Dunedin to welcome 500 international conference delegates

3 June, 2014

Dunedin set to welcome 500 international conference delegates

Over 500 conference delegates from around the world will gather in Dunedin in 2018, bringing an estimated $1.7 million to the New Zealand economy.

The Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference will be hosted by the University of Otago’s Centre for Science and Communication - the world’s largest postgraduate facility for Science Communication.

The conference bid was made by the University’s Stuart Professor of Science Communication, Lloyd Spencer Davis, with the support of Tourism New Zealand (TNZ), Tourism Dunedin and the Conference Assistance Programme (CAP).

Professor Davis, who will be leading the organisation of the conference in 2018 says, “we were up against tough competition from Japan and Canada and one of the reasons we prevailed was because of the professionalism lent to our bid through our collaboration with Tourism New Zealand.”

TNZ’s International Business Events Manager Bjoern Spreitzer says international events such as this provide a huge opportunity to grow the value of visitors to New Zealand.

"This is what our work in this sector is all about, attracting people to New Zealand for business purposes who previous might not have visited and encouraging them to explore further and make a holiday of it."

Tourism Dunedin CEO Hamish Saxton says: “Dunedin is excited to host this auspicious international conference, as the city gains momentum as an ideal destination for business events. Events such as this are sound recognition of the city’s reputation as a knowledge centre and the acknowledgement of the University of Otago’s reputation on the world stage.

“We are already seeing the benefits of the city’s ongoing investment in Business Events, particularly with the recent refurbishment of key asset the Dunedin Centre and Town Hall.”

Bjoern says, “TNZ has significantly increased its activity in the business events sector working collaboratively with industry to grow delegate numbers and value, so this is great result.”

TNZ's management of the Conference Assistance Programme has seen New Zealand bid for 33 events over the last financial year, securing seven international events to date.

Tourism New Zealand will also be attending MEETINGS2014, a highly regarded annual event held from 18-19 June 2014 in Auckland, which brings together buyers and sellers of conference and incentive travel products.

For more details about Business Events in New Zealand and the Conference Assistance Programme visit www.businessevents.newzealand.com.

ENDS

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