28 March 2017
Conventions generate high value for New Zealand
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, new statistics show.
Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) Chief Executive, Sue Sullivan says business events continue to be the
high-value sector of New Zealand’s visitor economy.
The Convention Delegate Survey released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) for the year to December 2016 show the number of
overseas arrivals to New Zealand for conventions and conferences rose to 66,000, up from 63,000 in 2015. A total of
1,213,389 event days were recorded in 2016, up 19 per cent on 2015.
Multi-day convention delegates generated an estimated 1,005,000 visitor nights in New Zealand and they spent an
estimated $588 million in 2016, up from $472 million in 2015.
Domestic delegates accounted for $316 million, 54 per cent of the total amount, local delegates spent $141 million - 24
per cent, and international visitors spent a total of $131 million - 22 per cent. Of the international spend, $72
million was generated from Australian visitors and $59 million from other international visitors.
Sue Sullivan says the high number of domestic delegates reflects a strong New Zealand economy. “Companies are investing
in educating their teams, and domestic conference attendees are providing a boost to regional New Zealand.
“Smaller regions in New Zealand are investing in new facilities. The recently opened Napier Conference Centre, for
example, has a range of domestic conferences scheduled for the next 12 months. Its first event this month was an
international horticulture symposium where 86 per cent delegates were from overseas, and 14 per cent domestic.
“New Zealand’s share of the world’s multi-day convention market is set to grow once our new purpose-built facilities
open in the main centres, giving us the ability to cater for much larger events,” Sue Sullivan says.
“The broader benefits of a growing business events economy are equally important. New Zealand’s business events sector
provides key support for infrastructure development, business relationships, knowledge transfer and industry investment,
with the benefits spreading across both city and regional economies,” she says.
ENDS
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Background information
Convention Delegate Survey (CDS) YE December 2016 (MBIE)
International delegates stayed an average of 6 nights in New Zealand - 4.2 nights in the event region and 1.8 nights
elsewhere in New Zealand),
• spending an estimated $334 per night (Australians spent $372 per night and other international delegates spent
$297 per night)
• this per night spend is almost double the average spend per night for all international visitors.
• on average international delegates spent $2,009 in New Zealand.
Domestic delegates (New Zealand delegates from outside the event region)
• stayed an average of 3 nights in the event region
• spending an estimated $504 per night.
Multi-day convention delegates spent an estimated $588 million within New Zealand in 2016 (up from $472m in 2015). Of
this:
• Domestic delegates spent $316 million (54 per cent of total delegate spend) on attending events outside their
home region.
• Local delegates spent $141 million (24 per cent) inside their region.
• Internationals visitors spent $131 million (22 per cent) in New Zealand.
Multi-day conventions generated an estimated 1,005,000 visitor nights in New Zealand.
Of this:
• 88 per cent (887,000) of visitor nights were spent in the region that hosted the event (international and
domestic delegates),
• The remaining 12 per cent (118,000) of visitor nights were spent in other regions (international delegates
only).
A total of 1,213,389 days at events were estimated to have occurred in the 2016 calendar year (up 19 per cent on 2015).
About the New Zealand Convention Research Programme (CRP)
• CRP is a partnership between the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and regional convention
bureaux to measure business event activity in New Zealand. Business events cover meetings, incentives, conferences,
conventions and exhibitions. The CRP administers two Business Event surveys:
o the Convention Delegate Survey (CDS) and
o the Convention Activity Survey (CAS).
• The CRP regional Convention Bureaux members that are represented are: Auckland, Rotorua, Hawke's Bay, Taupo,
Manawatu, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch & Canterbury, Dunedin, Queenstown, Hamilton & Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Marlborough.
About Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ)
• CINZ www.conventionsnz.co.nz is the official, membership based association of New Zealand’s conference and business travel industry with more than
430 members across a broad range of sectors.
• CINZ takes a leadership role in increasing meetings, incentives, conference and events business for the benefit
of its members, principal stakeholders and the New Zealand economy.
• CINZ works to actively promote the sector, providing advocacy with central government and offering assistance,
information, professional development and real business opportunities to its members.
ends