Business events prove valuable to New Zealand economy

A new convention delegate survey report revealed that business events are generating high value for New Zealand’s visitor industry.

The survey – released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) – showed that total spend by international convention delegates was up 17% last year compared to 2016. On top of that, nightly spend for international convention delegates were recorded at 50% higher than the average nightly spend of all international visitors.

“This can only grow as our value proposition strengthens, and we gear up for a major new convention centre and hotel infrastructure which will give us the ability to cater for much larger multi-day conventions,” said Sue Sullivan, chief executive, Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ).

“We do not account for the ongoing relationships, knowledge transfer or commercial transactions that happen. The numbers don’t include the spending by their partners or family either.” This means that the increase in spend could be higher than actually recorded.

According to the survey, multi-day convention delegates stayed an estimated 1,080,000 visitor nights in New Zealand and they spent an estimated US$367 million in 2017. The average per-person per-night spend for all delegates who spent time away from home to attend conferences was US$280.

“The broader benefits of a growing business events economy are equally important,” Sullivan added.

“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."