Views sought on a national convention centre network

The government is seeking views from interested groups on the development of New Zealand’s conference and conventions industry, Minister for Economic Development Gerry Brownlee said today. This includes the potential to develop an international scale convention centre in Auckland.

“Hosting large scale business events has the potential to deliver considerable economic benefits to New Zealand. At the moment we are missing out on these,” Mr Brownlee said.

“Conferences and conventions attract big-spending professionals, who like to experience more than just the conference. Capturing more of this high value expenditure would be of considerable benefit to the wider economy."

Feedback to date suggests New Zealand is unable to attract larger international events, because it does not have an international-standard convention and exhibition facility, with a seating capacity of 3,500-plus that could be used for conferences, business events and exhibitions.

“New Zealand will need a large scale capacity venue, alongside an enhanced network of complementary smaller venues throughout the country. We have asked the industry to come up with creative ways to deliver this.

“The most logical venue for an international scale convention centre is in Auckland, where a feasibility study estimated that almost 22,000 extra international visitors could be attracted, generating an estimated $85 million in tourism related spending.

“But that’s not the whole story. We also want views on how convention venues can work together more collaboratively, as a national network – from one end of the country to the other.”

The Ministry of Economic Development has today released an Expressions of Interest document seeking views and ideas on the development of a National Business Events Strategy.

The ‘Expressions of interest for growing New Zealand's share of the international business events market and strengthening the national network of convention venues’ document is available on the Government Electronic Tenders Service website: www.gets.govt.nz. Expressions of interest close at 5 pm on Friday 18 June 2010.

ENDS

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