Millions of Dollars Worth of Business Booked

Millions of Dollars Worth of Business Booked

New Zealand’s convention and incentive industry is thriving further boosted by $10 million worth of business booked over two days in Auckland recently.

International and local buyers met with New Zealand’s leading convention hotels, venues and activity operators at the annual MEETINGS 2005 tradeshow, held by Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) late last week.

“It is estimated that once leads are followed up from the tradeshow a further $28 million of business will be booked over the next 6-12 months. This is a fantastic result and the best tradeshow to date,” says Alan Trotter, CINZ CEO.

These figures were derived from an on-site touch-screen comment card system operated by Touchpoll that was completed by both exhibitors and buyers during the show.

“MEETINGS is the jewel in CINZ’s crown and worth its weight in gold. The feedback from both buyers and exhibitors has been very positive. It was a very valuable two days for the industry,” Mr Trotter says.

The two-day tradeshow is a chance for buyers and exhibitors to meet face to face and update themselves on New Zealand’s convention product and services and for exhibitors to market their product and services.

“MEETINGS 2005 was held at the new SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre for the first time, which is a great venue with plenty of space for exhibitors and of course complemented by the new Grand Hotel located directly above the Convention Centre,” Mr Trotter says.

Now in its ninth year MEETINGS 2005 showcased more than 160 exhibitors of New Zealand’s C&I product to a range of national and international buyers from Australia and as far afield as India.

The programme also highlighted Auckland city’s exciting range of venues to both exhibitors and buyers. The welcome function was held at The Pavilion at Britomart with convention bureaux from around the country hosting dinners at various venues around the city the following night. A lunch was held at St Matthews in the City, hosted by Millennium Copthorne Kingsgate (MCK) Hotels and Resorts, and the tradeshow culminated with a Gala Party at the Auckland Convention Centre at THE EDGE.

MEETINGS 2004 was held out of Auckland for the first time in Christchurch and MEETINGS 2006 will be back in Christchurch.

ENDS

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