This Content Is Only For Subscribers
Ōtautahi Christchurch is to host seven large conferences from late August to late September, welcoming more than 2600 delegates with an estimated economic impact of more than NZ$3M.
They include 1200 health professionals for three different conferences – paediatricians, physiotherapists, and aeromedical specialists – as well as local and international groups of engineers, and aerospace experts.
The city has been humming with conference visitors throughout winter, keeping hotels full and hospitality outlets busy. The ChristchurchNZ Business Events team has helped secure 20 large business events with 9000 delegates from April to September, valued at NZ$16M.
In July, Christchurch hosted one of the world’s biggest communication conferences, the International Association for Media and Communication Research 2024 Conference. It brought 1300 international delegates from 61 different countries together for five days in the city, worth an estimated NZ$2.8M.
ChristchurchNZ head of visitor economy Kath Low says conferences play an important role in driving off-peak visitation. In 2023, 83 per cent of international delegate arrivals to New Zealand came off-peak, between March and November, compared to 62 per cent of holidaymakers.
Tourism New Zealand says the business events sector was worth NZ$403M to the country in 2023. Business events attendees are New Zealand’s fourth largest market by visitor spend, with an average spend of NZ$426 per day compared to NZ$304 for holidaymakers.
“The wider impacts of successful conferences are incalculable. As well as providing a major boost to the regional economy and increasing off-peak visitation, it gives locals an opportunity to participate in world class events, share knowledge with industry leaders and promote their products and services to a national and international market,” Kath says.
One such event, the Aeromed Conference 2024 will bring 250 air retrieval service specialists from many parts of the world to Christchurch from September 24-26.
“Christchurch is a knowledge and operational hub for air medical retrieval.
“Local company, GCH Aviation has been operating for 40 years, and runs our air rescue helicopter services and NZ Flying Doctor Service across the South Island. The international delegates will learn first-hand here about the challenges and the successes of air retrieval – from the alps to the ocean,” Kath says.
The same week, Christchurch is hosting New Zealand Aerospace Summit with 700 delegates representing the New Zealand and international aerospace industry.
Next month, Christchurch will host New Zealand’s first ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) Skills 2024 training bringing key international business events experts to the city.
Kath says business event visitors are also likely to stay on and travel.
“The South Island is considered a bucket-list destination and for time-poor professionals, our region ticks all the boxes. Within a couple of hours they can be immersed in stunning natural landscapes, a world away from the conference room,” she says.
Successful conference bidding works years ahead and Christchurch Airport is already anticipating a further 10,000 passengers next year due to increased delegate numbers.
“Largely skewed to our off-peak months, demand to participate in conferences are an effective way of helping us smooth the seasonality impact of tourism to the South Island. A real boost for our Tasman airlines for next winter,” says Christchurch Airport CEO Justin Watson.
“With Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre already well-established, and One New Zealand Stadium set to open in 2026, Christchurch’s superb new infrastructure is driving more and larger conference business to the city. Combined with increased air connectivity and new hotel capacity, Christchurch is set to attract an exciting series of events well into the future,” Kath says.
