Exhibitors awards for creativity and personality

Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) will be presenting awards for Best Stand, Best Regional Stand and Best New Exhibitor Stand at MEETINGS 2015.

Judges will be on the look out for high impact, creativity and personality for the best awards, CINZ chief executive Sue Sullivan says.

“We can’t wait to see plenty of clever ideas that take design and people skills outside the square.

“Exhibitors are loving the space at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds and they will be making the most if it,” she says.

A panel of three international buyers will judge the best exhibitor stands.

The awards will be presented at MEETINGS Gala Dinner at Shed 10 on Thursday 11 June.

Registration to attend MEETINGS as a day buyer is free. For more information and to sign up as a day buyer, go to www.meetings.co.nz/daybuyer.

FACT SHEET

• CINZ MEETINGS 2015 is New Zealand’s largest business tourism trade exhibition. 
• Now in its 19th year, MEETINGS has been run annually since 1997 by Conventions & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ). 
• MEETINGS is New Zealand’s leading platform for connecting influential domestic, Australian and international buyers with key regions, meeting facilities, accommodation, off-site venues and activities. 
• Air New Zealand is Principal Sponsor for CINZ MEETINGS 2015, renewing its ongoing commitment to the sector and to the Hosted Buyer Programmes. 
• The event’s other major sponsors are ASB Showgrounds, Peek Exhibition and Centium Software. 
•  CINZ MEETINGS 2015 will showcase 190 exhibitors, including 20 new exhibitors from 18 regions across New Zealand. They include venues, theming companies, hotels, AV companies, regional bureaux, attractions and activities. 
• The Luxury Collection, which debuted in 2014, returns in 2015 and will highlight exhibitors offering luxury incentive products, venues and services around New Zealand. 
• Over 90 hosted buyers and media from New Zealand, 90 hosted buyers and media from Australia and 400 day buyers from all around New Zealand are set to attend. 
• Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) and Air New Zealand are bringing a record number of international buyers and media from China, South and South-East Asia and North America. More than 50 buyers and media will attend MEETINGS, with a full day of appointments, and will attend the Gala Dinner before heading around New Zealand on regional familiarisation tours. 
• TNZ is also bringing 10 additional New Zealand-based association buyers with international business. 
• They will hold more than 6,000 meetings during the two days of pre-scheduled appointments and social networking events. 
• With the support of key regional convention bureaux, CINZ is offering Australian hosted buyers seven different regional pre-tours in the weekend prior to MEETINGS 2015- Hamilton/ Waikato, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown.
• Over $50 million of business was contracted at MEETINGS 2014. 

• Media will undertake a hosted VIP tour of the exhibition floor and CINZ will host a VIP Industry tour of the exhibition. 
• Masterclass 2015 for PCOs will feature updates on technology and venue occupational health and safety. 
• Last year 90 per cent of hosted buyers said MEETINGS 2014 met or exceeded their expectations. 
• 96% of hosted buyers at MEETINGS 2014 rated the overall organisation of MEETINGS as very good or excellent, and 95% rated the overall value of their appointments with exhibitors as very good or excellent. 
• Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) is the official, membership based association of New Zealand’s conference and business travel industry with over 400 members across a broad range of sectors www.conventionsnz.co.nz
• CINZ’s role is to advocate with central and local government, profile and market the sector provide information, professional development and bring real business opportunities to its members.