,000m² of meeting and event space, including a 445m² ballroom and six flexible meeting rooms.
Dining options include 94 Kitchen, which offers international cuisine and local Shanghai flavours; Jiu·Li, which combines Huaiyang and Cantonese styles; and Jiu·Bar, a casual space with cocktails, wine, snacks, and a large LED screen. A Lobby Lounge and an Executive Lounge with a private meeting room are also available for guests.
Facilities include a fitness centre, multifunctional training areas, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and a 25-metre transparent temperature-controlled swimming pool.
James Wang, vice president of Jin Jiang Radisson Hotels, said: “In cooperation with JUSS Sports, we are blending Radisson Blu’s signature hospitality with the city’s dynamic sports culture to curate an exceptional experience for global business travellers, event participants, and wellness-focused guests.”
Davide Pesenato, general manager of Radisson Blu Hotel, Shanghai Stadium, added: “From thoughtfully designed spaces and premier facilities to outstanding services, the hotel is committed to bringing a personalised and local experience for guests to create unforgettable memories at events, business meetings or cultural activities.”
Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre (pictured) will be the conference venue
Wellington, New Zealand, will host the Asian-Australasian Congress of Neurological Surgeons in 2028 with the objective of improving neurosurgery access in New Zealand and the Pacific.
The congress is expected to attract up to 1,000 delegates to Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre, and deliver more than NZ$3.4 million (US$2 million) in delegate spending to the city and beyond.
Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre (pictured) will be the conference venue
The conference bid was led by the Wellington members of Aotearoa Neurosurgeons New Zealand, with support from Business Events Wellington, and Tourism New Zealand Business Events.
New Zealand’s strong history in neurosurgery, and state-of-the-art venue Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre were important factors in winning the bid against competition from Perth and Singapore. New Zealand’s strategic funding support, and the potential for positive outcomes from hosting this event in Wellington were also instrumental in the decision.
Kelvin Woon and Agadha Wickremesekera, the two co-conveners of the conference, said: “… This event presents a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and address common challenges in the global neurosurgical community.”
Members of the organising committee added that the congress will showcase New Zealand’s neuroscience capability, and provide a platform to attract neurosurgeons and other health workers in the neurosciences to New Zealand.
New Zealand has 0.49 neurosurgeons per 100,000 population, compared to approximately one neurosurgeon per 100,000 people in countries such as the US or Australia.
Additionally, the congress will address the lack of neurosurgery services in the Pacific Islands and explore solutions to the region’s current infrastructure limitations.
Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington has placed sustainability at the forefront of its urban agenda, setting a goal to become a carbon-zero city by 2050, in accordance with Wellington City Council’s Te Atakura – First to Zero plan.
This blueprint outlines key activities to reduce emissions in areas such as transport, building energy, and urban form. The plan emphasises the importance of collective action, with 82 per cent of residents wanting immediate action to reduce emissions.
Switched on Bikes rents out a range of bikes to explore Wellington on two wheels. Picture by WellingtonNZ
Early progress indicates a positive trajectory, with the city achieving a 10 per cent reduction in total gross emissions between 2020 and 2023.
Major business events venues and companies have also gained recognition for their sustainable efforts. For instance, Takina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre has achieved the 5-Star Green Star design certification, where its green features include water-efficient fittings, rainwater harvesting systems, enhanced thermal insulation, high-performance double glazing, and efficient LED lighting. These features contribute to a 66 per cent reduction in carbon emissions compared to a comparable new build.
Venues Wellington – a company that manages and provides services for civic venues on behalf of the Wellington City Council – has also achieved EarthCheck certification, the only global benchmarking and certification programme for sustainable travel, tourism and events.
Business Events Wellington actively supports event planners in the execution of environmentally responsible events. Their sustainability guide offers advice and support throughout the entire event lifecycle, provides clients with recommendations for local suppliers, and highlights the best practices to facilitate the hosting of sustainable events in the city.
Wellington has joined cities from around the world in the Cities Race to Zero, a collective pledge to halve carbon emissions by 2030. It was also one of 15 cities worldwide to win the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge for a digital re-creation of Wellington. This re-creation aims to educate people about climate change and will assist in better decision-making on how the city grows.
The Economist’s Safe Cities Index has also named Wellington as the number one city worldwide for environmental security in 2021. This index considers Wellington’s world-leading environmental restoration work. It also considers how the city has incorporated sustainability into urban planning to reduce carbon emissions and manage climate risks.
Sydney, Australia
Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 is the City of Sydney’s vision for a green, global and connected city.
The Australian city is forging ahead with a sense of urgency on climate action, where Sydney has reduced carbon emissions by 70 per cent, with the aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035. The city has also converted more than 6,000 streetlights to LED, installed more than 7,000 solar panels atop 45 city buildings, switched to 100 per cent renewable energy in 2020 while also procuring the nation’s largest hybrid and electric vehicle fleet, including trialling electric garbage and street sweeping trucks.
