Auckland’s Grand Millennium hosts welcome for CINZ MEETINGS 2017

Conventions and Incentives New Zealand’s (CINZ) annual showcase, MEETINGS 2017 started with a high-energy welcome event for 650 at the Grand Millennium in Auckland on Tuesday night.

Named Le Cirque, the event combined daring acrobatic acts with fantastical costumes and fine fare, produced by The Event Group and The Dust Palace.

MEETINGS’ two-day exhibition opened this morning and brings more than 195 stands from 19 regions of New Zealand inside ASB Showgrounds. Exhibitors and buyers will hold more than 6,000 meetings during the two days of pre-scheduled appointments and social networking events.

CINZ Chief Executive Sue Sullivan says 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.

“Business events continue to be the high-value sector of New Zealand’s visitor economy. 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.

CINZ MEETINGS 2016 generated over $55million of signed business over its two days of pre-scheduled appointments.

For the first time this year five event organisers from Argentina are joining the programme, along with buyers and industry media from China, South and South-East Asia, North America and Australia, supported by Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand.

MEETINGS 2017 includes a new Education Hub, an industry leader programme, a 14-stand Luxury Collection, the Celebrity Speaker showcase, and a PCO Masterclass.

“We are seeing strong interest in New Zealand as a place to host exceptional conferences, incentives and events. The feedback from Australian event organisers who toured seven of our regions this week has been tremendous.

“New Zealand buyers have travelled from all over the country to join us, together with a significant number of local Auckland event organisers coming in each day.

Air New Zealand is principal sponsor of MEETINGS 2017, and major sponsors are ASB Showgrounds, Peek Exhibition and Centium Software, Auckland Convention Bureau and Auckland’s leading hotels.

CINZ MEETINGS 2017 is open to anyone who organises business events, meetings, conferences, exhibitions and incentive travel. Registration is free at www.meetings.co.nz/daybuyer