The South Pacific’s Newest Conference Destination Receives Official Opening From
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Christchurch, New Zealand – Friday 16th June, 2017. The South Pacific’s newest conferencing destination, Niue, has
received a high level opening this week with the opening of the Matavai Conference Centre Niue. Official proceedings
included a high level diplomatic delegation from New Zealand with the Rt. Hon Bill English, Prime Minister of New
Zealand and Premier of Niue Sir Toke Talagi.
For New Zealand Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Bill English, it was his first visit to Niue and one that he remarked as being
“very satisfying to come to this special place.” The Prime Minister continued that Niue had already exceeded his
expectations noting in particular the “quality of this facility here”, which referenced the just opened Matavai
Conference Centre, Niue. Prime Minister English commended Scenic Hotel Group for their efforts and diligence remarking
“this kind of partnership makes it easy for the Government of New Zealand to support such projects with a sense a
confidence.”
These sentiments were echoed by Premier of Niue, Sir Toke Talagi who commented that the new conference centre “is a
tribute to the Scenic Hotel Group for what they have done, and for the confidence they have shown to get what I think is
a facility with an international flavor for Niue.”
The Premier acknowledged thatgrowing tourism means growing the economy and opportunities to keep Niue’s next generation
on the island – “it seems to be working!”
The completion of the island’s latest and largest development marks 18 (eighteen) months of construction works that has
now seen the centre open ‘on time, on budget’ and will welcome its first conferencing delegates when it opens for
business on the 1st of July.
Scenic Hotel Group Managing Director, Brendan Taylor says the opening of the Matavai Conference Centre Niue will act as
a “huge enabler for the island’s emerging tourism industry, with the flow-on benefits from this high yielding sector
offering benefits throughout the island.”
The project was undertaken and managed under the sound and expert management of leading New Zealand construction and
project management companies, Cequent Project Management and Arrow Construction together with leading New
Zealandarchitects, Jasmax. Matavai Conference Centre Niue also showcases local craftspeople and artists as well as
offering additional job opportunities to the Niuean people.
Matavai Conference Centre, Niue sits in an enviable location adjacent to the island’s only full service resort, Scenic
Matavai Resort. With cliff top views of a spectacular seascape, the centre has been designed to make full use of its
unique setting as well as delivering excellent on site conferencing facilities that include flexible spaces and
multi-function layout along with built-in audio visual facilities.
Niue Island Tourism Chief Executive Officer, Felicity Bollen comments that “interest in conferences and weddings has
been growing over recent years and with limited conference facilities on island, the opening of a dedicated and well
equipped conference centre will offer a much needed addition to the island’s tourism offering, creating more job
opportunities as well as increasing the tourismrevenue for our island.”
With its unique natural assets and spectacular landscapes, Niue offers wedding and conference visitors an experience
like no other in the Pacific.
With its stunning cliff top location, Scenic Matavai Resort Niue is perfectly positioned to deliver on this as well as
dispersing excess capacity and tourism experiences throughout the island.
Scenic Hotel Group Area Manager for Niue, Brett Inkster says the completion of the development includes increasing
Scenic Matavai Resort’s accommodation inventory by 12 rooms as well as the completion of a refurbishment programme that
repositions the resort as a viable and desirable proposition for the conference, incentive and weddings market.
Inkster says the completion of the development marks an incredibly “exciting time not just for the Scenic Hotel Group
but also for the island of Niue and marks a coming of age for the island’s tourism industry which can only be good for
everyone.”
The governing body around thedevelopment and owner of the assets is the Niue Tourism Property Trust, which is funded by
the New Zealand Government and the Government of Niue and has ownership over Matavai Niue Limited. Scenic Hotel Group
holds the management contract for Matavai Niue Limited.
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