$190 Million of Tourism Business in the Making

PRESS RELEASE

$190 Million of Tourism Business in the Making

Tradeshow Secures Convention & Incentive Bookings

7 August 2007, Auckland: Close to $190 million will be pumped into the New Zealand economy through business tourism following a two-day tradeshow in Auckland.

New Zealand’s finest hotels, lodges, venues, caterers and activity and service providers recently showcased themselves at the annual MEETINGS 2007 tradeshow to buyers from New Zealand, Australia, United States, China, India and Thailand, and were very busy signing up business.

“Around $25 million worth of C&I business was booked at the show, with another $164 million planned and well on its way to being realised,” says Alan Trotter, Conventions & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) CEO. “This year’s show was excellent and the feedback has been fantastic.”

MEETINGS 2007 is New Zealand’s only annual C&I tradeshow and offers buyers the chance to talk face-to-face to operators from around the country all under one roof. “It’s a great opportunity to talk to the experts and for them to sign up business, and that’s exactly what the show achieved,” Mr Trotter says.

“The convention and incentive industry injects more than $1 billion dollars a year into the New Zealand economy and MEETINGS 2007 is a major facilitator in securing this business.”

In its eleventh year, it was the biggest show yet with 176 exhibitors, 177 hosted buyers and 350 registered day buyers.

Buyers and exhibitors alike were impressed with the show, Brendon Atkinson, Queenstown Convention Bureau Manager , says he couldn’t fault one aspect of the show.

“The quality of buyers both domestically and from Australia was very high. We are following up on a lot of inquiry for 2008 through the appointments we had in Auckland,” he says.

“Queenstown benefited from having a twenty-two businesses on its stand. It shows the ongoing commitment to MEETINGS and we as region see huge benefit in attending each year.”

Christchurch based Victoria Wales, Events Manager HOT Events, agrees that the show was outstanding. “I’ve attended the show as an exhibitor in the past, so I know what it’s all about, and this year it was great.”

MEETINGS 2007 was held at the SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre on July 25 and 26 and next year will be on in Christchurch at the Westpac Arena.

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