IMEX Frankfurt is a significant worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events and is attended by 3,500 exhibitors for networking meetings with the 9,000 visitors (including almost 4,000 hosted buyers) who attend.
Tourism New Zealand along with the largest contingent of industry partners including New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) attended IMEX Frankfurt held 19 -21 April in Germany.
Tourism New Zealand Director of Trade, PR and Major Events, René de Monchy says, the business events industry in New Zealand is going from strength to strength.
“With exciting new conference venues in development and increasing airline capacity to New Zealand, New Zealand’s business events offering really is world class and it is great to be able to showcase this at an event such as IMEX,” says Mr de Monchy.
IMEX Frankfurt is a significant worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events and is attended by 3,500 exhibitors for networking meetings with the 9,000 visitors (including almost 4,000 hosted buyers) who attend.
New Zealand was also selected as one of three international destinations to take part in the prestigious Politicians Forum World Tour which seeks to grow government understanding and support for the advancement of the meetings and events industry.
Ministry of Business, Innovations and Employment’s Roger Wigglesworth presented alongside Tourism New Zealand at the forum to a group of 37 highly influential international politicians and government representatives.
A joint media conference held at IMEX provided a further opportunity to generate awareness of New Zealand’s business events offering with a focus on Auckland and the New Zealand International Convention Centre.
New Zealand International Convention Centre General Manager Simon Jamieson says the NZICC will see New Zealand becoming even more competitive on a global stage, with Auckland having the ability to bid for high-level, major international business events.
“Its central city location ensures close proximity to Auckland’s innovation ecosystem – universities, business headquarters and innovation hubs – allowing event organisers to tap into New Zealand’s leading knowledge centres and aligning with ATEED’s ambitions to attract more business events, investment and skilled visitors to New Zealand’s largest city.”
ATEED General Manager Destination and Marketing Vivien Bridgwater says, “Participating in events like IMEX provides a great opportunity to improve global awareness for Auckland’s premium business events offering and to demonstrate the support our Auckland Convention Bureau provides.”
“Auckland is a city on the move, being recognised globally for the rapid change and innovation that’s taking place. Major investment in new accommodation, world-class venues like the NZICC, new food and shopping precincts, and transformational projects such as the City Rail Link are further strengthening Auckland’s position as a premium business events destination.”
The international business events sector, particularly international conferences and incentives, holds great potential to attract new high value international visitors to New Zealand.
“International delegates present significant value for the country spending an estimated $350 per night which is almost double the average spend per night for all international visitors according to the International Visitor Survey,” says Mr de Monchy.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
