Asia-Pacific Business Tourism Specialists Scope Out Waikato

29 November, 2013

Asia-Pacific Business Tourism Specialists Scope Out Waikato Region

The Hamilton and Waikato region this week hosted a high power delegation of Asia-Pacific tourism specialists visiting New Zealand to learn more about opportunities for business tourism.

Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) is placing renewed focus on the conventions and incentives market and has recently made a number of new strategic appointments in locations around Asia, the Pacific rim and North America, to promote New Zealand as a business travel destination.

The party of seven visitors includes TNZ business event managers from India, China, Singapore, and the United States, who together have broad responsibilities for promoting New Zealand locations in the regions of India, Asia, South Asia, China and North America.

Arriving yesterday, TNZ arranged for the group to spend four days in New Zealand, focusing on the Waikato region, as well as Rotorua, Hawke’s Bay and Taupo.

While in the Waikato, they visited Hobbiton, Waitomo and the Hamilton Gardens before heading to Claudelands for a site tour and a dinner in the venue’s Arena Lounge. The group stayed in Hamilton at the Novotel Tainui Hotel, the first time a group of TNZ Asia-Pacific managers have devoted a whole day to the region.

Jenny Stokes, Convention Bureau Manager for Hamilton and Waikato Tourism, is pleased to have been able to help host the TNZ familiarisation visit.

“Being able to showcase the range of products that are appropriate for the international conventions and incentives market was a valuable opportunity,” said Stokes.

“We were able to give these industry professionals a taste of the diversity and international standard of what is available in the Hamilton and Waikato region.”

Hamilton City’s Event Facilities Director of Business Development, Murray Jeffrey, says the market visit represents a great chance to shape the way in which the region is perceived offshore.

"The Hamilton and Waikato region continues to grow in prominence as a major focus for business event tourism,” said Jeffrey.

“It is now recognised as a serious contender for conferences and delegates and the new Claudelands venue is proving a source of surprise and delight to both organisers and attendees."

"We’re encouraged by the potential that Asia-Pacific holds,” Jeffrey added. “The trend towards the Waikato will continue into 2014 and this tourism familiarisation is perfectly timed to build the momentum," Jeffrey said.

Claudelands Conference and Exhibition Centre
Corner of Brooklyn Road and Heaphy Terrace
Claudelands, Hamilton, New Zealand
Private Bag 3010
Hamilton 3214
Ph: +64 7 958 5895
www.claudelands.co.nz

About Claudelands Conference and Exhibition Centre
Claudelands is a dynamic city venue set in the welcoming green space of heartland New Zealand.

The venue is set on 34 hectares of park-land, and caters for a broad range of conferences, exhibitions, large banquets, meetings and functions and events, music, entertainment and international sport.

It includes the stunning 6000-capacity arena and four-star conference and exhibition centre.

Claudelands has a rich cultural history, and has been hosting events in Hamilton since the late 1800s. The extensive redevelopment of Claudelands began in 2007 and an Open Day was held to mark its re-opening in June 2011.

Claudelands is owned and managed by Event Facilities, a unit within Hamilton City Council.

ENDS

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