The World of WearableArt Awards Show was worth nearly $28 million to the local economy in 2019 as the event continues to reinvent itself.
A new WellingtonNZ and WOW commissioned report by Angus & Associates reveals around 70 per cent of 60,000 attendees came to the Wellington region specifically to attend WOW.
New Zealand visitors from outside the Wellington region spent an average of $659 each and international visitors $1246 (excluding event tickets and domestic airfares), providing the Wellington region with an estimated economic contribution of $27.9 million.
WellingtonNZ CEO Lance Walker says WOW helps puts the dark days of winter behind us by ushering in the start of Wellington’s busy summer tourism season.
“There’s no other event like it in the world," says Lance.
"Each year WOW evolves as it adopts a new narrative and showcases new designers and garments.
“New Zealand is very fortunate to be the home of this international concept and Wellington is honoured to host an event of this creative calibre and scale that also adds so much value to local businesses.”
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster says WOW has been the biggest spending impact event on Wellington’s calendar for several years.
“We love having WOW in our city. It’s a great show and the businesses really get behind it with window displays brightening up the city.
“It provides important employment for musicians, dancers and creative practitioners and it just shows how valuable the creative, arts and performance sector is to our city.”
WOW acting chief executive Donna Ching-Tregidga says hundreds of people were involved in making the 2020 World of WearableArt Awards Show.
“The scale of the show is very significant. It’s an immense collaborative effort with around 400 people, with a diverse range of skills, working together to create a completely new show each year.
“WOW is very important to the New Zealand creative sector due to both the employment and the creative and technical opportunities offered through the scale and complexity of each year’s show.
“Since 2005, the first year that WOW opened in Wellington, almost 6800 people have worked on the Show and we have performed to an audience of just over 700,000.
“Adding in the 1414 finalist designers from many countries who have entered the WOW Awards Show Competition during the same period, is testament to how the unique idea of WOW has captured the imagination of designers and audiences around the world," says Donna.
First Retail Group managing director Chris Wilkinson says WOW Is an economic highlight for Wellington’s retail and hospitality sector which, for some, eclipses the busy Christmas trading period.
“The city’s shopping and dining destinations continue to develop their offers strategically to ensure visitors enjoy memorable experiences which they love to share as they return each year.”
Hospitality NZ national president, Wellington-based Jeremy Smith, says the event is incredibly important for Wellington especially given the fact it’s held annually.
“It attracts thousands of out of town visitors who come to Wellington to soak up the positive vibe around the city.”
Jeremy says the organisers merit a pat on the back for the continuing success of WOW.
“They keep the standard of the show very high year on year. They deserve a lot of credit for the work they do.”
WellingtonNZ and World of WearableArt commissions an economic impact report every three years. The 2016 report showed the event was worth just over $26 million to the regional economy.
Tickets for this year’s event go on sale on February 1.
