Rotorua set to welcome 2000 conference delegates

Wednesday 15, June 2016

Rotorua set to welcome 2000 international conference delegates

Rotorua has won the bid to host the world health promotion conference of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) in 2019, thanks to the combined efforts of Tourism New Zealand, Destination Rotorua and the Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand.

The conference is a significant win for the Rotorua region and will see 2,000 international delegates enjoy the tourism hot-spot - bringing an estimated $4 million to the New Zealand economy.

Tourism New Zealand Director of Trade, PR and Major Events René de Monchy says it is a great win for Rotorua and demonstrates the significant value international conferences bring to New Zealand.

“The conference will be held in April which strongly supports Tourism New Zealand’s strategy to spread visitors across the off-peak season helping to support employment and grow the economic benefit to the country.”

Destination Rotorua Business Events Manager Craig Murray says that this is the largest conference that Rotorua will have ever hosted.

“Winning such a large scale event is testament to the quality convention infrastructure that Rotorua already has in place.”

“This coupled with the region’s rich Maori culture, natural beauty and unique geothermal landscape makes for an extraordinary proposition for world-class business events,” says Mr Murray.

Health Promotion Forum Executive Director Sione Tu‘itahi says, “We won because of the guidance and support of our nation’s leaders. IUHPE also saw that New Zealand is willing and able to contribute in leading ways to the major global challenges that the world community faces such as the health of the planet and its peoples.

“Certainly, Rotorua as a location was a significant factor.”

Mr de Monchy says, “Tourism New Zealand has significantly increased its activity in the business events sector in the last few years, and this result is a great example of our focus to work collaboratively with industry to grow delegate numbers and value.”

Tourism New Zealand have bid for 58 international conferences for New Zealand since July 2015 - if successful this will see an estimated $77.5 million injected into the New Zealand economy.

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

ENDS

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