Christchurch conferences worth millions

A report in NZ’s The Press says that convention organisers can chase big events for years before the rewards of high spending visitors come to fruition, with the Canterbury Conference Expo yesterday seeing hoteliers touting for convention events that can bring $10 million or more to the Garden City.

Christchurch was the leading New Zealand destination for conventions, Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau manager Annette Pendergast said, adding that it matched if not bettered Australian rivals like Melbourne and Sydney, and had New Zealand’s only purpose built convention building.

Expo participants came from as far as the Hermitage Hotel at Mount Cook to Kaikoura, chasing business with 150 conference organisers from as far afield as Brisbane, Auckland and Wellington, she said.

“We’re very busy here – we’ve had over seven international events of over 1000 people through this year alone – that’s pretty good for a city of 380,000 people,” she said.

However there would be more opportunities if Christchurch expanded the convention centre, and attracted a five star international hotel, she said.

“The conference industry continued to evolve to offer more sophisticated service to visitors.” “For example those businesses that brought employees to recognise their sales achievements often paid conference organisers to lay on a top quality service.”

“There is a service level expected, and I think Christchurch has really come to the fore with that.” “We do deliver a high end service level … things like slippers by the bed and hot baths run for when you arrive.” “They’ll ensure the fridge is stocked with the wine they prefer.”

“A normal delegate coming to Christchurch from offshore would spend about $450 in total on accommodation, transport, food and shopping, whereas a conference attendee being rewarded by their company for good sales work could spend up to $1200 a day.”

“Conference events added in excess of $53 million direct spend to the Canterbury economy annually.”

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Christine Prince said conventions continued to be important in filling in the winter and shoulder seasons and cheaper air fares could bolster domestic travel into Christchurch on top of international travellers.

“Because of the seasonal nature of Christchurch we need the conference business, but I think there’s a lot more we can make of that winter season … I think we very much need to embrace more the winter wonderland of Christchurch.”

Conventions & Incentives New Zealand consultant Richard Buchanan said he helped CINZ run a Government-funded scheme to try to attract larger international conferences to New Zealand, adding, “We encourage – we provide the expertise and funding to enable that particular association to bid for the event through the whole process including the printing of the documents, travelling overseas to presenting the bid.”

Buchanan said some of his work had three to five years lead time and even 12 years for a world orthopaedic conference held every six years.

“Most events were worth at least $5m-$10m to the economy.” “The biggest events, with up to 10,000 attendees, could be worth $65m-$70m to the country which could be promoted for its clean, green backdrop.”

“We basically joke a convention centre is a convention centre anywhere in the world, you sit down in a hall and look at a screen and look at a scientific programme or whatever.”

Report by The Mole