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Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s biggest showcase of the year, MEETINGS 2025 kicks off tonight, June 10, with a welcome function for 700 people at Auckland’s Eden Park.
New Zealand Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Hon Louise Upston and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown will open MEETINGS and welcome guests.
BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins says their presence sends a strong signal of central and local government commitment and support for the business events sector.
“They recognise business events as a high-value sector of the visitor economy and a key pillar for New Zealand’s growth,” she says.
“New Zealand’s business events industry is supported by world-class infrastructure including three new convention centres, Te Pae Christchurch, Tākina Wellington, and the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland opening in February. Together they are expected to create 1400 new jobs, more than 300,000 room nights annually and direct spend in excess of $170M,” Lisa says.
Across two days at Auckland Showgrounds on June 11-12, more than 550 buyers will meet with exhibitors on 253 stands representing 18 regions of New Zealand, including 35 first-time exhibitors.
“We will be hosting 240 buyers and media from New Zealand, Australia, international markets, and more than 300 day buyers from Australia and New Zealand,” Lisa says.
A record contingent of 126 buyers and media from Australia will attend MEETINGS this year and 64 of them will stay on to deepen their experience and knowledge of regions including Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Rotorua and Waikato.
A series of knowledge and leadership events will run concurrently with the exhibition, including a half-day summit for local and global tourism and event leaders, and education and knowledge sessions designed to inspire and inform event organisers.
“This year, with 250 stands representing 18 regions of New Zealand, we are delighted to welcome 35 new exhibitors to the show floor. They include venues, production and event design companies, hotels, regional convention bureaux, caterers, attractions and activities.
“Their presence is a reminder we are constantly evolving as an industry, welcoming new ideas, new ways of working, and fresh thinking,” Lisa says.
Today, June 10, hosted buyers are out in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland exploring a range of attractions, including the All Blacks Experience and Wētā Workshop Unleashed, wine tasting on Waiheke Island, and sailing on the Waitematā Harbour.
To find out more about the MEETINGS 2025 programme go to the MEETINGS website.
