New Zealand will be out in force, sponsoring speakers and exhibition hospitality at this year’s Professional Conference Organisers’ Association Conference and Exhibition at The Star in Brisbane which opens on Sunday, December 1.
With a new custom-build design and six booths (#15-20), Tourism New Zealand’s 100% Pure New Zealand stand at PCOA24 will feature representation from 18 New Zealand destinations and operators.
This includes Tourism New Zealand, Business Events Industry Aotearoa and Air New Zealand, plus New Zealand’s key regions and hotel groups and all three of New Zealand’s new convention centres – NZICC Auckland (to open in 2025), Te Pae Christchurch and Tākina Wellington.
Tourism New Zealand global manager business events Penelope Ryan will be a key panellist at the session ‘The Importance of Business Events: Enhancing Collaboration and Impact’.’ She will be joined on a panel by key Australian leaders: Robin Mack, Executive General Manager for Business Events Australia at Tourism Australia, and Anthony Ryan, CEO of Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA).
“This is an excellent opportunity to highlight how Tourism New Zealand partners with PCOs and associations to grow and enhance business events, focusing on how collaboration within New Zealand amplifies support to host impactful business events in New Zealand,” says Ryan.
Lauren Parsons, New Zealand’s Keynote speaker of the year 2023/24, will also speak at the event, thanks to sponsorship from Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand. Her keynote ‘Accelerating Connection, Energy & Engagement’ will outline engaging ways to foster connection at events for both introverts and extroverts. She will also lead a transformative workshop, ‘How to thrive: Five keys to feeling vibrant, confident and energised’ at 11.30am on Tuesday, December 3, providing expertise on cultivating a positive, energised team.
Delegates visiting the 100% Pure New Zealand stand throughout PCOA24 can go in the draw to win an interactive virtual workshop with Lauren Parsons, plus one of 20 copies of her ‘Thriving Leaders, Thriving Teams’ book.
The New Zealand stand hospitality will continue the wellbeing theme with No Ugly wellness tonics on hand to calm, rehydrate and focus, and refreshments focusing on the best of New Zealand produce.
BEIA Australia manager Sharon Auld says this year PCOA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Business Events Industry Aotearoa to enhance the business events industry across Australia and New Zealand.
“This is an exciting time for sharing our knowledge, expertise and our manaakitanga (hospitality) with our Australian hosts,” Sharon says.
Delegates visiting the New Zealand stand at PCOA24 can also register their interest in attending MEETINGS 2025 in Auckland next June.
The 100% Pure New Zealand stand members at PCOA24 are:
Air New Zealand
Auckland Convention Bureau
Auckland Conventions, Venues & Events
Business Events Industry Aotearoa
Business Events Wellington
ChristchurchNZ
Cordis Auckland
H3 Claudelands
Millennium Hotels & Resorts
New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC)
Pullman Auckland
RealNZ
RotoruaNZ
Scenic Hotel Group
Sofitel Auckland & Wellington
Tākina Wellington Convention Centre
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
Tourism New Zealand
