Convention Centres Hot Topic for NZ Hotel Conference

Convention Centres Hot Topic for NZ Hotel Industry Conference

Convention centres and their importance as a key tourism driver will be a hot topic at the 2013 New Zealand Hotel Industry Conference.

“Convention centres are recognised as an effective way to fill hotel rooms year round, especially in the low and shoulder seasons. The hotel sector is taking a keen interest in the progress of the proposed New Zealand international convention centre in Auckland, as well as the development of smaller convention facilities being planned in areas like Christchurch and Queenstown,” Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) Chief Executive Martin Snedden says.

TIA and Horwath HTL Ltd are co-hosting the seventh annual New Zealand Hotel Industry Conference on Thursday 30 May at Pullman Auckland, which is managed by Accor, the platinum sponsor of the conference which will be attended by 250-300 senior decision makers including hotel owners, developers, operators, investors and consultants.

Early bird registrations close on 1 May and the conference programme is available at www.nzhotelconference.com for the must-attend conference. Those who register before early bird registrations close will go in the draw to win one of two return trips to Sydney!

All conference delegates will also gain a complimentary invitation to the Technical Seminar being held 3pm-5.30pm on the day before the conference. This year’s session will focus on the very important issue of new building standards and seismic grading for new and existing hotels. These have implications for value, insurance, engineering, lending and customers. The session will conclude with a summary of hotel investment trends in New Zealand and Australia.

The conference programme is shaping up to be a fast paced day of updates and discussion about key issues influencing the future of the hotel and tourism industry, according to Horwath HTL Ltd Director Terry Ngan.

Keynote speakers include:

• Rachel Argaman, CEO of Toga Hotels, previously Telstra National Corporate Businesswoman of the Year, and a former HM Magazine Hotelier of the Year, focussing on the importance of brands and culture in the hotel industry

• Air New Zealand’s new CEO, Christopher Luxon, speaking about market development and growth, challenging costs and productivity.

TIA CEO Martin Snedden will lead a discussion around the development of a National Tourism Plan, including the importance to the hotel and tourism industry of world class infrastructure like convention centres.

The conference will conclude with a banquet dinner where the three annual hotel awards celebrating excellence in the hotel industry will be presented. The awards will recognise the Senior Hotel Executive of the Year, Outstanding Young Hotel Executive and Environmental Initiative. Entries for the awards are open until 3 May at www.nzhotelconference.com

For more information on the conference, go to www.nzhotelconference.com

TIA Hotel Sector

TIA’s hotel sector represents the interests of over 130 members throughout New Zealand, including international chain, large independent and privately owned hotels. TIA hotel sector members employ 11,000 staff nationally, with annual revenues of more than $866 million.

ENDS

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