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*Wednesday 16th March, 2011*

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*Nelson showcased in Italy*

Nelson Mayor Aldo Miccio says he believes the Italians are now well schooled about Nelson, following his trip last week to Italy.

Mayor Miccio extended his own personal business trip in Europe to include a visit to Italy, with his itinerary being organised by the New Zealand Consulate in Milan and the New Zealand Embassy in Rome. Miccio says there were four key objectives of the trip to Italy.

1. To firm up the Italian rugby team’s community engagement while in Nelson.

2. To ensure a positive hosting experience for the team, and the international media.

3. To look at economic development opportunities leading up to, during and post the Rugby World Cup.

4. To achieve positive exposure for Nelson in Italy, and into Europe.

While in Italy, I believe we achieved the objectives we set out to achieve, thanks to the quality networking opportunities provided by the New Zealand Consulate and the New Zealand Ambassador in Italy, and the extensive hospitality of the Italian Rugby Management,” Miccio says.

“The Italian rugby team management have willingly agreed to be open to extra curricular activities in our region during the team’s trip,” he says. “The team management are also very happy with the arrangements we have made to date for the players in Nelson, and we will now be looking at reviewing our media facilities outside the stadium, to ensure the international media have what they need to broadcast positive stories about our region to their homes.

“I also spent a good amount of time with the Italian rugby team’s sponsors, discussing opportunities for business in our region, which they are keen to investigate further when they are here,” he says.

“A great number of media interviews were also arranged for me, such as inclusion in the Italian Rugby Team’s media release and participation in their news conference, where I was able to promote the region and our events to five TV stations and the 30 journalists in the room. This conference was followed by three live radio interviews, a live TV studio interview and inclusion in two SKY TV documentaries. I believe Nelson gained some very valuable airtime in an important visitor and commercial market for us.

“Following the World Cup I will also continue to build my relationship with the New Zealand representatives in Italy, and with Italian media, to ensure that Nelson remains on the radar,” he says.

“A further positive element to last week is the fact that Italy won their Six Nations’ game against France,” he says. “This historic win has buoyed Italy’s spirits and I anticipate will attract even more people to Nelson, and to the television, to watch their team playing in our stadium.”

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