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Kia ora
We marked Christchurch’s successful return to hosting large-scale business events last month, with two high-profile signature events - the New Zealand tourism industry’s TRENZ which attracted 700 delegates including Australian visitors, and BOMA E Tipu NZ Agri Summit with another 700. The city was full of happy people carrying boutique shopping bags, taking in the sights and enjoying some of our amazing hospitality.
These events and others like them prove Ōtautahi Christchurch is a world-class business events’ host city, and we are excited to be revealing this next June when we host MEETINGS 2022.
The Bureau team has clocked up 30 bids so far this year, far exceeding our original estimations, as we look ahead to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre opening in October.
Ngā mihi nui
Claire, Meegan, Joy and Jess |
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| NEW HEAD OF BUSINESS EVENTS |
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We are delighted to announce that Megan Crum has been appointed to the new role of Head of Business Events, at ChristchurchNZ. Megan will drive the strategic direction for business events in Christchurch and Canterbury, lead the Convention Bureau team, manage partnerships with key business events stakeholders and business partners, manage the legacy investment fund, and focus on new business opportunities for the city and region.
Previously with Conference Innovators, Megan is a Christchurch-based business events industry leader with 25 years of experience tailoring strategy to ensure consistent successful event development, management and delivery. She is recognised by clients, stakeholders, suppliers and colleagues for efficient, warm, innovative, high quality conferences and events. Megan is more passionate now than ever about the immense value and legacy that the business event sector brings not just to Ōtautahi, but throughout New Zealand. |
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| CHRISTCHURCH PRE-MEETINGS FAMIL |
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The Convention Bureau was delighted to host four Australian and New Zealand clients and business events media for two and a half days pre-MEETINGS. Our famil focused on the new city of Christchurch, visiting key conference infrastructure, hotels, attractions and activities.
Staying at the new Sudima Christchurch City, it was a great opportunity to show this group how the city has progressed in recent times, and to experience some fun highlights which included a visit to the International Antarctic Centre, a bird’s eye view of the city and surrounding scenery by helicopter with GCH Aviation, and meeting with the team from the new Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.
The group were treated to some exquisite local cuisine, including dinner and an art tour at The George, perfume making at Fragranzi followed by wine tasting at Cellar Door in the Arts Centre and a fun cooking class at Riverside Kitchen where they learnt the secrets to perfect homemade pasta. |
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| CONVENTION BUREAU OUT IN FORCE AT MEETINGS |
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The Convention Bureau exhibited at BEIA’s MEETINGS 2021 tradeshow last week in Auckland. This was a grand occasion, celebrating the 25th anniversary of New Zealand’s key business events tradeshow.
Megan Crum, our new Head of Business Events at ChristchurchNZ says there was huge interest in Christchurch and Canterbury with clients particularly excited about the city’s ability to once again host business events at scale.
ChristchurchNZ created a new stand design for the regional area – bringing a welcoming presence and strong regional brand to the show. ChristchurchNZ also sponsored the coffee lounge area where delegates could mix and mingle while enjoying coffee from Prima Roastery– the official supplier of coffee to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.
Loren Heaphy, General Manager Destination & Attraction also announced to business events media that MEETINGS is coming to Christchurch in June next year.
“It is exciting to be showcasing our brand-new city, incredible venues and experiences and of course our warm South Island hospitality in June next year. MEETINGS was last held in Christchurch in 2008, so it will be 14 years between drinks.” |
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| TE PAE CHRISTCHURCH CONVENTION CENTRE SET TO OPEN IN OCTOBER |
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Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre will open for business in late October with a solid roster of domestic and Australasian events planned for its opening months.
The confirmed date for New Zealand’s newest gathering place will provide clients with the additional certainty they need to forge ahead with planning their events. The new building can cater for up to 2,000 delegates.
As the first of New Zealand’s new generation of convention centres to open, Ōtautahi Christchurch has a unique opportunity to put New Zealand business events back on the world stage, while at the same time showcasing the very best our city has to offer.
With less than five months until opening, Te Pae Christchurch currently has around 70 events on its books, including the New Zealand College of Midwives conference and the Australasian Coasts and Ports convention. Combined, the events will see more than 129,000 people through the venue, including around 20,000 new convention delegates. |
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Our May networking event was held at Sudima Christchurch City. It was fabulous to see over 50 of our partners enjoy a couple of hours of networking and hear James Helmore from ChristchurchNZ present on the revamped Business Partner Programme for the upcoming financial year (FY21/22, starting 1 July).
Leigh Higgins from Sudima Hotels also presented to the group, showcasing the new Sudima Hotel coming to Kaikoura, due to open in 2022. The group enjoyed delicious hospitality from the team at Sudima and mingled in one of the hotel’s two meeting spaces. Combined with an all-weather laneway function area, the hotel is a perfect base for small meetings and events with classy accommodation, restaurant, bar and day spa onsite. |
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VENUES ŌTAUTAHI CELEBRATES NEW BRAND ACROSS FIVE CHRISTCHURCH VENUES
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Venues Ōtautahi, formerly known as Vbase, has recently embarked on a rebrand and name change. Operating with community in mind they are driven to continuing to contribute to the social, economic and cultural wellbeing of the Canterbury region and to strengthening the community’s connection with accessibility to their venues. The company manages five venues in Ōtautahi Christchurch – Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch Arena, Hagley Oval, Air Force Museum, and Orangetheory Stadium.
This change supports the continued repositioning of the business and reinforces their intention to refocus on marketing the venues, and the importance of their local procurement strategy. This change in approach has delivered a direct economic impact to Canterbury suppliers, and guests attending events at their venues experience the highest quality of food and beverage the region has to offer. |
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LATEST QUARTERLY REPORT
The Convention Bureau released our most recent quarterly report for business partners in April. If you haven’t seen this yet, check it out here. The purpose of these reports is to give you a snapshot of key sales and marketing activity from the quarter, as well as key data and insights from our website and social channels, as well as the team’s focus for the upcoming quarter. |
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| We are delighted to announce our new Bureau partner. |
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SEASON EVENT DESIGN
Season Event Design produce fresh, stylish event design, theming and decor to season any event. Their qualified designers create sustainable, polished event features that add just the right flavour to any event. |
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