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Conference industry leaders from across New Zealand and Australia are gathering in New Plymouth today, November 25, for the Business Events Industry Aotearoa annual conference.
More than 170 guests will be welcomed tonight at the New Plymouth Surfriders’ Club on Fitzroy Beach. BEIA’s 48th Annual Conference and AGM is being held in Taranaki for the first time.
It will open officially tomorrow, November 26, at The Devon Hotel with an pōwhiri welcome. New Zealand’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Hon Matt Doocey will be first on stage in conversation with BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins.
Local New Plymouth MP David MacLeod will also attend the conference opening.
Lisa says business events are recognised internationally as playing a crucial role in the development and growth of business sectors and other critical-thinking areas such as medicine, trade, policy and the environment.
“New Zealand has never been better poised to shine on the global stage, and it has also never been better equipped to welcome business events visitors from across New Zealand and the world,” she says.
Earlier this year, the industry introduced Pīata Mai, a strategic roadmap designed to align, grow, and strengthen the sector over the next decade.
This includes creating opportunities and working in partnership with tourism, hospitality, hotels, and airlines, all aspects of the visitor economy. Experts on the legacy and impact of business events, workforce training, industry collaboration, diversity, and Māori culture are set to share their knowledge across the next day and a half of interactive workshops and panel discussions.
“BEIA is thrilled to be in Taranaki for the first time, and to discover why this dynamic coastal location with its majestic mountain is such a superb destination for conferences,” Lisa says.
“Business events play an important role in the Taranaki economy, bringing economic benefits that extend beyond the conference rooms as delegates experience our accommodation, dining, transport, and memorable activities around the Maunga,” says Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki general destination manager Brylee Flutey.
“Our unique landscapes, connectivity by road and air, and exceptional conference experiences make Taranaki well-positioned to welcome delegates from across Aotearoa and the world,” she says.
New Plymouth’s iconic stage at the Bowl of Brooklands will be the gala dinner venue, where industry members will gather to celebrate on November 26.