View of Sydney’s cityscape from Vaucluse, an eastern suburb of Sydney. Picture by James Horan
Further bolstering its environmental efforts, Sydney has also installed a recycling plant to treat up to 900 litres of storm water daily to provide residents and services with recycled water and 20 rainwater harvesting systems in parks to keep the city’s parklands green.
Critical to this is the City of Sydney’s Sustainable Destination Partnership – a collaboration of hotels, cultural institutions, entertainment venues and industry influencers working together to make Sydney a sustainable destination.
Since 2011, the City of Sydney has been Climate Active certified carbon neutral, with BESydney becoming the only Australian convention bureau to achieve Climate Active Carbon Neutral Certification since 2022. Climate Active is an ongoing partnership between the Australian Government and Australian businesses to drive voluntary climate action by becoming climate neutral.
Major venues like ICC Sydney have also implemented environmental management systems adhering to international standards ISO14001 and EarthCheck criteria, achieving EarthCheck Silver certification.
In addition, the Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been awarded a 6-star Green Star performance rating by the Green Building Council of Australia, representing world leadership in environmental and social sustainability operations. Key sustainability achievements include reducing emissions by 26 per cent, moving to 100 per cent renewable energy and diverting over 90 per cent of event waste from landfill.
For the past three years, BESydney has been proactive in offering limited invitation-only matched funding opportunities to encourage international association organisers to use to take climate action by using sustainably certified suppliers and reducing, measuring and offsetting their carbon footprint.
The bureau actively facilitates the seamless integration of sustainability into the delegate experience. In February 2025, BESydney partnered with Sinyi Realty to create a Sinyi Walkathon, a sustainable and engaging delegate experience showcasing Sydney’s landmarks. Participants walked part of the Sydney Marathon track from Luna Park over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Botanic Garden Tarpein Lawn.
BESydney will soon launch its Social Impact Strategy, a guide for conference and meetings organisers to measure their social impact before, during and after their conference takes place in the destination. This will include partaking in socially-sustainable initiatives, working with third-sector organisations and leveraging their international influence to create meaningful connections and advocate for change within their industry.
Tourism New Zealand’s Penelope Ryan within the Hobbiton set-up
New Zealand’s business events sector is well-positioned for growth, fuelled by funding boosts, the soon-to-open New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in early 2026, and unique cultural and experiential appeal.
Penelope Ryan, global manager for Business Events at Tourism New Zealand, told TTGmice at IMEX Frankfurt 2025 that the “NZ$3 million boost (US$1.8 million) was an amazing opportunity, because it meant that we had more funds to put towards bids”.
Tourism New Zealand’s Penelope Ryan within the Hobbiton set-up
The fund’s immediate impact is evident, with Ryan sharing that they are targeting 110 bids for FY25, which ends in July 2025. “This is 20 more bids than we had previously. We’re also maintaining a win rate of around 60 to 65 per cent, which is great.”
Adding to this momentum is the long-awaited opening of the NZICC in Auckland, scheduled for February 2026, which Ryan pointed out will “give us the ability to cater for larger conferences up to 4,000 people, which is significantly more than what we’ve been able to cater”.
But while functional purpose-built venues like NZICC, Takina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, and Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre are important, New Zealand’s appeal lies in its “softer elements”, she emphasised.
For example, Māori culture is well integrated into event design, offering delegates an authentic and enriching experience beyond mere entertainment.
Moreover, exhibiting at the Tourism New Zealand stand at IMEX Frankfurt for the first time this year Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, which brought with them a full-scale Hobbit Hole exhibit hobbit door, complete with a living room and real garden set-up.
The attraction’s general manager of tourism, Shayne Forrest, told TTGmice that business events currently constitutes “five per cent” of its business, and he believes there is “so much more room to grow, which is why we’re here this year”.
New Zealand is also leveraging its strong industry innovation and academic community in sectors like agriculture, geothermal energy, and medical sciences to create relevant and engaging business events.
“The country excels in providing experiential learning opportunities, allowing delegates to connect with their subject matter through hands-on experiences. For instance, delegates attending a conference in Auckland can easily take a day trip to Hamilton to experience agricultural practices first-hand,” Ryan elaborated.
When asked about how Tourism New Zealand is aiming to attract more business events from Asia, Ryan shared that the focus is on in-market engagement and education to showcase New Zealand’s business event ecosystem, as “Asia is a key market we are actively working to develop”.
One aspect of attracting the Asian market involves easing visa processing for delegates from several countries, which is an area currently being worked on by Business Events Industry Aotearoa.
From left: Zurich Topas Life's Jauhari, Bank Indonesia's Arief Hartawan, Telkomsel's Novera Maharani, Singapore Tourism Board's Mohamed Hafez Marican, and moderator Harry Nugraha
Despite government-wide budget tightening and economic caution, events remain a strategic channel for Indonesia’s corporate and institutional businesses.
