Tourism New Zealand are targeting a record $135m worth of international conferences that will support sector and country recovery over the coming years.

Tourism New Zealand aims to bid for 90 international conferences in FY24. This follows a successful FY23 of 84 bids worth $120m for New Zealand.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive René de Monchy says the business events industry globally is now in full recovery mode and there are good opportunities to attract high quality events to our shores that will benefit our economy, society, culture, and environment.

“Whether its conferences that aim to improve equity for women and girls in sport, or will grow New Zealand’s sustainable agri-food-tech sector, business events contribute to our country in many ways, both tangible and intangible.

“In FY24 Tourism New Zealand will work hard to support New Zealand’s business events sector to attract business that will also grow knowledge and collaboration across many of society’s important subjects and industries. This target is reflective of the recovery of the business events sector and our aspiration for success in this market, which is New Zealand’s fourth most valuable.”

The economic value of business events in New Zealand was estimated at $1.48 billion in the year ending June 2019, the most recent year there is full data for before New Zealand’s border closed.

New Zealand has two brand new purpose-built convention centres in Christchurch and Wellington, and another to come in Auckland in 2025. This new infrastructure, combined with its diverse offering for smaller events and array of experiences, solidifies New Zealand’s status as a world-class conference destination.

The number of conference bids has grown consistently year on year from seven in 2012 to 89 in 2019, before the global COVID pandemic led to a drop.

Despite New Zealand’s borders being closed, bid activity continued, building a pipeline of conference business through to 2028.