Conventions and Incentives New Zealand’s (CINZ) annual showcase, MEETINGS 2017, is in full swing this week, kicking off with a high-energy welcome event for 650 at the Grand Millennium in Auckland.

MEETINGS’ two-day exhibition opened yesterday and brings more than 195 stands from 19 regions of New Zealand inside ASB Showgrounds. Exhibitors and buyers will hold more than 6,000 meetings during the two days of pre-scheduled appointments and social networking events.

CINZ Chief Executive Sue Sullivan said MEETINGS is New Zealand’s leading platform for connecting influential domestic, Australian and international buyers with key regions, meeting facilities, accommodation, off-site venues and activities.

“Business events continue to be the high-value sector of New Zealand’s visitor economy. Convention visitors spent over a million nights in New Zealand last year, and international delegates generated twice as much as other visitors to New Zealand.”

Another exciting announcement to come out of MEETINGS was CINZ’s launch of Education Hub.

A new Education Hub at CINZ MEETINGS 2017 highlights the importance of training and professional development to the business events sector.

The Hub is a lounge-style space located in the centre of the show floor, and will be a go-to place for visitors to work and network over the two-day event. ServiceIQ will be providing updates on their industry training programmes, and Reserve Group will be demonstrating the CINZ online event planning tool. Independent consulting company TMS.

Workshop will also profile their training workshops and share their insights into retaining and inspiring staff for the business events sector.

“We have seen strong demand for access to professional development within our sector. This industry is all about people, and we know it is crucial we invest in human infrastructure, as well as physical infrastructure to grow our country’s business events sector,” Sullivan said.

The South Island’s Canterbury region has also been out in force at MEETINGS, when a record 12 partners join Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau to showcase their latest products and services.

The Christchurch Centre, Vbase, The Commodore Hotel, The George hotel, Novotel Christchurch Airport, Multi-Media Systems, Red Travel, the International Antarctic Centre, Selwyn District Council, Heritage Hanmer Springs, and Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa are all on show.

Anchoring the regional presence, Christchurch Airport’s spacious lounge areas is proving to be an attractive friendly space to relax and meet, with coffee and conversation.

CCCB Manager, Caroline Blanchfield said many other Christchurch and Canterbury operators will be flying the flag at MEETINGS 2017, exhibiting as independents or on national stands.

Christchurch’s new city centre is all about pedestrian-friendly shopping, dining, arts and entertainment. Our famous Garden City charm extends to new green spaces framing the CBD, with the Ōtākaro/Avon River precinct as the city’s centrepiece,” she said.

“With a $40 billion rebuild happening in the city, there is always something new to discover.”

Three new hotels will add 600 rooms to Christchurch in the coming year, including the 204-room Crowne Plaza Christchurch, Novotel Christchurch Airport, and Distinction Hotel Christchurch. And stunning designs have been revealed for our new convention centre, now underway in the heart of the city on a prime riverfront site.

In the heart of the CBD on a prime riverfront site, Christchurch’s convention centre will be a world-class boutique facility of major architectural significance for 200 to 2000 delegates, planned for completion in late 2019.

“The new convention centre will be a dream space for international event organisers, designed with a distinctive South Island flavour,” Blanchfield said.

CINZ MEETINGS 2016 generated over $55 million of signed business over its two days of pre-scheduled appointments.

For the first time this year five event organisers from Argentina are joining the programme, along with buyers and industry media from China, South and South-East Asia, North America and Australia, supported by Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand.

CINZ MEETINGS 2017 is open to anyone who organises business events, meetings, conferences, exhibitions and incentive travel. Registration is free at www.meetings.co.nz/daybuyer.