Speakers at the recent Indonesia Event Industry Association (IVENDO) National Congress in Jakarta revealed that spending has not completely stopped but expectations have evolved, and therefore event organisers needed to adapt.
From left: Zurich Topas Life’s Jauhari, Bank Indonesia’s Arief Hartawan, Telkomsel’s Novera Maharani, Singapore Tourism Board’s Mohamed Hafez Marican, and moderator Harry Nugraha; photo by Tiara Maharani
At the event, Bank Indonesia (BI) reaffirmed its commitment to event-based outreach, even as it scales down activities for 2025. From 800 planned events, only 300 will proceed.
Arief Hartawan, head of regional department at BI, said: “We are not eliminating events, but we are recalibrating. Proposals focused on financial literacy, MSME development, and inclusive engagement still have our attention. If the value is clear, we are open to sponsorship, even if this means more than the 300 events limit.”
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s telecommunication provider, Telkomsel, recognises creativity as an essential tool for delivering meaningful impact in today’s events.
“We prioritise unique formats that deliver real value to internal teams and public audiences,” said Novera Maharani, manager of people communications at Telkomsel. “It’s not about venue prestige, but about storytelling and experience.”
Recently, Telkomsel swapped luxury ballrooms for unconventional spaces like basketball halls, creating distinctive atmospheres through bold design. According to Novera, what matters most now is meaningful interaction, not scale.
“Big or small organisers – it does not matter. What we look for is concept originality and audience impact,” she added.
Jauhari, Zurich Topas Life’s procurement manager, shared a similar perspective: “The need to engage stakeholders has not changed, but the approach has. Events need to be sharper, more strategic, and better justified.”
This shift in expectations calls on local event organisers to step up, not just as executors of client briefs, but as innovators creating original events. By developing their own concepts and intellectual property, organisers can better meet evolving demands and secure more sustainable opportunities, according to Irvan Sumamto, CEO of Gemalindo Kreasi Indonesia PEO.
“We’re pushing event organisers to move beyond technical execution,” said Irvan, who is also the newly-elected chairman of IVENDO. “Creating your own event IP is not just a survival strategy, it is a way to build long-term value. If your concept is strong, sponsors like BI are willing to back you.”
Irvan explained that owning an event allows organisers to control audience targeting, content, branding, and revenue streams, such as ticketing and partnerships.
As part of his long-term vision as IVENDO’s new chairman, Irvan plans to support members in developing strong concepts and connecting them with potential funders to help them thrive.
For bigger opportunities, event organisers should look to the global market, advised Mulkan Kamaluddin, CEO of Intro Event Solution. But to compete, he said, they must level up.
“To succeed internationally, organisers need to sharpen their skills and earn certifications that align with South-east Asian standards. It is the only way to stay competitive on the regional stage,” said Mulkan.
Singapore (pictured) reaffirms its continued dominance in the region's business events landscape
For the seventh time since 2016, Singapore has secured the top spot in Cvent’s list of the Top 10 Meeting Destinations in Asia-Pacific for 2025.
Bangkok and Sydney took the second and third spots, followed by Tokyo , Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Seoul, Shanghai, and Beijing respectively.
Singapore (pictured) reaffirms its continued dominance in the region’s business events landscape
Kuala Lumpur, Bali and Shanghai each improved their position from last year, moving up one spot each, while Beijing moved up two spots to break into the Top 10 this year.
As for the Top Meeting Hotels in Asia Pacific, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park rose in the rankings to secure this year’s top spot, with Hyatt Regency Sydney as the runner up.
Hilton Singapore Orchard rose seven spots to #3, while Hilton Tokyo Bay (#5) and The Westin Tokyo (#8) each made leaps, moving up 19 and 14 spots respectively. Hilton Sydney and the InterContinental Singapore are also Top 10 newcomers.
Other Singapore hotels in the Top 10 Meeting Hotels list include Fairmont Singapore (#4) voco Orchard Singapore, an IHG Hotel (#6), and Shangri-La Singapore (#7).
The destination and hotel rankings are determined based on insights gleaned from the more than US$18 billion of global sourcing and request-for-proposal (RFP) activity through Cvent’s sourcing platforms in 2024, including a record-breaking US$16.5 billion through the Cvent Supplier Network. This trend is further supported by Cvent’s 2025 Planner Sourcing Report: Asia Edition, which found that nearly 79 per cent of planners expect the number of in-person meetings to increase in 2025.
Cvent’s annual lists are also issued regionally for North America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and for the first time this year, Latin America & Caribbean. Cvent also unveiled a new Top Lists category, the Top Venues and Vendors, which analyses data from the Cvent Vendor Marketplace.
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